ARTICLE 4. Municipal Park Control [5181. - 5199.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 4.

in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5181. Section 5181.

All lands, parks, highways, and avenues in any city or city and county, which prior to March 14, 1889, were set apart by law for public parks and which have been placed under the management or control of a board of park commissioners, shall remain and continue to be public parks, subject to the management and control of the several boards of park commissioners.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5182. Section 5182.

Each board of park commissioners shall consist of three persons, who shall be appointed by the Governor. They shall hold their offices for four years, respectively, and shall receive no compensation for their services.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5183. Section 5183.

In case of a vacancy in the membership of the board, it shall be filled by an appointee of the remaining members of the board, for the unexpired term. All vacancies caused by the expiration of the term of office of any member or by the failure or neglect to qualify of any person appointed by the Governor, shall be filled by the Governor. Each member of each board shall be a freeholder and a resident of the city, or city and county, in which the board of which he is a member is to act.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5184. Section 5184.

The Governor shall issue a commission to each commissioner appointed by him or her, and each commissioner shall, within 20 days after the receipt thereof, take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by law.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5185. Section 5185.

Two members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; and the concurrent action of two members is sufficient to enable the board to: (a) Make any contracts pertaining to the park or parks under the control of the board. (b) Draw and expend any money which has been appropriated or set apart for the support of the park or parks, or which constitutes any portion of the funds applicable to their support.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5186. Section 5186.

Each board shall govern, manage, and direct the parks, avenues, and grounds which are placed under its care and charge.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5187. Section 5187.

It may employ and appoint superintendents, laborers, clerks or secretaries, attorneys, surveyors, and engineers, and it may engage and employ musicians for service in the park, and other officers and assistants.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5188. Section 5188.

It may prescribe and fix the duties, authority, and compensation of its appointees and employees. It shall manage and disburse funds appropriated or provided for the support of the parks and grounds.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5189. Section 5189.

Moneys shall not be paid out of the treasury of any city, or city and county, except upon warrants duly signed by a majority of the board of park commissioners and audited by the auditor of the city.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5190. Section 5190.

Every park commissioner who is interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract or work of any kind connected with the park or grounds under the control of the board of which he is a member is guilty of a felony. Every person who knows or is informed of a violation of this section, shall forthwith report it to the Governor, who shall hear the allegations and proofs. If, after the hearing, the Governor is satisfied of the truth of the charge, he shall immediately remove the commissioner who has been guilty of the offense.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5191. Section 5191.

Each board shall on the first Monday of July of each year make to the Legislature of the State, and to the legislative body of the city in which the board is acting, a full report of its proceedings and a detailed statement of its receipts and expenditures.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5192. Section 5192.

Each board of park commissioners may let or lease any portion of the parks or grounds under its control, not exceeding one acre in extent, to any one person, until the grounds so leased are required for the improvement of such parks, or for public use as a park. The lease shall be unassignable. No portion may be leased to any street or other railroad company for a term exceeding three years. All money realized from the leases shall be paid into the treasury of the city, or city and county, in which the parks are situated, and added to the funds appropriated or provided for the support of the parks.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5193. Section 5193.

Each board may pass and adopt ordinances which are necessary for the regulation, use, and government of the parks and grounds under its supervision, not inconsistent with the laws of the State. These ordinances shall be published for ten days, Sunday excepted, in a daily newspaper to be selected by the board, published in the city or city and county in which the board is acting. Publication shall be commenced within five days after passage of the ordinance. Every person who violates any published ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5194. Section 5194.

Prisoners over the age of 18 years, who have been sentenced to hard labor in any penal establishment of any city or city and county may, upon the request and requisition of the board of park commissioners, be put to work upon the parks and grounds which are under the control of the board.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5195. Section 5195.

Each board may accept donations and aid from any person or corporation, and legacies and bequests by the last wills of deceased persons, for the aid or improvement of the parks and grounds under the control of the board. All money derived by any board from donations, legacies, and bequests shall, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the gift, legacy, or bequest, be deposited in the treasury of the city or city and county and withdrawn and paid out in the same manner as money legally appropriated for the support and improvement of the parks and grounds.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5196. Section 5196.

If the money derived from gifts, bequests, or legacies at any time exceeds the sum necessary for immediate expenditure on the parks and grounds, or if it is advisable to invest all or a part of such funds in an interest-bearing or productive investment, the board may invest such money in interest-bearing bonds of the Government of the United States, or the State of California, or in obligations issued pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, approved July 22, 1932, as now or hereafter amended, or in obligations issued pursuant to Title 4 of the National Housing Act, approved June 27, 1934, as now or hereafter amended. Thereafter the board may sell and dispose of these securities, or change the form of the investment.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5199. Section 5199.

A board of park commissioners shall not in any year incur any debt or liability or expend any money beyond the amount legally applicable to the support, preservation, and improvement of the parks and grounds under the control of the board.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026