Parks Department » General Information

Park Rules & Ordinances

Please observe the following rules and regulations when using Brown County Parks.

Park Ordinances:

Park Rules:

On-Leash Dog-Friendly Parks - all Brown County Parks except:
- Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, trails north of Lineville Road (dogs allowed on the trails south of Lineville Road)
- Reforestation Camp (dogs allowed in the campground and on designated campground trails)
Rules for Dog-Friendly Parks:
- Dogs must be leashed at all times (8-feet or less or 5-feet or less on a state recreational trail)
- Dogs not allowed on groomed ski trails or mountain bike trails
- Dogs are not allowed in playgrounds, designated picnic areas or buildings
- Dog owners are responsible for the clean-up and removal of dog waste
- Dogs not allowed during organized events (i.e. Brown County Fair)
- No more than three dogs per person on any one visit
- Dogs must be licensed and current on rabies vaccines
- Female dogs in heat are prohibited
- Aggressive dogs are not permitted

All County Parks observe a "Carry-In/Carry-Out" trash policy. Please bring along a trash bag to take waste and recyclables with you when you leave the park.
Typically, group sizes larger than 50 persons must rent a portion of the park prior to arrival.
One tent or canopy, up to 12'x12' is allowed without a ground fee.

Smoking is prohibited in all County Park buildings, within all playgrounds and at Fonferek's Glen Park.

Hunting for animals is permitted only in specially designated areas during certain seasons as established by the Brown County Board of Supervisors.

Removing, molesting, defacing, or destroying plants (including seeds, roots or other plant parts), downed wood, fungi, animals, rocks, minerals, fossil materials or archeological artifacts on County Park lands is prohibited except for the following:
- Edible fruits, edible nuts, wild mushrooms and wild asparagus may be removed by hand for the purpose of personal consumption by the collector. “Edible fruits” means fleshy fruits from plants including apples, plums, pears, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, juneberries and strawberries that are harvested for human consumption. “Edible nuts” means walnuts, hickory nuts, acorns and other similar nuts from trees and shrubs.
- For educational or research purposes with written permission from the Park Director or designee

Park Hours and Other General Rules:

Main Park Office:
- Open daily 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. between Oct. 1 and April 30.
- Summer hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. - noon between May 1 and Sept. 31.

Definitions:
"Dawn" has the meaning of 30 minutes before sunrise.
"Dusk" has the meaning of 30 minutes after sunset.

General County Park System:
- Open: dawn and dusk, unless specified here.
  - Pamperin Park: 8:00 a.m. - dusk
  - Fonferek's Glen Conservancy Area: 8:00 a.m. - dusk
- Winter trails, including cross country ski, snowshoeing and winter fat-tire bike trails: Dawn to 11:00 p.m.

*Facilities specifically designated by official action, or rented by the Parks may be open during hours outside those listed here.

Rifle Range at the Reforestation Camp
- Dates/hours established seasonally. Usually opening the last two Saturdays in September and, Saturdays & Sundays in October, and daily in November until the Thursday before the start of Deer Gun Season.
- Hours are 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Shelter Buildings
- Most park shelters are available for rental between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Premises must be cleaned and vacated prior to 10:00 p.m.. Pamperin and Reforestation Camp shelters can be rented until 12:00 a.m. (midnight) for an additional fee. The option of having the shelter opened one hour earlier (9:00 a.m.) is available for an additional fee. Shelters are not available on Easter Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Nature Center at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve
- Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday, noon- 4:00 p.m.