The Woodlands Township enacted a measure May 21 that prohibits drivers from illegally parking in community open space reserves and parks, a mandate that gives the township the ability to fine violators.

A person found guilty of violating the order can be fined up to $500 per day, according to the township.

Township board chairman Bruce Tough said that The Woodlands' governmental body does, in fact, have the ability to enforce fines, despite its inability to establish ordinances like a municipality can.

"We have a fining ability through legal enforcement for people who violate covenants," he said. "We have issues with people violating park policy, and the only way to enforce the covenants is through a fine."

The order was established after the township began receiving several complaints from residents regarding vehicles parked on properties adjacent to roadways that are in open space reserves. The new measure prohibits drivers from parking anywhere at a park, swimming pool, lake, pond or township open space reserve other than in designated parking spots.

"The problem that we're trying to solve is the people who just come in and park in open space reserves—on a curb, drive up on the grass," Tough said. "That has been occurring in a number of neighborhood parks, and it has interfered with trash and waste removal and people getting to their homes."

Former township director Claude Hunter commended the township on the measure, saying they should extend fining ability to those who violate other township covenants, such as those regarding fireworks and prohibited signs.

"This is a start because we have things in our covenants that we cannot enforce," he said. "But having a fine and being able to publish that somebody paid a fine for a violation within The Woodlands is something a city would do."