Hello,
I live in California. Can a city in California restrict public use of a public park when the park is not reserved by anyone?
I play soccer with a group of friends (unorganized, no uniforms/referees) who also live in Irvine and are continuously kicked off the field at a community park by park employees stating the field available for reservations only. the community park is not gated. There are other fields at the same complex that people walk on and play softball/baseball that are not kicked off the fields.
I called the city athletics department and spoke to an office employee who told me none of the fields at the park in question are allowed for walk on use. When I asked why the others are not kicked off the office employee told me they could not kick them off the field because it is a public park, she then went on to tell me we were not allowed to play at the field. She told me if someone is playing on the field and a group that has a reservation the field must be vacated for the group with the reservation, I told her I completely understood that but that there are no reservations when we are kicked off the field. I asked her if they could not kick people off the field because it is a public space how could they tell us we are not allowed to play there. she continued to contradict herself so I told her she was going in circles and she told me she would have her supervisor call me back, I haven't heard from them yet.
The city has a PDF posted with policies/procedures and with in it is:
COMMUNITY SERVICES
POLICY/PROCEDURE
PUBLIC FACILITIES RESERVATION SECTION: I
AND FEE POLICIES PAGE: 1 of 30
EFFECTIVE: 1/1/16
REVISED:
APPROVED: 8/23/11
Section IV, C, 5. Athletic Park Operating Hours: City sports parks are available for reservation during the times listed below. Fields
not reserved and available may be used by the public for walk-on private party activities during daylight hours.
Walk-on use is not permitted after dusk. Sports field lighting will only be turned on for reserved and scheduled
use. Sports fields are available for the sole use of the applicant and may not be shared with others without
approval by the City. Organized use of City sports parks (including games with referees, activities offered by forprofit
and nonprofit organizations) is prohibited without an approved City application. While reservations may be
approved for field use at 7 a.m., no game may begin prior to 8 a.m. Reservations before or after the hours listed
below will be invoiced according to the extended hours rate or the field reservation rate, whichever is higher
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Billy

