Greenwood, IN Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Section 5-16 of the Greenwood General Ordinances, part of Chapter 5's Article 2 Park Rules and Regulations and adopted by Ordinance No. 87-61 in 1988, regulates two commercial and organized-group uses of Greenwood's city parks. Subsection (a) makes it unlawful for any person or group to sell, offer for sale, or barter any goods, wares or merchandise of any kind in any public park or facility without first obtaining the written consent of the Greenwood Park and Recreation Board, covering everything from concession stands to fundraising sales tables.

Subsection (b) applies the identical written-consent requirement to sports tournaments, barring any person or group from using park properties or facilities for a tournament of any kind without the Board's prior written approval. Because the Board evaluates requests before granting consent, this functions as a discretionary permit system: organizers must approach the Park and Recreation Board in advance rather than simply showing up to sell items or run a bracket. The same Article 2 framework separately lets the Board grant written permission for related park activities, such as intoxicating beverages at approved special events under Section 5-13 and horses or other animals under Section 5-12, reinforcing that Board sign-off is the consistent mechanism for exceptions to the park rules.

Section 5-16 sets no independent fine, so a violation, such as selling merchandise or holding a tournament without consent, is punished under Section 1-13's general penalty, up to $2,500.00, with continuing daily violations treated as separate offenses.