Park Use Rules City of Meridian Ordinances
Alcohol Possession & Consumption: Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Meridian City parks except for permitted special events or with paid picnic shelter reservations.
Camping: Camping is prohibited in City parks and in City park parking lots.
Dogs: No off-leash dogs are permitted in Meridian parks, with the exception of the Storey Bark Park and Discovery Bark Park. Properly dispose of dog waste in trash receptacles using materials provided at mutt-mitt stations.
Fires: No person in any park shall light, build, or maintain a fire, except for culinary purposes in grills or fireplaces designated for such purpose, and no person shall leave the immediate area without first extinguishing such fire. A violation of this provision shall be an infraction, the penalty for which shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) plus court costs.
Fireworks: Fireworks, as defined by Meridian City Code, are prohibited on all park properties.
Park Hours: Parks are open daily 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Sales: No commercial soliciting without a City permit.
Smoking: Smoking, including tobacco products and/or vaping, in any Meridian City park is prohibited. Smoking/ vaping is, however, allowed in parking lots. Please do not litter.
Sound Amplification: An Amplified Sound Permit is required for any sound level greater than 62 decibels measured from a 20-foot distance from the sound system.
Speed: The speed limit within parks is 15 mph, unless otherwise posted.
General Park Use Information
Archery: Archery is prohibited.
Boating: Boating of any type is prohibited.
Bounce Houses & Inflatables: Inflatable bounce houses and other inflatables can only be used as part of a permitted event at a picnic shelter. For other reservable spaces, please call our office at 208-888-3579. Water Features are prohibited from the park; including bounce houses with water slides, misters, dunk tanks, slip & slides, mini pools, etc.
Cancellations, Reschedules, & Refunds: To reschedule or cancel a picnic shelter or playing field reservation, the reserving party must contact Meridian Parks and Recreation by 5 p.m. MST before the 3rd business day prior to the reservation date. The day of the reservation is NOT included in the 3rd business day. Holidays will impact the deadline date. An approved refund will incur a $5 transaction fee. No modifications or cancellations to a reservation will be allowed if the request is not timely received as described above.
INDOOR Facility Reservation Cancellations, Rescheduling, & Refunds: To reschedule or cancel a reservation of an indoor facility, MPR staff must be contacted 30 calendar days prior to the date of the reservation. The day of the reservation is not included in the 30 calendar days. An approved refund will incur a $5 transaction fee. No modifications or cancellations to a reservation will be allowed if the request is not timely received as described above.
Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather at the time of a shelter or field reservation, the reserving party may contact Meridian Parks & Recreation by 5 p.m. MST within 5 business days following the reservation date and request a refund or rescheduled reservation. If the reservation is on a business day, the day of the reservation is not included in the 5 business days. Inclement weather includes, but is not limited to rain, snow/ice, high winds, fog and or hail. As long as the request for refund or rescheduled reservation is timely received, the reserving party may request a refund of the reservation fee, or may choose to immediately apply the fee for a future reservation within the SAME calendar season. An approved reschedule will not incur a $5 transaction fee. No modifications or cancellations to a reservation will be allowed if the request is not timely received as described above. Inclement Weather for Field usage: A reservation is at all times subject to the City’s discretion and responsibility to protect the field from damage. The City may cancel a field reservation when inclement weather or other conditions have impacted or may impact the field. If the City cancels a reservation for this reason, the City will provide as much advance notice as is practicable under the circumstances, but may cancel the reservation shortly before, at, or even during the time of the reservation. In the event of a cancellation by the City, the reserving party will be entitled to a refund or rescheduled reservation as provided by the City’s cancellation policy.
Canopies & Tents: Canopies or tents, 10x10 or smaller, are permitted in City Parks without a fee. Canopy stakes should be no longer than 8 inches in length to prevent damage to underground sprinkler lines. If using a 20x20 or larger canopy or tent and/or setting up any sized canopy at other reservable spaces, please contact our office at (208) 888-3579.
Glass Beverage Containers: Glass containers are prohibited.
Golf: Golfing or driving golf balls are not permitted in Meridian City parks.
Horses/Livestock: Horses or other livestock are prohibited.
Hot Air Balloons: Hot air balloons are prohibited without a Director’s Order.
Metal Detecting: The use of metal detectors is allowed in Meridian’s City parks as long as the following provisions are adhered to: Metal detectorists must not interfere with reserved park activities, organized sporting events, or other park uses or activities; Metal detectorists must not disturb sprinkler heads, pipes, irrigation system components, or any other infrastructure above or below the ground; Metal detectorists shall have access only to areas open to the general public; Only probes shorter than 8” and ¼” across may be used to dig. Do not dig with knives, trowels or other sharp or potentially destructive implements. There is no cost or permit needed for metal detecting in Meridian’s City parks. Persons damaging or destroying City property, whether purposefully or inadvertently, may be held responsible for the cost of repair or replacement.
Park Structures: Climbing on or attaching climbing or exercise apparatus to park structures is prohibited.
Picnic Shelters:
- Barbecuing: Barbecuing is welcome. You may furnish your own barbecue grill, as long as steps are taken to ensure it won’t cause damage to surrounding grass, trees, structures, etc. and that grease is contained and properly disposed of. Free charcoal barbecue grills are available in most park picnic shelters. Please do not dispose of hot charcoal on the lawn or in trash cans. Gas flat-top griddles are available to rent for $50 per time block in Kleiner Park at Shelters A-1 and B.
- Cleaning: Cleanliness is the responsibility of all park users. Deposit trash in the receptacles provided. Cooking grease must be caught and properly disposed of. Shelters are cleaned prior to reservations by Meridian Parks and Recreation staff and are closed between the hours of 2:00-4:00 p.m. unless the shelter is reserved the entire day. Groups are responsible for leaving the shelters clean. Should a group fail to perform adequate cleanup or cause damage to City facilities, the group will be billed for actual City costs for cleanup and repairs.
- Decorations: No silly string, pinatas, confetti, confetti canons, staples, nails, or tape. Please remove and discard all table coverings, balloons, signs and other decorations after your reservation has ended.
- Electrical Power: Electrical power is available on picnic shelter posts. Please use only one appliance per outlet.
- Picnic Tables: Please do not remove picnic tables from shelters and designated picnic sites. Users may rearrange the picnic tables within their shelter if they have a paid shelter reservation and the tables are not bolted in place.
- Reservation Time Block: Each time block includes set up and cleanup time. Please vacate by the end of your reservation time.
Remote Control Cars/Airplanes/Drones: Remote control cars, remote airplanes, and drones are prohibited in the presence of other park users.
Reservations:
- Picnic Shelters and Bandshell: Reservation season is April to mid-October. In general, all picnic shelters and the bandshell are reservable, pending availability, starting the first business day of February. When not reserved, picnic shelters and the bandshell are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations must be made by 5 p.m. the third full business day prior to the booking date.
- Outdoor Tennis/Pickleball Courts, Cornhole Boards, and Fields: Reservation season is March through October. In general, all outdoor tennis/pickleball courts, ball fields, and multi-use fields are reservable, pending availability, starting the first business day of February. When not reserved, outdoor courts and fields are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations must be made by 5 p.m. the third full business day prior to the booking date.
Restrooms: Our restrooms are open year-round and are programmed to lock automatically at park closing time.
Signs / Posters / Flyers, Etc.: No person in any park shall paste, glue, tack or otherwise post or affix any sign, plaque, advertisement, or inscription, whether temporary or permanent, to or upon any park real or personal property, facility or surface. Rare exceptions can only be made by written authority of the Parks Director or by a special permit approved by the Parks Director.
Skateboarding / Scooters: No skateboarding or scooter riding on walls, tables, planters or other park structures.
Sledding / Ice Blocking: Sledding and ice blocking are permitted.
Softball/Multi-Purpose Fields: The softball and multi-purpose fields are reservable at $10 per hour, pending availability. Please do not use fields if they are wet or muddy.
Splash Pads: The splash pads in Settlers Park, Kleiner Park, Discovery Parks and the water wickets in Hillsdale Park operate approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day from mid-morning until park closing at dusk. The splash pads utilize potable water. Please put swim diapers on toddlers. Posted rules apply.
Swimming: Swimming and wading are prohibited in City park ponds, fountains and water features.
Tennis/Pickleball Courts: The full-size and Quick Start tennis courts located in Settlers Park are reservable at $2.50 per hour for the general public, and $8.00 per hour for tennis pros. The pickleball courts in Reta Huskey Park are non-reservable.
Trees: It is unlawful for any person to cut, injure, deface, or damage any tree on park property.
Turf: No lining or marking the grass or sidewalks without specific permission and instructions from Meridian Parks & Recreation.
Vehicle Parking & Restrictions: Parking is limited to designated areas and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Vehicles parked in a No Parking area or left in the park after dusk may be a subject to a fine or towing. No unauthorized motor vehicles on sidewalks, paths, or grass.
Water Toys: All water amenities are prohibited in City parks; e.g., commercial misters, dunk tanks, water slides, kiddie pools.
Wildlife: Refrain from feeding or disturbing birds and wildlife in our parks.
For more information, City Code of Meridian can be found here ». Park information can be found in section Title 13.