Enforcement of new city parks rules approved by City Council on May 2 has begun. According to a news release from the city of San Marcos, park rangers will increase enforcement during Memorial Day weekend with help from the San Marcos Police and marshals.
The council also approved a change that will no longer require park rangers to provide a verbal warning before giving a citation to a park user for public consumption of alcohol at city parks.
“I do think that we need to get new rules in the parks,” Council Member Lisa Prewitt said in April. “I take pride in my community and my river, and I think most people who go to our river and live in San Marcos do. We need to clean up the trash, and we need to keep our parks healthy and safe. Not everyone is going to like [the changes]. But I don’t think we really have much of an option at this point.”
Full park rules
- Alcoholic beverage consumption and display prohibited
- No smoking or e-cigarettes/inhaled vapor devices
- No glass containers
- No Styrofoam containers
- Motorized vehicles prohibited beyond parking areas
- Animals are to remain restrained at all times
- All wildlife and habitat protected
- Parking in designated parking spaces only
- Parking for park users only
- No fire wood collection
- Vending or sales prohibited without permit
- Park curfew 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Propane grills only
- No charcoal or wood grills
- Limit one propane grill per city-installed fixed picnic table
- Limit one shelter or tarp per city-installed fixed picnic table
