Seattle Parks and Recreation has developed a new code of conduct that would consolidate previously disallowed activities as well as newly disallowed activities, such as smoking and spitting, into one document.

The code of conduct, which will be looked at for adoption by the Board of Park Commissioners Feb. 11, would apply to all Seattle parks and park-owned facilities.

Prohibited behaviors contained within the code of conduct are behaviors that violate a section of the Seattle Municipal Code, are prohibited by a rule adopted on the superintendent of Parks' authority, or have been newly identified in the code of conduct.

The newly prohibited activities are patterns of behavior observed by Parks staff, said Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter. They are anything staff observed frequently that they saw as uncivil. she said.

According to a Parks and Recreation memo, the intent of the code of conduct is to create a single document that brings together the most common and egregious behaviors that can result in an exclusion order.

It will be a useful tool for police officers and park rangers to educate park users and issue exclusion orders, according to the memo.

The following are newly disallowed behaviors identified in the code of conduct draft:

• Conduct that deprives others of their use or enjoyment of a park or facility or disrupts Parks business.
• Possession of glass containers at athletic fields, beaches and children's playgrounds.
• Improper use of restrooms.
• Smoking.
• Spitting.
• Leaving packages, backpacks, luggage or other personal items unattended.
• Blocking entrances, exits, walkways, etc. that interferes with provision of services or use of park property.
• Conduct that creates an unreasonable and substantial risk of harm to a person or property.
• Entering restrooms designated for people of the opposite sex.
• Use of flammable liquids.
• Abusive or harassing behavior, including obscene language or gestures, assault or fighting.
• Possession of fireworks, firecrackers, explosive, acid or other articles or materials capable of causing serious harm to others.
• Sexual misconduct.

If the code of conduct is implemented, a violation of a rule that does not break a civil or criminal law can be punished with an exclusion order, which bans an individual from the park for a given amount of time.

Under a park exclusion zone created last year in downtown Ballard, individuals receiving an exclusion order in Ballard Commons Park, Bergen Place or Marvin's Gardens would be banned from all three.

A list of lengths of exclusions for a given violation is available in the code of conduct draft attached to this article.

Though the code of conduct proposal does not include an increase in park patrols, Potter said it will allow Parks to better educate people as to what is and is not allowed, and peer pressure could result in improved behavior in parks.

She said the code of conduct would also allow any Parks staff to ask a park user in violation of a rule to stop what they are doing or they could be given an exclusion order. If they do not comply, the staff member would be able to contact a police officer or park ranger who is authorized to give exclusion orders.

There is a public hearing on the proposed code of conduct at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave.