Code of Conduct

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department has a Code of Conduct, which promotes clean, safe, accessible and inviting parks, programs and facilities. Kindness and respect towards fellow guests and City staff is appreciated and expected at all times. Behavior that violates the law, interferes with, endangers or injures oneself or others, or damages park property is unacceptable.

For the purposes of this policy, a facility is a City-owned building operated by the City or by an organization authorized to operate the building on the City’s behalf.

The following is not permitted in any Phoenix Parks and Recreation desert park, mountain preserve, park or facility (collectively “Park or Parks”):

• Abusing or vandalizing a Park or its amenities in any way
• Entering or using a Park or its amenities at any time other than during the posted hours of operation
• Using, possessing or selling illegal drugs or possessing drug paraphernalia
• Possessing or consuming alcohol without obtaining proper approval
• Possessing weapons inside any City facility, as posted
• Aggressive intimidation or harassment of patrons or City staff members including physical, sexual or verbal abuse
• Obstructing other park guests’ use of Parks and Park amenities, or maintenance of the park and Park amenities by City staff members
• Using amenities, including picnic tables and playgrounds, outside of their intended or approved purpose
• Bathing, sleeping, storing personal belongings or doing laundry in restrooms or facilities
• Storing or leaving personal belongings unattended within any Park
• Use of shopping carts as posted, or other wheeled devices when they create obstructions, unnecessary clutter or damage to landscaping
• Charging for services, including exercise activities, guided hikes, sports and other special interest classes and activities, without obtaining proper approval
• Assembling groups of 50 people or more without obtaining proper approval
• Use of one or more ramadas in a Park for more than four hours per day, for two consecutive days, without obtaining proper approval
• Use of amplified sound without obtaining proper approval
• Use of tobacco products on all City park property
• Animals inside facilities, except for service animals, which are permitted
• Entering facilities without appropriate attire, as posted
• Unlawful conduct that violates the Arizona Revised Statues, Phoenix City Code, or posted Park Rules or Code of Conduct
• Activities that may endanger self, others, wildlife or Park property

 

In addition to the rules listed above, the following is not permitted in any desert park or mountain preserve:

• Endangering children or vulnerable adults on difficult trails or in adverse weather conditions
• Endangering dogs on difficult trails or in adverse weather conditions, such as temperatures over 100 degrees
• Playing personal music via speakers; use of headphones is encouraged, as a courtesy to fellow hikers, on trails, at ramadas and in parking lots
• Disregarding trail hierarchy; hikers and bicyclists yield to horses, bicyclists yield to hikers
• Disregarding trail etiquette; downhill trail traffic flow yields to uphill trail traffic
• Smoking/vaping
• Defacing natural areas with chalk, marker, powder materials or other non-natural products
• Moving rocks or other native material along a trail or altering the tread in such a way as to facilitate or encourage illegal trail use or to cause personal harm
• Riding electric bicycles or other types of motorized vehicles on trails or off established park roads
• Operating a metal detector and removing any found items
• Placing of geocaches in a location within a park or preserve that does not fall within management guidelines for that area – all geocaches must be reviewed and approved by park management or they will be removed
• Unauthorized off-trail activity

History

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department’s Code of Conduct is currently in effect. The Code of Conduct was implemented by staff in January 2021. Staff spent the first 60 days strictly educating the community and park users about the Code of Conduct and the new behavioral expectations before the trespass policy contained in the Code of Conduct went into effect in March 2021. Thank you for helping us maintain clean, safe, accessible and inviting parks and programs!​

Download the Code of Conduct Policy in PDF format

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