Recreation Services Public Code of Conduct

Click HERE or see below for the general Recreation Services code of conduct.

Tempe Parks, Recreation, Golf and Double Butte Cemetery Advisory Board updated on Aug. 19, 2024

The Community Services Department strives to enhance Tempe’s quality of life through superior customer- focused and sustainable educational, recreational, cultural and social services.

The Parks & Recreation Division supports the rights of all individuals to equal access and use without discrimination, intimidation, threat of harm or invasion of privacy based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, familial status, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, U.S Military Veteran Status, or hair. The following Public Code of Conduct Policy is written to ensure a safe, secure, clean, and comfortable environment; protect Tempe property; and to provide an atmosphere conducive to appropriate use of its facilities, programs and services. The policy is to be used in conjunction with local, state, and federal laws.

Recreation Services Code of Conduct

•  Centers are open daily according to their posted hours; exceptions may be made for City observed holidays, staff trainings, etc. Enter and leave facility at designated times.
• City staff are not responsible for personal belongings or items left unattended in or on Tempe property. Unattended items may be discarded.
• Use restrooms only for their intended purpose. Unsanitary activities, including bathing, washing clothes, brushing teeth, grooming and shaving, are prohibited per Tempe City Code Section 23-40.
• Proper attire must be worn including shirts, shorts/pants and shoes. Offensive clothing with vulgar or inappropriate language or graphics is prohibited. Wearing clothing that exposes private body parts is prohibited.
• Maintain bodily hygiene in a manner that does not constitute a nuisance to other persons.
• Food may only be consumed as part of a City program, approved facility reservation, or when purchased from an onsite vending machine. No food or drink may be consumed while using public computers or stored on computer tabletops. Only authorized food or drink is permitted in the gymnasium or fitness center. See gymnasium or fitness center guidelines.
• No damaging or improper use of city property, including facilities, toilets, lighting, water fountains, furniture, etc. A.R.S. 13-1602. Use furniture, equipment and materials for their intended function in a manner that does not interfere with another person’s use of the facility. For example, no feet on furniture, and no lying on furniture or floor space inside the facility.
• No one should do anything that endangers the health and safety of themselves or others.
• Children under the age of six who are not registered participants of programming at the facility must be accompanied by an individual 16 years of age or older.
• Follow established loan procedures or authorizations before taking property or materials from the building.
• Use all areas, including parking areas, sidewalks and lawns, safely and lawfully.
• Stay out of non-public areas.
• Leave the facility promptly at the designated closing time.
• Take loud phone conversations outside the building.
• Refrain from petitioning, soliciting, gambling A.R.S. 13-3301, advertising or selling merchandise or services of any kind for any purpose in the building or within 20 feet of any entrance to the facility on sidewalks leading directly to the building (except as part of a facility sanctioned event).
• Store all firearms in the designated gun lockers in the entryway of the facility, when provided. A.R.S. 13-3102. Firearms are not permitted inside facilities, except for the time it takes to acquire a key for a gun locker. Carrying or concealing any weapons, devices or objects that may be used as a weapon in a city facility is prohibited.

The Following Actions and Forms of Conduct are Not Permitted:

• Violation of an ordinances, laws or regulations of the City of Tempe, the State of Arizona or any of its political subdivisions, or of the United States.
• Possessing or consuming alcohol or illegal drugs or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A.R.S. 13-1301 et seq. Gambling. A.R.S. 13-3301 et seq. Sleeping.
• Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, in areas that are not specifically designated as smoking areas A.R.S. 36-601.01, R9-2-102(B).
• Spitting.
• Bringing into the facility more than two personal items described as bags/purses/backpacks or any oversized item too large to fit under one chair.
• Urinating or defecating anywhere on the property, other than in public restroom facilities.
• Parking bicycles, wagons or carts anywhere other than designated bike rack areas.
• Disruptive or unsafe behavior that interferes with the use of the facility by others or with the staff’s ability to function.
• Using loud, threatening, profane, sexual or any harassing language toward staff or other users.
• Indecent exposure, voyeurism, exhibitionism or other unlawful sexual offenses. A.R.S. 13-1402 et seq.
• Playing any audio equipment or device at a level which interferes with another patron’s ability to use the facility.
• Verbal or physical fighting.
• Stalking, following, staring or invading a patron or staff member’s physical space causing annoyance, intimidation, fear or harm.
• Entering the facility with any type of animal, vehicle or insect, except as permitted by persons with disabilities.
• Use of skates or skateboard on facility property.
• Blocking entrances and exits. Tempe City Code Section 22-4.
• Vandalizing or defacing Tempe materials or Tempe property, including furniture, walls, computer equipment. A.R.S. 13-1602
• Damaging, destroying or stealing any customer’s or employee’s property.

Youth and Teen Code of Conduct

The social nature and other adolescent characteristics of youth and teens require a separate space for each group to support their needs. Some Multigenerational and Recreation Centers provide separate youth and teen areas within the facilities. Youth and Teen areas are designated only for those age groups. Members will only be able to participate if they meet the age/grade requirement. The youth and teen areas only allow parents or guardians in these areas during designated days and times. These days allow a parent or guardian to participate in activities with the participant (memberships are needed) in order to maintain the privacy and safety of other minor aged members.

Tempe provides Youth Afterschool Programming and Teen Centers to support the following related activities:

• Reading
• Studying
• Doing homework
• Working on school projects
• Using computers for appropriate recreation, research and communication
• Group study and collaboration
• Recreation, cultural, social, and other education activities
• Gathering, mingling and socializing in an unobtrusive manner

All youth and teens are expected to uphold this Code of Conduct. In addition, activities and behaviors not appropriate, nor tolerated, in a facility or while participating in a program are:

• Sleeping
• Physical rough housing
• Physical or verbal fighting
• Public displays of affection
• Personal grooming
• Blocking walkways or pathways
• Putting feet on furniture
• Verbal abuse or swearing
• Possession of weapons of any kind
• Vandalism, graffiti or damage to property
• Food and/or drink is not allowed in the gymnasium, game room, computer room. Water is permitted

Any behavior staff considers aggressive and/or abusive may result in parent or guardian and/or police being notified with further corrective actions being taken. Violations of any of these guidelines will be grounds for immediate removal from the facility.

Unattended Children Under Age 6

Notice to Parents, Guardians & Caregivers:
Tempe Recreation Services facilities and staff welcome and encourages use by children of all ages; however, facility policy requires an individual 16+ years of age to accompany any child under age six (6) who is not a registered participant in a facility program. Recreation Services staff will not and cannot accept responsibility or liability for the safety, care, supervision or entertainment of unaccompanied children; except when enrolled in a facility provided program.

The parent or guardian of an unaccompanied child, under the age of six (6), will be contacted to pick up the child. If the parent or guardian cannot be reached, then the Police Department will be contacted. The Police Department will contact parent, guardian or caregiver who may then pick up the child at the Police Department.

Recreation Services staff reserves the right to revoke permission for use of the facility and its grounds for repeated disregard of this policy and/or offenses, for the safety of the child. The City also may initiate proceedings to suspend facility privileges. Enforcement and Penalties for Recreation Services Facilities and Programs Enforcement of the Recreation Services Code of Conduct Policy will be conducted in a fair and reasonable manner. Recreation Services staff, security and/or Tempe Police Department will intervene to stop prohibited activities and behaviors. Individuals who fail to observe the policy may be given a verbal redirection or warning, asked to leave, be trespassed from the facility for a 
period of time, have their membership suspended, be subject to arrest or be subject to other lawful action. Recreation Services also reserves the right to revoke use of the service, program, facility and its grounds for repeated failure to comply with this Code of Conduct.

Participant name and account notes may be disclosed to security if Recreation Services staff has reason to believe the patron is breaking the Recreation Services Code of Conduct.

In case of serious, threatening or willfully malicious behavior, the offending person(s) will be expelled from the program or facility immediately by security and/or police.

To appeal this process, submit a written request to:
Deputy Community Services Director: Recreation Services Tempe Public Library
3500 South Rural Road Suite 203
Tempe, AZ 85282