Park Hours Big
Island Nature Park is open to the public from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
daily. It is unlawful for any person to enter or remain in the Park
between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Fires
Open fires are prohibited everywhere in the Park including the swimming
beach. Open fires include campfires and charcoal grills. Propane grills
are allowed.
Overnight Camping
No overnight camping is allowed in the Park.
Motorized Vehicles
The operation and use of motorized vehicles in the Park is prohibited,
including automobiles, dune buggies, motorcycles, scooters, all-terrain
vehicles, snowmobiles, hang-gliders, aircraft, or any other types of
motorized vehicles; except for use by the City or its designees as
necessary for park operations, maintenance, emergency vehicles or handicap
accessibility.
Bicycles The operation of mountain
bikes or other bicycles within the Park is prohibited.
Commercial Activity No person shall sell or by
any means advertise for sale any goods, wares, merchandise, liquids,
edibles or services of any kind, nature or description in the Park.
Solicitation is prohibited.
Sign Posting The posting,
distribution and display of private signs, notices, posters or
advertisements is prohibited within the Park property.
Use of Docks The city docks serving Big Island Nature Park are for day use only,
and are solely for the purpose of loading and unloading boats. Boats left
unattended at the docks are at the boat owner’s risk. No overnight
docking is allowed. It is unlawful for any person to dive, jump or fish
from or otherwise use a city dock or the adjacent area in a manner so as
to disturb or endanger any other person. It is unlawful to lounge,
sunbathe or otherwise loiter on the docks.
Fishing
It is unlawful to fish at the swimming beach or from the city docks.
Swimming Beach The swimming beach at the
southeast end of the Park is not attended. Life
guards are not provided. Swimming in Lake
Minnetonka is at the individual’s own risk.
Sanitation
It is unlawful to litter or dump trash in the
Park. Garbage and recyclables shall remain in the possession of the Park
user and shall be removed from the Park upon leaving the Park property.
Picnicking Picnicking in the
Park is allowed subject to the following:
Permits A Permit shall be obtained from the City of
Orono for holding any special event, activity or use in Big Island Nature
Park. A list of such events, activities and uses is on file in the office
of the City Clerk. A permit is required for any use that could potentially
have a detrimental effect on Park property or other Park users. Contact
the City Offices at 952-249-4600 for more information.
Reservations It is the policy of the City of Orono that no facilities
within Big Island Nature Park shall be reserved nor designated for
exclusive use by any individual, group or organization.
Alcohol/Drugs
The sale, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the Park is
prohibited. State laws apply to possession and use of drugs.
Firearms, etc.
Firearms, explosives, slingshots, bows and
arrows, paintball guns and other weapons are prohibited in the Park at all
times. Discharge of firecrackers or fireworks or detonation of
explosive devices of any kind in the Park is prohibited.
Conduct
Park visitors shall not use offensive language, make unreasonable noise,
discharge weapons or fireworks, or engage in offensive gestures or conduct
constituting disorderly conduct under state law. No person shall engage
in nudity or sexual conduct, or audibly express obscenities, in the Park.
No person shall mark, paint, write or post bills upon, deface or in any
other way damage, destroy, alter, injure or remove any structure,
equipment, sign or placard, natural or cultivated plantings, or other
thing that is situated in the Park.
Noise/Amplification The operation or use of
loudspeakers, sound amplifiers, or other devices for the production or
reproduction of sound is prohibited in the Park. The operation or use of
any radio, phonograph, television or other machine or device for the
production or reproduction of sound in such a manner as to be disturbing
or a nuisance to reasonable persons of normal sensitivity within the area
of audibility is prohibited in the Park. Live bands are prohibited in the
Park.
Animals & Pets
Dogs and cats brought into the
Park shall be under the owner’s physical control and effectively
restrained by means of a leash or chain no more than six (6) feet in
length, and shall be kept from disturbing persons, wild animals and
wildfowl. Pets are prohibited in the swimming beach area. The owner of a
pet shall have in his possession at all times equipment for the removal of
any feces deposited by such pet; and, upon such deposit being made, shall
use such equipment for the immediate removal and sanitary disposition of
such feces.
Natural Resources
All plant and animal life within the
boundaries of Big Island Nature Park is protected. Patrons shall not
intentionally alter, destroy, or remove any live or dead vegetation,
except upon approval by the City of Orono and the Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District. No person may kill, harm, harass, pursue, hunt, trap,
remove, feed or in any manner disturb any species of wildlife, except
fishing is allowed in designated areas pursuant to the State game laws,
except upon written approval of the City of Orono and the Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District. No person shall intentionally remove, alter, injure,
or destroy habitat used by any species, including but not limited to
nests, dams or burrows.
Cultural Resources
All sites, objects, buildings, artifacts, implements, and locations of
historical, archaeological, geologic, scientific or educational interest
of every character located in, on, or under the surface of Big Island
Nature Park are protected. No person may remove, excavate, take, dig
into, or destroy any site, object, building, artifact, implement or
location of archaeological, geological, scientific or historical interest
without having first obtained written permission from the City of Orono.
No Lifeguards On Duty! 
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