On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the Grants Pass City Council voted to amend the City’s Municipal Code with a variety of changes that address conduct for all users of Grants Pass City Parks and public property.
While the changes address a variety of issues, two may be of greater impact to users of City parks and public property: 6.46.040 Utilization of Open City Park Space, and 6.46.041 Portable Structures; Buffers from Park Amenities.
6.46.040 Utilization of Open City Park Space
A. All individuals utilizing open City park space shall be limited to a spatial footprint of eight feet by eight feet, or 64 square feet. All materials and personal effects must be contained within a 64-square-foot footprint.
B. There shall be a buffer of at least six feet between each spatial footprint described in Subsection A.
C. Subsections A and B shall not apply to individuals utilizing covered gazebos for group gatherings on a drop-in or reservation basis, or to individuals utilizing open City park space for active recreation.
6.46.041 Portable Structures; Buffers from Park Amenities
A. “Portable Structure” means any temporary structure including enclosures that are covered with fabric or another type of membrane, which are of flexible or of rigid construction, and/or serve as a shelter or barricade and includes canopies and air-supported, air-inflated, tensioned membrane structures or similar structures of rigid construction, temporary fencing and barricades, as well as conventional tents, sheds, shelters, trailers, lean-tos, shacks, tarps, or yurts.
B. No person may erect a portable structure at any City park within the following buffers:
1. 20 feet from the outermost exterior of:
a. A baseball or softball field;
b. A soccer field;
c. A basketball court, whether fenced or not;
d. A tennis or pickleball court, whether fenced or not;
e. A covered shelter or gazebo;
f. A restroom or porta potty;
g. A building or dwelling on City park property;
h. The outermost property line of a residential property directly adjacent to any
City park; and
i. The outermost exterior of all paved or unpaved walking paths and/or trails in
any City park.
2. 50 feet from the outermost exterior of:
a. A stream, river, creek, lake, pond, or any other waterway;
b. A spray park or splash pad;
c. A playground or play structure.
C. No portable structures may be erected at Riverside Park east of 6th Street, or in any area under the Caveman Bridge at any time.
The Ordinance adopted last night also amended chapter 1.36.010 in Title 1, chapters 5.12, and 5.57 in Title 5, and chapters 6.03 in Title 6.