Park Rules & Regulations

City owned parks are governed by Chapter 12.44 of the Sun Prairie Municipal Code. Please review the following park rules and regulations prior to your visit.

Park Hours

Unless otherwise posted, park hours are from 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

Park Hours Exceptions

• City sponsored softball games shall be permitted to continue until ten-twenty p.m. In the event that the game is not completed by ten-twenty p.m., the teams shall be permitted to complete the inning that they are playing in at ten-twenty p.m. In no event shall a new inning begin after ten twenty p.m. After ten p.m. all softball game participants and spectators shall leave the city park within ten (10) minutes from the time the game is completed or terminated by the game umpire.
• Community parks. The person(s) has received a permit from the director of parks, recreation and forestry or his/her designee to use a portion of a community park between ten p.m. to six a.m. for the purpose of setting up for an approved use. The director or his/her designee shall consider the possible disruption to the surrounding residents prior to granting the permit and may add conditions to the permit to mitigate the disruption to the surrounding residents, including requiring that the person(s) requesting the use notify the surrounding residents within a reasonable distance. A copy of the permit including the conditions shall be provided to the police department.
• Haven Park Pickleball Courts. The Haven Park Pickleball Courts shall be closed from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am.
• Wyndham Hills Pickleball Complex. The Wyndham Hills Pickleball Courts shall be closed from 10:00 pm until 5:00 am.

Regulations

• Littering is Prohibited. No person shall litter, dump or deposit any rubbish, refuse, earth or other material in any park.
• Sleeping, Camping or Lodging in Parks. Sleeping, camping or lodging in parks are forbidden.
• Pets. No person shall permit any cat, horse or other pet owned by him or her to be in any park. Dogs are permitted in parks under the following conditions:
  • The dog must be under the control of the owner at all times
  • The dog must be on a non-retractable leash, held in hand at all times, that is no more than 6 feet in length
  • The dog must be properly licensed in the municipality that it primarily resides in
  • The owner must pick up after the dog
  • Only service dogs permitted in playground areas, tennis courts, pickleball courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, athletic fields, baseball diamonds, the Family Aquatic Center, the Tom & Rita Tubbs Splashpad and Playground, park restrooms/changing facilities, or ice rinks.
• Special permits may be issued by the common council for sponsored dog and horse shows.
• Advertisements in the Parks. No person shall post, paste, fasten, paint or attach any placard, target, banner, flag, bill, notice, sign or advertising matter upon any structure, tree or other natural object in any park, except park regulations and other signs without the written permission of the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry or their designee.
•  Throwing Stones and Missiles Prohibited. No person shall throw stones or other missiles in or into any park.
• Removal of Park Equipment Prohibited. No person shall remove benches, seats, tables or other park equipment from any park.
• Trapping. No person shall trap in any park unless specific written authority is first obtained from the common council.
• Making of Fires. No person shall start, tend or maintain a fire except in personal grills or designated fireplaces. Personal grills shall be used only in designated picnic areas. The use of personal grills is permitted provided lawns and vegetation are not endangered. Unburned fuel and ashes shall be disposed of in such a manner as to prevent fire or damage to any park property.
• Protection of Park Property. No person shall kill, injure or disturb or attempt to injure or disturb waterfowl, birds or animals, wild or domestic, within any park. No person shall climb any tree or remove flowers or fruit, wild or cultivated, or break, cut down, trample upon, remove or in any manner injure, deface, write upon or ill use any tree, shrub, flower bed, turf, soil, sand, fountain, ornament, building, structure, apparatus, bench, table, official notice, sign or other property within any park, or shall hitch any team or animal to park trees.
• Motorized Vehicles. Except for authorized maintenance equipment and emergency vehicles, no person shall operate an unlicensed or licensed motorized vehicle outside of areas specifically designated as parking areas or areas where the operation of such vehicles is specifically permitted. Motor vehicles are restricted to the roads and drives and parking areas. No motor vehicles of any nature may be used on the seeded areas except vehicles which have a permit for shows, rides or exhibits and then only for the purpose of loading and unloading.
• Snowmobiles. No person shall operate a snowmobile in a city park.
• Speed Limit. No person shall operate any vehicle in a city park in excess of fifteen (15) m.p.h. unless otherwise posted.
• Glass Beverage Bottles in Parks Prohibited. No person shall possess or serve beverages in any glass beverage bottle within the limits of the parks or recreation grounds of the city.
• Reckless Driving in Parks Prohibited. No person shall operate a motor vehicle in a reckless manner in any of the public parks of the city.
• Parking in Parks. No person shall park any motor vehicle in any park in the city except in a designated parking area.
• Removing Tree Protectors. No person shall remove any device for the protection of trees or shrubs.
• Golfing. No golfing or practicing golf in city parks or recreation areas shall be allowed except with the use of a whiffle ball.
• Arrows. No person shall use or shoot any bow and arrow in any city park, except in authorized areas.
• After Hours Parking in City Parks. No unauthorized vehicle may be parked in a city park parking lot when the park is closed as outlined in Section 12.44.050.
• Swimming and Wading. No person shall swim or wade in any stormwater detention basin, drainage pond or other body of water located on city property except in areas where signs are posted permitting such use. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the city's employees and agents from carrying out city-authorized maintenance or enforcement efforts or other authorized duties.
• Boating. No person shall operate or use a boat, canoe, kayak or any other vehicle used for boating purposes in any stormwater detention basin, drainage pond or other body of water located on city property except in areas where signs are posted permitting such use. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the city's employees and agents from carrying out city-authorized maintenance or enforcement efforts or other authorized duties.

Permits

Permits may be issued for the following activities. All requests for a permit must be made in writing to the Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry

• Metal detecting
• Operation of radio-controlled model airplanes
• Operation of drones