Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Battle Ground sets July 21 public hearing on revised park rules; council intends to ban horseback riding
Summary
Council set a July 21 public hearing to consider Ordinance 2025-10, which updates park hours, adds geocaching rules, prohibits vaping and smoking, and — after council discussion — will include a prohibition on horseback riding in city parks.
Battle Ground — The Battle Ground City Council on June 2 set a public hearing for July 21 to take testimony on an ordinance that would revise the city’s park rules, including hours of operation, permitted activities and a prohibition on smoking and vaping.
City staff presented the draft ordinance (2025-10) and said it adds geocaching rules, clarifies facility-specific hours and removes vaping and tobacco use from allowed activities. During council discussion one member asked that horseback riding be explicitly prohibited; staff said they would add that language to the ordinance prior to the hearing.
Council then moved to schedule a public hearing for the July 21 regular meeting. The motion to set the hearing was made and seconded and passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the update clarifies everyday park behavior, adds geocaching as a permitted/regulated activity, and removes vaping and tobacco use. The council’s decision to include a horseback-riding prohibition follows comparable rules in nearby jurisdictions and aims to address safety and facility wear concerns raised by council members.
Key details - Ordinance: 2025-10 — amends Battle Ground Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 8.18 (Parks rules and regulations). - Additions: geocaching with rules, facility-specific hours of operation, vaping prohibited, smoking and tobacco use prohibited. - Council requested: explicit prohibition on horseback riding to be added to final ordinance language before the public hearing. - Hearing scheduled: July 21, 2025 (regular City Council meeting).
What staff said: Mr. Hirsick (parks staff) asked council to set the hearing and outlined the changes; he also invited council questions. Council member Mark (speaker) said many county parks disallow horseback riding and recommended the same for Battle Ground; staff agreed to add that prohibition.
Next steps: Staff will incorporate the horseback-riding language and publish the ordinance packet for the July 21 public hearing.
