|
2'89
<br />KNAPP SWLOINa 050 A
<br />n s t i t u t e of Government QNAPEL HILL, N.4=76,.
<br />. TEIEP1404 '101% 0065]!1
<br />The Uniaeraity of :Vorlh Carolina at Chapel Hill
<br />
<br />March 20, I981r
<br />under G.S. 153A-169, the board of commissioners. may adopt Yegulations
<br />concerning the, use of - countro ert I resume this authorit has:,been xr
<br />You asked several questions An-your letter.concerning a+I.ee'aCounty;Parkas y
<br />and.Recreation_Commission'policy `.•that allows:priyate:groups to rent a park for
<br />a day at 'a time during certain months of the year o.ahe'eicldsion of.:the r
<br />general public1 found* .no~direct' legal. .authority:relating to,tfiose-,precise
<br />facts in my-research `'But-my'opinion, summarized .below,:jibed with' the
<br />general reactions of several of my colleagues and of Professor Sessoms. Let;
<br />me treat your questions in order.
<br />1. May the public. be excluded from a public park pursuant'to,theiabove
<br />policy?
<br />My opinion•is that the policy, as expressed in the material8+yuu.sent•me$<<
<br />is legally valid. There are no North Carolina cases on the questioa;:but..
<br />ings,:-"°'_ .j
<br />Nor is it uncommon for parks to be used to a reasonable extent for meet
<br />public addresses,' parades and similar group activities, that' tend.to-exclude
<br />the general public from recreational use, of parks. See 59 AM. Jur. 2d., Parks.'......
<br />and Squares, Section 33.
<br />From the above, I conclude-that rental of a park for a day at a time Y.
<br />"exclusively to a private group is permissible if: (1) the opportunity to rent:;:,;',
<br />properly' delegated to the'. The general..legal:.authoritles I .
<br />consulted also agreeithat reasonable. restrictions on the public'.in their `right, i
<br />of access to public parks are-valid. Further, where authorized. by statute,`
<br />„Carolina, such 4=;,',;
<br />leases and licenses of park properties are permitted. In North
<br />leases appeaY to be'authorized*bylG~S.1160A-272;°but:yourahould inquire';'
<br />whether•formalauthority-'to"enter', into these leases has beendelegated:lto the h'
<br />j Y 4
<br />appropriate' admipistratlve official under, that section."
<br />! t ,•,f-... :.8. tl t s, .,:i~ 3';~ y§'d 1Sy C[F ~Vh
<br />Thus,.one authority concludes,'that''-"[o]rdinarily. the! paik authorities inikaY~, ;
<br />their discretion^may decide' whether any,park •or'•any, part of any ;park can ';be 7exK,„
<br />set'aside--temporarilyfor; the use :of any portion of the public'..But 4j
<br />discretionary power in this respect must be lawfully exercised n.the. interest,
<br />of the publi' generally .10 McQuiilen, Municipal',Corporations,<Section" } r f
<br />28:54: 'In this state, it•ie notluncommon.for_swimming pools, community
<br />buildings,, school" facilities, portions-of parks and even:athletic'.facilities '.I
<br />such as•`basebail°parks to be re`nted~out temporarily on an exclusive basis.
<br />
|