Maitland updates park regulations

The city of Maitland has updated its code concerning prohibited activities in city parks. 

“It’s a cleanup,” Parks and Recreation Director Jay Conn said. “We looked at a few items we thought of changing, and we looked into some other ordinances that were similar to parks and rec. We really haven’t had a (large) amount of complaints on any particular item; we’re just doing cleanup … for some of those items in our ordinance compared to other (Parks and Recreation) ordinances.” 

Chief among the changes is a rule banning powered flying devices such as drones, remote-controlled helicopters and remote-controlled airplanes in parks. Conn said the entire process took a couple months to complete.

The city’s new rule matches a growing trend in other municipalities to regulate the fast-growing personal drone industry. The city of Winter Park brought up the drone issue in 2016 when City Commissioner Greg Seidel’s wife was harassed by a drone while paddling on Lake Virginia and, following privacy complaints in early 2017, considered drafting a city ordinance based on the outcome of a state-level drone bill.  

Although a city document states the flying devices may be allowed in specially-permitted areas, a Maitland spokesperson said no such areas exist in the city as of now. If a person is found using a drone in park areas, Maitland police officers will tell them to stop. If the problem persists, they will issue a fine. 

In addition to the drone and remote-controlled flying rules, the new rules address people leaving sports equipment in the parks. Parks maintenance staff have issued a number of complaints about residents even hitting golf balls into the parks, damaging mowers and other equipment during maintenance. 

“This was the first (cleanup) I’ve done in the three years I’ve been here,” Conn said. “I believe the last one might have been around 2011.”

SOME PROHIBITED PARK ACTIVITIES

Selling or soliciting tangible and intangible services

Scuba Diving in park waters

 Posting signage on park property 

Allowing children younger than 12 in designated swimming areas

Littering

Engaging in recreational activities or sports in areas that conflict with other activities

Sleeping, setting up bedding or otherwise being in temporary structure

Constructing, placing, erecting or affixing any structure, furniture or equipment in the park

Abandoning or otherwise leaving unattended equipment used in recreational activities. Equipment will be considered lost or unattended if left on park property after hours.

Hitting golf balls into the parks

Maitland Parks

Bellamy Park, 789 Kentucky Ave.

Covered Bridge Park, 701 Old Horatio Ave.

Fort Maitland Park, 900 South Orlando Ave.

Hill Park, 801 Hillcrest Ave.

Homer Hough Park at Lake Sybelia Point, 1320 N. Lake Sybelia

Jim Houser Azalea Garden, 701 Old Horatio Ave. 

Kings Row Park, 1895 Adams Drive

Lake Destiny Soccer Field, 345 North Lake Destiny Road

Lake Lily Park, 701 Lake Lily Drive

Lake Lucien Park, 130 Southhall Lane

Lake Sybelia Beach Park, 290 Jackson St.

Maitland Ballfield Complex, 361 North Keller Road 

Maitland Community Park, 1400 Mayo Ave.

Minnehaha Park, 1001 East Horatio Ave.