**Compendium of Regulatory Provisions**

**Wolf Trap National Park**

**for the Performing Arts**

The primary mission of Wolf Trap National Park as stated in its enabling
legislation is performing arts. The enabling legislation states that the
park is established *for the performing arts and related educational
programs, and for recreation use in connection therewith. (P.L. 89-671,
October 15, 1966).* The park\'s General Management Plan elaborates in
the statements on the park\'s purpose and significance, including the
very first statement of significance \"Wolf Trap is a unit of the
national park system that has, as its primary resource, the presentation
of the performing arts.\" Performing arts uses, and ancillary uses
associated with patrons attending a performance (such as parking and
pre-performance parties and events) are therefore given priority when
there is a possible conflict between uses.

However, the park also has significant environmental and scenic values
that contribute to this primary mission. The park\'s General Management
Plan states that \"One of the factors important to the success of Wolf
Trap Farm Park[^1] is its setting\...there are natural and topographic
features that provide scenic views and qualities that are reminiscent of
the historic countryside.\" The Plan goes on to say that \"With the
urbanization of northern Virginia, Wolf Trap provides a natural enclave
and scenic landscape in the midst of development. This atmosphere must
be maintained and cultivated to preserve the presence and purpose of
Wolf Trap Farm Park.\" The Plan includes similar language in its
statement of the park\'s purpose: \"Wolf Trap\'s informal country
setting provides an important aspect of the character of the Wolf Trap
performing arts experience and offers secondary interpretive
opportunities that contribute to the primary purpose.\" Finally, the
Plan includes in its statement of significance \"Wolf Trap provides a
distinctive informal pastoral setting in which to enjoy the performing
arts.\"

The determinations on limitation of use, designation of the use of
areas, and other decisions of the park Director documented in this
compendium are primarily based on these primary and secondary uses,
values, and significance, and related issues of health, safety, and the
values and policies of the National Park System as a whole.

**Definitions**

1.  **[Filene Center House]{.underline}** means all areas of the Theater
    for which a ticket is required and includes the Plaza, Lawn and
    Covered Seating area.

2.  **[Filene Center Lawn]{.underline}** means the uncovered grass
    audience areas of the Filene Center House.

3.  **[Filene Center Covered Seating]{.underline}** means the fixed
    seats and areas under roof, including the loge, box, front
    orchestra, rear orchestra and pit seating areas.

4.  **[Filene Center Plaza]{.underline}** means the paved area of the
    Filene Center House which provides access to and from the lawn
    areas, concessions, main gate, dinner gate, press gate and
    restrooms.

5.  **[Performance Season]{.underline}** means the weeks during the
    spring and summer during which the Filene Center and other park
    areas are used almost daily for performances, as well as occasional
    performance uses at other times. It also includes time in spring
    (usually several weeks) required to prepare the Filene Center for
    performances, and time in the fall to shut it down and winterize it.
    Unless otherwise declared by the park Director, the season begins
    May 1 and runs through September 30.

6.  **[The Meadow]{.underline}** refers to the large grassy area below
    the Filene Center, adjacent to Wolf Trap Creek.

7.  **[Third Party Areas]{.underline}** are those areas rented or
    operated by the Wolf Trap Foundation during the performing season in
    furtherance of their fund-raising mission. These include the
    Associates Deck, Terrace Deck, Meadow Pavilion, Ovations Restaurant,
    and the Encore Lounge with its associated deck.

**Park Hours**

Outside of the performance season, the park is open to the public from
7:00 a.m. to dusk every day. During the performance season, the park is
closed to public visitation which is not performance related during park
festivals and Filene Center performances to avoid conflict among visitor
use activities. This restriction begins two hours prior to show times
and ends one hour after performances have completed. The park is closed
from dusk to 7:00 a.m. except to patrons and authorized participants
attending authorized events.

**Public Use Limits**

1.  Open fires and/or cooking devices are not permitted within the park
    at any time.

2.  \"Tenting\", i.e., the pitching of any kind of tents for shelter,
    including large event tents, is not permitted except by permission
    of the Director.

3.  Organized sports (baseball, soccer, football, croquet, etc.) are not
    permitted at any time, nor is the erection of sports equipment such
    as nets, goals, etc. Informal games, such as catch, frisbee, etc.,
    are permitted in the Meadow area.

4.  Flying model powered airplanes or model rockets is prohibited.

5.  Items such as signs, decorations, and balloons are not to be
    attached to any park structures or natural features except the third
    party deck areas. Balloons are permitted as part of pre-performance
    picnics and events, provided that these events occur outside the
    Filene Center House. Helium balloons may not be released at any
    time.

6.  Skating, rollerblading, and skateboarding are permitted on the paved
    parking lots when not in conflict with other park activities. They
    are prohibited elsewhere in the park, including park roads, paths,
    the Filene Center and Plaza areas.

7.  Bicycles are permitted on park roads and on the paved parking lots
    when not in conflict with other park activities. They are prohibited
    in all other areas of the park, including trails, grassy areas, and
    woods.

8.  Cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing are permitted in
    the park on established trails and grassy areas. Sledding is
    permitted on grassy areas only. No winter activities of any kind are
    permitted in the Filene Center House or Plaza areas, or on park
    roads.

9.  Ice skating on the Farm Pond is prohibited for safety reasons.

10. Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the Filene Center House except
    in designated areas to the right and left of the covered seating
    area. Smoking is also prohibited in box office and theater entrance
    lines, within 25 feet of theater entrances, in restrooms and in the
    Theatre-in-the-Woods.

11. Pets, except for service animals, are prohibited in the Filene
    Center House, in the Theatre-in-the-Woods, in picnic areas, and in
    any area of the park being utilized for an authorized event. Where
    pets are permitted, they must be restrained on a leash of no more
    than six feet in length. Pet owners/handlers are responsible for
    removing pet excrement.

12. Swimming, bathing or wading in the park is prohibited, due to safety
    considerations because of poor water quality.

13. Camping or overnight park use is prohibited.

14. Small scale organized activities by park patrons, such as birthday
    parties and other celebrations, are allowed on park grounds provided
    that the Director is notified in advance, that the activities do not
    conflict with primary park uses, and that the activities comply with
    all other items in this compendium. Users are expected to provide
    their own clean-up and carry out all trash, and park in the paved
    public parking lots. No amplified sound is allowed. Advance
    notification allows the park staff to ensure that appropriate
    restrooms are unlocked and other preparations made for visitor
    safety and assistance. It also ensures that the area to be used for
    the event will not be in use by another event. (Note: The use of the
    Filene Center and Meadow Pavilion performance areas, and the
    terraces and decks are reserved through the Wolftrap Foundation.)

15. Large scale organized activities are held by permission of the
    Director and must be coordinated with the park in advance. Most
    large scale activities are held in conjunction with a theater
    performance.

16\. The use of the device known as the Segway Human Transporter is
prohibited at the park, except for use by mobility impaired park
visitors.

**Filene Center House Rules**

1.  All patrons of performances and festivals, regardless of age, must
    have a ticket unless otherwise noted.

2.  Patrons must sit in the seats for which they have tickets.

3.  Eating, drinking (except water), and smoking are not permitted in
    the covered seating area.

4.  Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the Filene Center House except
    in designated areas to the right and left of the covered seating
    area. Smoking is also prohibited in box office and theater entrance
    lines, within 25 feet of theater entrances, and in restrooms.

5.  The use of recording equipment and cameras (with or without flash)
    during performances is prohibited except by authorized press and
    personnel.

6.  Shirts and shoes are required and must be worn at all times.

7.  Late seating is normally done between movements, acts, or numbers at
    the request of the artist(s).

8.  With the exception of service animals assisting disabled patrons,
    pets are not permitted.

9.  Patrons may not block aisles, stairways at any time.

10. Patrons may not block sightlines during performances.

11. Disturbing fellow patrons by loud conversation, or otherwise
    inappropriate behavior is not permitted.

12. Lawn chairs are not permitted below the signs on the lawn seating
    area, as they block the view of patrons higher up.

13. Large items that may roll down the hill (such as kegs) or otherwise
    are a safety hazard are not permitted.

14. Packages, coolers, and other containers are subject to inspection.

15. Violation of House Rules or park regulations may result in removal
    from the event without a refund.

**Permits**

Park permits are required for the following activities pursuant to
regulatory provisions (exact sections in parenthesis):

-   Collection of plants, rocks or minerals (36 C.F.R. 2.1).

-   Collection of wildlife (36 C.F.R. 2.2).

-   Collection of fish (36 C.F.R. 2.3).

-   The scattering of human ashes (36 C.F.R. 2.62).

-   Non-performance related commercial filming, photography and
    recording (36. C.F.R. 5.5. *Note: The Wolftrap Foundation controls
    recording and photography rights for performances within the Filene
    Center and for park festivals in the performance season).*

-   First Amendment demonstrations of more than 25 people (36 CFR 7.96).

**Demonstrations and First Amendment Events**

1.  The following areas have been designated as First Amendment areas
    under federal regulation 36 CFR 7.96 (g) (2):

-   Walkway south of the west-end of Barn Road (approximately 64 square
    feet).

-   The southwest corner of the intersection of the Encore Circle
    walkway and the east-end of Barn Road (approximately 64 square
    feet).

-   These areas are sited to allow for maximum interaction with the
    visiting public, and to ensure public safety. Permits are generally
    required for demonstrations and First Amendment gatherings. See 36
    CFR 7.96 (g) (2) for procedures.

2.  Solicitation is allowed if under a permit and if it occurs within
    the confines of the permit area as part of an ongoing demonstration
    or special event activity. All currency must be maintained and
    stored out of public view at all times. Exacting a payment, or
    requesting a donation in exchange for merchandise, constitutes a
    sale and is not allowed unless it complies with NPS special sales
    regulations found at 36 CFR 7.96(k).

3.  No sales shall be made, and no article may be exposed for sale
    without a permit as described in section 36 CFR 7.96(k)(2).

[^1]: At the time the General Management Plan was written the park's
    name was "Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts." It has since
    been changed to "Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts."