Establishment of a Free Speech Zone for the Draper Days Rodeo and Horse Pull July 11-14, 2025

ESTABLISHMENT OF A FREE SPEECH ZONE DRAPER DAYS RODEO & HORSE PULL JULY 11-14, 2025

WHEREAS, Draper City Municipal Code § 13-5-040 authorizes the Draper City Manager to designate a content-neutral free speech zone for events where such a zone would serve a substantial government interest, including traffic flow, crowd control, or public safety on public property; and

WHEREAS, Draper City hosts the annual Draper Days Rodeo and Horse Pull (the 'Event') from July 11-14, 2025, at the city-owned Andy Ballard Arena & Equestrian Center (the 'Arena'), located at approximately 1600 E Highland Drive, Draper, Utah; and

WHEREAS, the Arena, with a seating capacity of 7,122, accommodates large equestrian and outdoor events, including adjacent recreation facilities used for the Event; and

WHEREAS, the Event features activities such as a rodeo, horse pull, climbing wall, petting zoo, pony rides, a mechanical bull, and food trucks; and

WHEREAS, the Event attracts approximately 8,000 visitors daily, in addition to employees, volunteers, vendors, and participants; and

WHEREAS, multiple access points and adjacent recreation trails accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Draper City seeks to establish a free speech zone to enable individuals ('Advocates') to exercise their First Amendment rights while ensuring safe traffic flow, effective crowd control, and the safety of all Event attendees and participants; and

WHEREAS, the designated free speech zone is strategically located and adequately sized to allow Advocates to communicate their messages effectively to Event attendees while accommodating the anticipated number of Advocates.

 NOW, THEREFORE, THE DRAPER CITY MANAGER HEREBY ESTABLISHES A FREE SPEECH ZONE AS FOLLOWS:

1.            Free Speech Zone Established. A free speech zone is established at the Arena as depicted on the attached map.

a.            Event Description: The Draper Days Rodeo and Horse Pull, held at the Arena.

b.            Event Boundaries: Refer to the attached map.

c.             Free Speech Zone Location: See the attached map.

d.            Free Speech Zone Boundaries: See the attached map.

2.            Hours of Regulation.

a.            July 11, 2025: 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

b.              July 12, 2025: 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

c.            July 14, 2025: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

3.            Restrictions.

a.            Traffic Flow. Advocates shall not engage in activities that obstruct or impede pedestrians or vehicles.

b.            Physical Contact. Advocates shall not initiate physical contact with bystanders.

c.            City or Private Property. Advocates shall not attach banners, signs, pictures, instructional materials, symbols, or other personal property to city or private property by tying, nailing, or other physical means.

4.            Sound Amplification. The use of mechanical loudspeakers or sound amplification devices, including but not limited to megaphones, bullhorns, and electric amplifiers, is prohibited within the free speech zone during the Event' s regulated hours to ensure the safety of spectators and participants.

5.            Findings.

a.            Free Speech Zone. Establishment of a free speech zone serves the following substantial governmental interests: (i) Providing a safe space for Advocates to exercise their free speech rights; (ii) Ensuring safe ingress and egress for vehicular and pedestrian traffic to the arena, including, but not limited to, spectators, participants and their vehicles and equipment, vendors and employees, and security and emergency personnel and their vehicles and equipment; (iii) Protecting the safety of participants, spectators, hosts, security and emergency personnel, and any other members of the public attending this Event throughout the Event.

b.            Amplification. Establishment of the above restrictions on the use of the sound amplification devices is narrowly tailored to achieve the following significant governmental interests: (i) Ensuring all participants in the Event are able to hear official city announcements, including those that may relate to crowd control, traffic control, and public health and safety without competing sound amplification from unofficial sources;

(ii) Ensuring that Advocates have a reasonable opportunity to communicate their message to participants and attendees, and (iii) Protecting the safety of participants, spectators, hosts, security and emergency personnel, and any other members of the public attending this Event throughout the Event.

6.            Publication of Notice. The Communications Director shall make this document and its accompanying map available to the public at least twenty-four (24) hours before the start of the Event.

City Manger: Mike Barker
Attest: Nicole Smedley, City Recorder

Free Speech Zone Map