Registration, Petition, and Protestor Policy
I. DEFINITIONS:
a. “Denver Zoo campus” or “campus” shall mean the Denver Zoological Gardens located at 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205. The Denver Zoo Campus includes all buildings, exhibits, structures, and outdoor premises at, on, over or within the Denver Zoological Gardens, and also includes all parking facilities and structures for the Denver Zoological Gardens.
The Denver Zoo campus is managed and operated by Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc., a private Colorado non-profit corporation, pursuant to a cooperative agreement between Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc., and the City and County of Denver. The Denver Zoo campus is located within City Park, a designated park under the Denver City Charter, and which is administered and managed under the auspices of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation and the Executive Director of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation.
II. POLICY
a. BUSINESS RIGHTS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY: The plaza, main parking area, parking garage and zoo grounds are considered private property of Denver Zoo (shown in Appendix A below). The Denver Zoo is a public scientific cultural facility dedicated for the purpose of public recreation and education and for preserving, exhibiting and advancing the study and appreciation of wildlife. The zoo may impose reasonable restrictions on the time, place and manner of use of the facility by the public. Since the zoo is dedicated to a particular use, the public may not exercise its right of freedom of speech and assembly within the zoo grounds or buildings in a way, which is inconsistent with the primary use of the facility. The zoo may restrict behavior on the part of the public which is unreasonably noisy or disruptive, or which might capture unwilling audiences. Conduct on the part of the public, which for any reason materially disrupts the zoo’s activities or involves substantial disorder or the invasion of the rights of others is not protected by the Constitution. If any person or group is speaking loudly or otherwise conducting themselves in a way which is disruptive of the rights of others, that individual or group should be asked to desist, and if they refuse to do so, asked to leave the zoo grounds. If they refuse to leave, Denver Zoo Security will contact the Denver Police Department for assistance in removing that individual or group from the zoo.
b. REGISTRARS, PETITIONERS, PROTESTORS: Any person wishing to register voters, collect signatures for any purpose, or conduct a peaceful protest, must not do so within the Denver Zoo Management Boundary (shown in Appendix A below). These persons may conduct their peaceful business within other areas of City Park provided that they do not obstruct sidewalks, pedestrian pathways/walkways, bicycle lanes, roadways, parking spaces, or vehicle drive lanes, and that they abide by all other provisions of this policy and all applicable laws.
c. VOTER REGISTRATION: Any person wishing to register voters must remain outside of the Denver Zoo Management Boundary (shown in Appendix A below). Voter Registrars’ must not stand in the middle of the sidewalk blocking zoo visitors. Voter Registrars’ may not approach visitors, but may answer question when asked. Voter Registrars’ may not have any party affiliation t-shirts or buttons, no logos, signs or tables with them.
d. PETITONERS, BALLOT INITIATIVES AND PROTESTORS: All petitioners and protestors must remain outside of the Denver Zoo Management Boundary (shown in Appendix A below). They may not have any tables or other setup materials; if they do, it is considered a rally or assembly. All rallies and assemblies MUST have a permit from the city to be on park property (Denver City Ordinance 55-08, City and County of Denver Revised Municipal Code). By definition, an assembly shall include demonstration, picketing, speech making, marching, holding of vigils and all other like forms of conduct which include the communication or expression of ideas, view or grievances, engaged in by fifty (50) or more persons, the conduct of which has the effect, purpose or propensity to draw a crowd or onlookers. Assembly may also be designated if the group engages any type of permanent or temporary structures, including by not limited to tables, tents or chairs. (Denver City Ordinance 55-08, City and County of Denver Revised Municipal Code)
e. LEAFLETS: Distribution of leaflets, flyers or any printed materials, commercial or otherwise, is strictly prohibited within the Denver Zoo Management Boundary (shown in Appendix A below) (Denver City Ordinance #310.85, Section 3.1, City and County of Denver Revised Municipal Code).
f. FUND RAISING: No fund raising or soliciting of funds is allowed within the Denver Zoo Management Boundary (shown in Appendix A below).
III. APPENDIX A: Denver Zoo Management Boundary.
a. Registrars, petitioners, and protestors are NOT permitted to gather in any area within the highlighted boundary (yellow) in the image below. The yellow stars in the image represent recommended (not required) areas where registrars, petitions, and protestors may gather. The rest of City Park is open to the general public. At no time shall any persons or objects obstruct sidewalks, pedestrian pathways/walkways, bicycle lanes, roadways, parking spaces, or vehicle drive lanes.
