These rules relate to and control all City-owned parks and recreation facilities except Fitzgerald Park. All parks and recreation facilities within the scope of these rules are under the jurisdiction of the City of Grand Ledge Parks and Recreation Commission.

Hours

All park property shall be open to public use from dawn until dusk unless other hours are posted. No person or vehicle shall remain on park property except during the hours open to public use without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.

Reservations and Applications

Any individual or group may use a park or certain areas, facilities or services within a park to the exclusion of all others by making application for such exclusive use, having said application approved by the City Clerk and paying any application fee which may be required.

Applications for recurring weekly, biweekly or monthly use shall be filed not earlier than 01 June for the following twelve month period beginning 01 July and shall include a list of specific dates requested to be reserved. Applications for recurring weekly, biweekly or monthly use received after 01 July shall only be approved for the time remaining through the following 30 June.

The approval of an application for use of a park or certain areas, facilities or services within a park to the exclusion of all others shall not exempt the individual or group from full compliance with all rules and regulations regarding the use of the park or certain areas, facilities or services within the park.

Applications for use of a park or certain areas, facilities or services within a park to the exclusion of all others are subject to the following:

1. The proposed use will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of public health, welfare and safety;
2. The requested park or certain areas, facilities or services within the park have not been reserved for other use during the time requested;
3. The proposed use will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of traffic;
4. The proposed use will not require police supervision or assistance, or the Chief of Police has approved any necessary police supervision or assistance;
5. The proposed use is not intended solely for the purpose of advertising any product or good.

Alcoholic beverages

No individual or group may consume intoxicating beverages of any kind in any park, parking lot, or other land owned by the City of Grand Ledge without first obtaining written permission from the City Council.

Animals and birds

No individual or group may:

1. Cause or allow any animal or fowl to run at large or to permit them to annoy or disturb other persons.
2. Bring, drive, lead or carry any dog or other animal or pet which is unleashed or upon a lease more than six feet in length and not under immediate control of an adult person; except for animals used in designated shows or programs included in written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.
3. Cause or allow any animal or fowl to enter any public building or to be upon any designated beach area except a trained and working leader dog; or to allow their animal or fowl to enter any water body contained therein.
4. Abuse, mistreat, or neglect any animal or fowl.
5. Hunt, trap, catch, wound or kill, or treat cruelly, attempt to trap, catch, wound, or kill any bird or animal, molest or rob any nest of any bird or any lair, den or burrow or any animal on park property; provided, however, that fishing may be permitted on park property in accordance with Parks and Recreation Commission rules, the rules of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the laws of the State of Michigan, in areas designated for such purposes by the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Balloons, airplanes and parachutes

No individual or group may make any ascent, descent or landing in any balloon, airplane, parachute, or other airborne vehicle on park property without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.

Boating

No individual or group may bring into, use or navigate any boat, yacht, canoe, raft or other floating device upon any watercourse lagoon, lake, pond or slough located on park property, except at such time or place as may be provided or designated for such purpose.

Camping

No individual or group may camp except in such areas as may be provided and designated for such purpose, and unless in possession of an approved permit for such purpose.

Destruction or damage to park property

No individual or group may:

1. Willfully destroy, deface, alter, change or remove any monument, stone marker, bench mark, stake, post or blaze, marking or designating boundary line, survey line, or reference point.
2. Cut, break, mark upon or otherwise injure any building, equipment, bridge, table, wall, fountain, lamp post, fence, gate hedge, or other structure.
3. Deface, destroy, cover or remove any placard, notice or sign, whether permanent or temporary, posted or exhibited within or upon park property.
4. Willfully or maliciously destroy, injure, or otherwise damage any property.
5. Take or carry away, or attempt to take or carry away, any property without written permission from the owner thereof.
6. Cut, remove or destroy any tree, sapling, seedling, bush or shrub, whether dead or alive, or chip, blaze, box girdle, trim or otherwise deface or injure any tree or shrubs, or break or remove any branch, foliage, flower or any tree or shrub, or pick, gather, uproot, remove or destroy any flower, plant or grass, whether dead or alive.
7. Destroy, remove or cause to be removed any sod, earth, humus, peat, boulders, gravel or sand, fossil or any geologic object without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.
8. Roll, throw, push or in any manner propel or cause any object to go over the edge of any ledge or cliff, except such items normally used in climbing, when being used in the course of climbing.
9. Use cliff hangers or driven protection or pinions.
10. Engage in repelling.

Fees and charges

1. No individual or group may use any park or certain areas, facilities or services within a park for which a fee or charge has been established without payment in advance.
2. No individual or group may charge an admission fee or charge for entry or use of any park or certain areas, facilities or services within a park without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Firearms

No individual or group may bring onto park property, have in their possession on park property, or discharge or set off anywhere upon park property a revolver, pistol, shotgun, rifle, firearm, bow or other weapon that discharges projectiles either by air, explosive substance or any other force.

Fires

No individual or group may:

1. Willfully set or cause to be set on fire any tree, woodland, brushland, grassland or meadow within or upon park property.
2. Build any fire upon park property except within the fireplaces, receptacles or open spaces approved and designated for such purpose, without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent. No person shall build or maintain a fire within fireplaces, receptacles or open spaces approved or designated for such purposes in a careless or negligent manner likely to endanger any person or property.
3. Drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigars, cigarettes, tobacco paper or other inflammable material within or upon park property in a careless or negligent manner likely to endanger any person or property.

Fireworks

No individual or group may fire, discharge or have in their possession any rocket, flare, firecracker, torpedo, squib, or other fireworks or any substance of an explosive or incendiary nature on park property without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.

Motor-driven vehicles

No individual or group may:

1. Operate a motor-driven vehicle of any kind or nature except on roads or designated parking areas.
2. Operate a motor-driven vehicle on any park road at a speed exceeding 15 miles per hour or at any speed greater than that posted.
3. Operate any motor-driven sled, ski, toboggan or snowmobile on park property except where provided or designated for such purpose by the Commission.
4. Continuously cruise in or on any motor-driven vehicle in or through any areas of park property. To “continuously cruise” is herein defined as the repeated driving of a motor-driven vehicle in or through park property without stopping for the purpose of using park property.

Peddling and soliciting

No individual or group may peddle or solicit business of any nature whatsoever, distribute handbills or other advertising matter, or post signs on park property, without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.

Personal conduct

No individual or group may engage in any violent, abusive, loud, boisterous, vulgar, lewd, wanton, obscene or otherwise disorderly conduct, or disturb or annoy others while in or on park property.

Special permits

1. No erection, construction or maintenance shall be made on, above or below park property by any person, firm, or corporation without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission authorizing such installation or construction and obtaining a permit specifying in detail the work to be done and the conditions to be fulfilled pursuant to the terms of such approval.
2. The Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent may, upon written application, grant specific use permits for special uses when in the opinion of the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent such permit is consistent with use of the park by the public.

Skating, coasting and skiing

No individual or group may skate, walk or go upon any ice, or coast with handsleds, toboggans, other such coasting devices, or ski on park property except at such times and places as may be provided or designated for such purposes by the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.

Swimming, bathing and wading

No individual or group may:

1. Swim, bathe, or wade between sunset and sunrise, in any watercourse, lagoon, pond, or slough located on park property.
2. Swim, bathe or wade on park property except such times and places as may be provided and designated for such purposes.

Unlawful obstruction

No individual or group may, by force, threats, intimidations, fencing, enclosing, or by any other means, prevent or obstruct any person from entering, leaving or making full use of any park or certain areas, facilities or services within a park; provided, however, that any individual or group may use certain areas, facilities or services within park property to the exclusion of all others if in possession of an approved application permitting exclusive use of that park or those certain areas, facilities or services within that park.

Use of loudspeaker

No individual or group may use a loud speaker, public address system or amplifier on park property without first obtaining written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission or its agent.

Violations and penalties; civil sanctions

1. Any individual or group violating these rules shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor as provided in the Grand Ledge City Code Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, Penalties, §1-17B, except where provided.
2. Any individual or group violating these rules concerning the unlawful use, operation and parking of motor-driven vehicles, will be deemed responsible for a civil infraction or guilty of a misdemeanor as provided by the Uniform Traffic Code promulgated pursuant to 257.951 et seq.; provided, further, that the State of Michigan may hereafter change or amend these penalties and civil sanctions.

Grand Ledge Scouts and Seniors are exempt from these fees when using the Scout Building. The Farmers Market, Relay for Life, Victorian Days and Yankee Doodle Days are exempt from parks facilities rental fees. All other non-profit organizations and events pay listed non-profit parks facilities rental fees. The City may charge additional fees for other services not listed. Full day rentals are from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Half day rentals are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. All facility rentals require a refundable $100.00 damage/clean up deposit.

SERVICE	RESIDENT	NON-RESIDENT
Fitzgerald Ball Field Pony Colt League per Year	$250.00 + lighting costs	$250.00 + lighting costs
Island Park (All rentals requiring electricity pay a $50.00 electricity charge.) Half Day Full Day Non-Profit Half Day Non-Profit Full Day Revenue Generating Non-Profit	$250.00 $450.00 $125.00 $225.00 $150.00/event	$650.00 $850.00 $325.00 $425.00 $250.00/event
Island Park Boat Dock or Gazebo Half Day Full Day Non-Profit Half Day Non-Profit Full Day	$80.00 $120.00 $40.00 $60.00	$150.00 $250.00 $75.00 $125.00
Jaycee Park Pavilion Half Day Full Day Non-Profit Half Day Non-Profit Full Day	$50.00 $80.00 $25.00 $40.00	$100.00 $150.00 $50.00 $75.00
Maypole Park Half Day Full Day Non-Profit Half Day Non-Profit Full Day	$80.00 $150.00 $40.00 $75.00	$150.00 $250.00 $75.00 $125.00
Scout Building Half Day Full Day Non-Profit Less than 4 Hours Non-Profit 4 to 8 Hours Non-Profit More than 8 Hours	$150.00 $250.00 $25.00 $50.00 $75.00	$250.00 $350.00 $25.00 $50.00 $75.00

INTRODUCTION

Oakwood Cemetery and the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden are owned and operated by the City of Grand Ledge, under the direction of the Board of Cemetery Trustees and the City Charter. The Board of Cemetery Trustees has adopted these rules and regulations to care and manage Oakwood Cemetery and the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden, and direct the improvements and embellishments of the grounds at Oakwood Cemetery and the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden. The Board of Cemetery Trustees reserves the right to change these rules and regulations. The Superintendent and/or Sexton have the right to establish temporary rules or make exceptions to existing rules whenever, in their judgment, the best interests of Oakwood Cemetery demand it. These temporary rules or exceptions must be reported immediately to the Board of Cemetery Trustees for approval.

DEFINITIONS

Immediate Family – The spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent or great-grandchild of an owner or owner’s spouse.

Lot – An area containing up to eight plots.

Marker – A gravestone or headstone, either flush with or above the ground, indicating the name(s) of the deceased buried in the plot(s) or niche(s) immediately adjacent.

Monument – A marker extending above the ground, inscribed with a family name.

Niche – A space within a plot or contained within a marker for burial of cremated human remains.

Owner – The individual or group of individuals listed on the deed for a plot or niche.

Plot – An space used for burial.

Resident – An individual meeting the requirements to be a registered voter of the City of Grand Ledge.

Sexton – The City employee responsible for the day to day operations of the cemetery, including but not limited to, lot sales, grave openings and closings, enforcement of rules and regulations, contact with funeral directors, installation of marker or monument foundations, cemetery maintenance and public relations.

Superintendent – The City employee responsible for the overall operation of the cemetery, and hiring and discharging employees.

General Information

City Hall is located at 200 East Jefferson, Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837, and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. A complete record of owners and burials is maintained at City Hall. This information is available for all purchases and burials taking place after 01 January 1955. Information on purchases and burials prior to 01 January 1955 is less complete. Cemetery personnel are available from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. All information concerning purchasing procedure, rules and regulations, arrangements for and cost of interment services, and other services are available at City Hall.

General Rules

1. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited, except in conjunction with established burial customs.

2. Animals are prohibited, except working leader dogs.

3. Advertising or posting of signs is prohibited.

4. The carrying or use of firearms is prohibited, except in connection with burial ceremonies or by law enforcement officers.

5. Entering before 7:00 a.m. or after dusk is prohibited.

6. The use of profane, loud or boisterous language is prohibited.

7. The speed limit is 10 miles per hour and driving off established roadways is prohibited.

8. Littering is prohibited.

Plot and Niche Purchasing and Transfers

In Oakwood Cemetery, each plot measures nine feet by nine feet. Each plot may contain only one burial, except as authorized in these rules.

In the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden, each lot measures nine feet by nine feet and is divided into eight plots surrounding a center area measuring three feet by three feet. The center area contains a granite marker with a number engraved on it designating the lot within the Cremains Garden. In addition, the granite marker has the letters A through H engraved on the edge of its face designating the plots surrounding it. Each plot measures three feet by three feet and is divided into two niches. Each niche may contain only one burial of cremated human remains. The niches located within Plots B and F may be sold individually.
1. Every plot and niche is sold subject to these rules and regulations.

2. Owners are issued a deed to their plot(s) or niche(s) entitling them to burial rights and upkeep of the plot(s) or niche(s).

3. Purchasing of plots or niches for speculative purposes or for resale to third parties other than immediate family is prohibited.

4. Plots and niches are not real property and are exempt from property tax. No mortgage or other encumbrance shall be issued for any plot or niche.

5. Multiple owners shall be individually named on deeds.

6. The City will not refund any payment, or any portion of any payment, if a non-resident owner later becomes a resident.

7. All transfers of ownership must be by notarized Quit Claim Deed. The City will not issue a new deed upon ownership transfer but will update its records and file the Quit Claim Deed with its copy of the original deed.

8. All rights claimed under the purchase of a plot or niche may revert to the City if, for any reason, the purchased plot or niche remains unused for a period of fifty years. The City will make all reasonable attempts to locate any heirs before a reversion takes place.

Interments and Disinterments

Instructions for ordering grave openings have been given to area funeral directors. If your funeral director does not have these instructions, contact City Hall for instructions. Orders for grave openings must be received at least eight workings hours in advance of the funeral services.
1. No burial shall take place until the purchase price, the grave opening fee, and all other applicable fees and charges have been paid in full.

2. The City is not responsible for errors in location of burials arising from improper instructions from owners. Orders from funeral directors shall be construed as orders from owners.

3. Funerals arriving after 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, all funerals on Saturdays, and all funerals on President’s Day, Veteran’s Day, Good Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve will be assessed an additional charge.

4. No burials are allowed on Sunday, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

5. A burial permit is required for all burials, including cremains. Burial permits for cremains must include complete information, the same as required for regular burial permits, in order for the City to keep complete records.

6. Burials of individuals other than the owner or immediate family are prohibited.

7. No more than one burial may be made per plot, except in the case of a mother and infant, or two infants or two children, buried at the same time. Also, a regular burial and a cremation, or two cremations per plot are allowed.

8. Burials other than human remains are prohibited.

9. All burials shall be in metal or concrete vaults, or concrete rough boxes, except for cremations and infant burials in a casket size of two feet six inches or less. All vaults and rough boxes shall be installed only by authorized firms.

10. Vault firms are responsible for damage to the turf, landscaping, and surrounding markers and monuments, even if City employees assist in vault installation, and shall use planking when and where necessary to protect the turf.

11. City employees will assist with funeral processions, if requested.

12. All interments and disinterments shall be performed by City employees.

13. Scattering of cremains is prohibited.

14. Disinterment is prohibited except for due cause and then only with approval of the Health Department; and shall take place only between October 1 and April 30 unless by court order. Foundations where disinterment occurs will be moved and reset at owners expense.

15. City staff will remove funeral designs and floral pieces as soon as they become unsightly, and assumes no responsibility for their return.

16. Restoration of landscaping, funeral designs and floral pieces damaged during a disinterment will be the responsibility of the owner.

Markers and Monuments

1. Markers and monuments in Oakwood Cemetery shall be located on the west edge of the plot(s) they reference and shall correspond in size with the size of the plot or plots it marks but shall in no event exceed four feet in height. Markers or monuments in Oakwood Cemetery containing niches for burying cremains must be constructed such that access to the niche after cremains are placed inside will deface or destroy the marker or monument and must be registered with the City. The City will remove, at the owner’s expense, any marker or monument containing niches for burying cremains, unless it is registered with the City within thirty days of installation. All cremains placed inside markers or monuments containing niches must be recorded with the City within thirty days.

2. Markers in the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden shall be made of granite and may include a bronze plaque, shall be flush with the ground and shall not exceed twenty-eight inches in length, sixteen inches in width and four inches in depth, should contain the full name of the deceased and engraving shall be performed by a monument company, shall be oriented toward the pathway surrounding the lot within which the marker is to be placed, and shall first be placed on the niche closest to the pathway and a second marker may then be placed on the niche furthest from the pathway.

3. Family monuments are permitted only if placed in symmetrical alignment with markers, and are prohibited in the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden.

4. All markers and monuments shall be made of durable granite or bronze. Homemade markers and markers made of other materials such as marble, wood, plastic, cement or steel are prohibited.

5. Markers shall be kept in good repair by the owner for safety and aesthetic value.

6. Any temporary marker left for more than one year is no longer the responsibility of Oakwood Cemetery.

7. Inscriptions on markers and monuments shall not contain offensive or improper language, images or markings as judged by the Board of Cemetery Trustees. Owners shall be responsible for all expenses for removal of markers deemed offensive or improper.

8. All markers and monuments must have foundations and shall not be delivered until a foundation is installed and payment is made in full. Orders for foundations shall be placed a minimum of two weeks in advance of delivery. Foundations will not be poured between October 1 and April 30.

9. Marker or monument companies are responsible for all damages to the turf, landscaping, and surrounding markers and monuments occurring during installation.

10. The City assumes no responsibility for damage to markers or monuments.

11. Individual mausoleums and crypts are prohibited.

12. No marker shall be installed unless the Sexton is present.

Lot Care, Maintenance and Improvements

1. Regular maintenance of turf and landscaping shall be performed by City personnel.

2. Artificial flowers and wreaths, and grave blankets are allowed only from November 1st through March 31st. The Sexton will remove all artificial flowers and wreaths, and all grave blankets on April 1st. Artificial flowers shall not be placed in the ground. Artificial flowers and wreaths may be placed in the mausoleum at any time; however, the Sexton will removed them each year prior to Memorial Day.

3. Planting or removal of trees and shrubbery is prohibited unless approved by the Superintendent or Sexton as to species, variety, location and time of planting.

4. In Oakwood Cemetery, flowers may be planted within eighteen inches of a marker or monument, and under no circumstances shall plantings be allowed outside the boundaries of the owner’s plot(s), no sod shall be removed which is not next to a marker or monument and then not more than eighteen inches, and plantings may be set next to markers or monuments, but must be kept free from grass and weeds.

5. In the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden, floral arrangements from a funeral service may remain for seven days, fresh-cut flowers are allowed but shall be removed, at the discretion of the Sexton, when they become unsightly or detract from the beauty of the Oakwood Cemetery Cremains Garden, no containers are allowed, and digging and/or planting any flower, shrub, or plant in the ground is prohibited.

6. Wooden or equally perishable material, fences, curbs, hedges and copings are prohibited.

7. Ground cover of stone, limestone, woodchips, etc. is prohibited.

8. Urns are prohibited unless approved by the Superintendent or Sexton as to material and location.

9. The City will remove urns not used by June 1 of each year and will dispose of urns not claimed within one year after removal.

10. Urns of glass, clay, or ceramic, and any plastic containers of any type are prohibited. The City will hold remove and hold such containers for one year, and will dispose of such containers not claimed within one year after removal.

11. Benches are prohibited unless approved by the Superintendent or Sexton as to material and location. Any bench must be installed on a foundation which is flush with the ground. Foundations shall be installed at the owner’s expense and at the same cost as foundations for markers and monuments.

12. Benches containing niches for burying cremains must be constructed such that access to the niche after cremains are placed inside will deface or destroy the bench and must be registered with the City. The City will remove, at the owner’s expense, any bench containing niches for burying cremains, unless it is registered with the City within thirty days of installation. All cremains placed inside benches containing niches must be recorded with the City within thirty days.

13. Lot corner posts are prohibited unless installed by City personnel, flush with the ground and at the owner’s expense.

14. Mounding of graves is prohibited.

15. The City reserves the right to remove and dispose of, without notice, any unsightly, deteriorated, neglected or prohibited items, except markers or monuments.