Ruidoso park hours and rules adopted

• Playgrounds and lakes may see "otherside posted" hours

An ordinance setting basic hours for Ruidoso parks was approved by the Ruidoso Village Council to give the police department a basis for enforcement.

Police Chief Darren Hooker said simply posting hours without an ordinance setting out penalties for violations hampers his officers.

“Whether its 8 p.m. or midnight, we just need definite hours to enforce,” he told councilors Tuesday.

But the council also recognized that individual parks may have special considerations for hours, especially those with playgrounds that were designed for young children. Councilors agreed to set hours for parks from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., “unless otherwise posted.”

In presenting the original ordinance, which contained the hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with fishermen in mind at Grindstone and Alto lakes, Parks and Recreation Director Rodney Griego said the terms of the ordinance were recommended after multiple meetings over months with citizens, police, code enforcement, the fire department, the parks commission and officials with the New Mexico Game and Fish.

 “It sounds simple to address hours for parks, but it goes well beyond that, because the parks department has a lot of responsibilities.” He said.

As approved, overnight camping in a park is unlawful without city permit, except that special events may be approved by the village and a license issued by the village clerk for overnight use of village-owned outdoor facilities.

It is unlawful to leave a vehicle standing after posted closing hours in a village leased or owned parking lot without written permission, including at parks, the gymnasium, the convention center, library and swimming pool. The vehicle could be towed. Griego said that action would not rely on police patrolling parking lots, but rather department employees noticing a vehicle apparently abandoned. “For sale” vehicles also can’t be left or vehicles parked in “drop-off only” areas.

Unlicensed vehicles prohibited in the parking lots include go-carts, minibikes and all-terrain vehicles, unless specifically authorized.

Commissioner Rafael “Rifle” Salas, formerly head of the parks and recreation department, suggested lowering the closing time to 10 p.m. from 11 p.m., but retaining the “unless otherwise posted” phase to accommodate fishermen and those who rise early to jog or run at village facilities.

In discussing the 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. initial proposal, Griego said that may sound early and a little late, “but people want to be fishing at lakes early in the morning when sun comes up,” and those going for catfish like the hours of darkness. He sees significant foot traffic around the running paths of people grabbing a workout before going to their jobs, he said.

But a resident near Wingfield Park said homeowners often are bothered by teenagers noisily gathering at the playground there after dark. She suggested playgrounds should close at dusk, because they are designed for young children. Police would have grounds to move older children out.

Griego said Wingfield and Two Rivers parks don’t have lighting for after-dark activities.

Councilor Joseph Eby suggested different hours for playgrounds could be listed in the ordinance, but Griego said, “The thought was that having different hours for different locations just added to the confusion.”

Salas suggested mirroring curfew hours that say children shouldn’t be out after 9 p.m., but Hooker said that law was struck down statewide. Using the wording from sunrise to sunset allows for changing seasons, Salas said, but again may be open to interpretation for police.

Sanctioned adult tournaments that go around the clock are able to play even with “Dark Sky” laws against lighting the night sky and the language is clear that they can run in Ruidoso parks and sports fields, he said.

After a couple of tries at a motion, councilor’s passed the ordinance with the wording of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted giving base hours for police with any deviations posted.

Eby said staff can study the demand in different areas and parks, and then post any “otherwise” hours.