[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Harmony 4-5-1983 by Ord. No. 0:83-5 (Ch.
122 of the 1990 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide rules
and regulations for the use, control and protection of and conduct
in the parks and recreation areas of the Township of Harmony to ensure
their orderly and safe use, to help assure their preservation, to
promote minimum inconvenience to those people bordering them and to
provide penalties for violators.
This chapter shall apply in all parks and recreation
areas under the jurisdiction of the committee or the governing body
of the Township of Harmony, hereinafter called "Township," unless
expressly exempted. For the issuance of permits, temporary designations,
authorization, granting of approval and other actions, the approving
governing agency shall be the Township or its designee for lands under
its jurisdiction.
In the interpretation of this chapter and all
succeeding park and recreation area ordinances, the provisions shall
be construed as follows:
A.
Any term in the
singular shall include the plural.
B.
Any term in the
masculine shall include the feminine and neuter.
C.
Any requirements
or prohibition of any act shall respectively extend to and include
the causing and procuring, directly or indirectly, of such act.
D.
No provisions
hereof shall make unlawful any act necessarily performed by any officer
or employee of the committee or Township in the line of duty or work
as such or by any person or his agent or employee in the proper and
necessary execution of the terms of any agreement with the committee
or Township.
E.
Any act otherwise
prohibited by law or local ordinance shall be lawful if performed
under, by virtue of and strictly within the provisions of a permit
so to do and to the extent authorized thereby.
F.
The term "Township
Police Department" shall refer to the Police Department established
by the Township or any other law enforcement agency of the State of
New Jersey having jurisdiction in the absence of an established Township
Police Department.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
No person shall possess or consume alcoholic
beverages, drugs or narcotics in any park or recreation area.
A.
No group of 100
or more persons shall use a Township park or recreation area without
first having obtained a group use permit not later than 30 days before
the proposed date of use. Group use shall be limited to designated
areas. Adult supervision of children's groups is required at all times.
B.
No person shall
call or hold any public meeting or give any concert or public entertainment
of any kind within a Township park or recreation area without first
having obtained written permission in advance from the Township no
later than 30 days before the proposed date of use.
C.
No person shall
use loudspeakers, public address systems or amplifiers within a Township
park or recreation area without first having obtained written permission
in advance from the Township no later than 30 days before the proposed:
date of use.
[Added 12-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-15; amended 11-5-2013 by Ord. No. 13-5; 5-4-2021 by Ord. No. 21-5]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section
is to highlight the policies governing our Township parks. It is our
conviction that Township facilities are for the enjoyment of the residents
of Harmony Township and guests. It is our philosophy that usage of
the facilities should be free except for extraordinary reasons for
reserving. These extraordinary reasons are reserved picnic area, reserving
of fields, and usage of lighted areas.
B.
Types of groups. There are many
types of groups within our Township. The groups have been split into
classifications. The following are classification groups:
|
Classification
|
Definition
|
|---|---|
|
I
|
Department of Municipal Government
|
|
II
|
Schools, community nonprofit, emergency groups, other governmental
agencies
|
|
III
|
Religious and political organizations
|
|
IV
|
Profit organizations
|
|
V
|
Individuals
|
|
VI
|
Athletic organizations
|
C.
Definition for "In-Town." The
recreation site will be used by many different individuals and organizations.
Preference will be given to in-town groups as it regards to fees.
The following is the definition for each classification of the "in-town"
designation. Any group that is using the facility for athletic leagues,
or practices, are classified as athletics. For example, if a church
is running a soccer league, they are classified as athletics and not
a religious organization. However, if a group is holding a fundraiser
which is a soccer game for the benefit of a nonprofit organization,
they would be classified as a nonprofit organization.
|
Group Types and In Town designation
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Classification
|
Group Type
|
Definition
|
|
I
|
Department of Municipal Government
|
All Township departments and committees
|
|
II
|
Schools
|
50%, plus 1 of the students are from the Township
|
|
Community nonprofit
|
The offices are within the Township
| |
|
Emergency groups
|
Harmony volunteer fire and first aid squads serving the Township
| |
|
Other governmental agencies
|
Government agency benefiting Harmony Township
| |
|
III
|
Religious
|
Places of worship within the Township
|
|
Political organizations
|
Harmony Township political organizations
| |
|
IV
|
Profit organizations
|
Businesses that are located within the Township with more than
4 employees
|
|
V
|
Individuals
|
Harmony Township residents
|
|
VI
|
Athletic organizations
|
50%, plus 1 of the participants live within the Township
|
D.
How to reserve.
(1)
A person or organization wishing
to reserve the pavilion, or fields, will contact the Clerk's office
and submit a reservation form with the appropriate reservation fee
and usage fee. Check will be made out to "Harmony Township."
(2)
A refundable damage deposit
will be submitted on a separate check made out to "Harmony Township."
(3)
Organizations need to provide
a certificate of insurance showing that Harmony Township as additional
insured.
(4)
Payment of the fee must be received within 48 hours of reservation and is nonrefundable. Nonpayment will result in cancellation of reservation. The fees listed in Subsection F below are subject to change annually by resolution of the Township Committee. A copy of this resolution is kept on file in the Township Clerk's office and is available for review during regular business hours.
(5)
The rental of the pavilion
shall include use of the pavilion and bathroom facilities. The athletic
fields may also be used if they are not already in use. This rental
does not include the snack bar or any food preparation areas. Rules
and regulations will be provided to the user by the Municipal Clerk's
office.
(6)
The rental of the soccer/hockey
or baseball fields shall include use of the bathroom facilities. The
rental does not include the pavilion, snack bar or any food preparation
areas. Rules and regulations will be provided to the user by the Municipal
Clerk's office.
(7)
Any person(s)/organization
wishing to use the pavilion or athletic fields shall pay a refundable
security deposit of $200 through the Township Clerk's office. This
deposit shall be held by the Township and returned upon confirmation
that the site and its facilities are left in a satisfactory condition
following a reservation. If the site is left in an unsatisfactory
condition, the renter will be notified, in writing, of the reason
all or a portion of his/her deposit is not being returned. Deposits
are due at least seven days prior to the reservation.
E.
How is the application processed.
(1)
The form will be submitted
to the Township Clerks office.
(2)
The Township Clerk will review
form for completeness and appropriate fees. It will be submitted for
the Township's designated scheduler to schedule.
(3)
The Clerk's office will maintain
the current calendar. All requests will be processed by the Municipal
Clerk's office.
(4)
Applications will be reviewed with preference to in-town residents and organizations and out-of-town returning organizations in good standing in accordance with the classification chart in Subsection C. The Harmony Township Athletic Association shall have priority over all other individuals and organizations. There will be a schedule grid created so all people will have a chance of using the facility. Prime-time hours are defined as 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
F.
2021-2022 usage fees.
(1)
Township rate.
|
Facility
|
Reservation
|
Rate
|
|---|---|---|
|
Pavilion
|
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
|
$25
|
|
Soccer/field hockey fields
|
Fall season practices
|
$50/season per team
|
|
Soccer/field hockey fields
|
Spring season practices
|
$50/season per team
|
|
Soccer/field hockey fields
|
Spring/fall season games
|
$25/game date
|
|
Baseball
|
Spring season practices
|
$50/season per team
|
|
Baseball
|
Spring season games
|
$25/game date
|
(2)
All fees/deposits will be
waived for the Harmony Township Athletic Association in exchange for
their in-kind services.
(3)
Out-of-Township rate.
|
Facility
|
Reservation
|
Rate
|
|---|---|---|
|
Pavilion
|
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
|
$35
|
|
Soccer/field hockey fields
|
Fall season practices
|
$100/season per team
|
|
Soccer/field hockey fields
|
Spring season practices
|
$100/season per team
|
|
Soccer/field hockey fields
|
Spring/fall season games
|
$50/game date
|
|
Baseball
|
Spring season practices
|
$100/season per team
|
|
Baseball
|
Spring season games
|
$50/game date
|
(4)
Fees are subject to change
annually by resolution of the Township Committee. A copy of this resolution
is kept on file in the Township Clerk's office and is available for
review during regular business hours.
Dogs and cats must be kept on a leash not exceeding
six feet in length. No domestic animal shall be permitted to run at
large within any Township park or recreation area, either with or
without a keeper, except in those areas designated for that purpose
by the Township.
[Added 8-4-1998 by Ord. No. 0:98-6; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art.
I)]
No dogs, cats or other domestic animals shall be permitted upon
the grounds comprising the Harmony Township Recreation site or Harmony
Township Municipal Building.
A.
No person shall
leave bottles, broken glass, ashes, wastepaper or other rubbish within
a Township park or recreation area, except in a properly provided
receptacle designated for that purpose.
B.
No person shall
throw or place any dirt, stone, rock, debris or foreign or waste substance
upon any Township park or recreation area.
No person shall pick flowers, foliage, berries
or fruit or cut, break, dig up or in any way mutilate or injure any
tree, shrub, plant, fern, grass, turf, railing, seat, fence, structure
or any other object within a Township park or recreation area.
No person shall build, light or maintain a fire
within a Township park or recreation area, except in a camp stove
or a fireplace provided, maintained or designated for such purpose
by the Township; excepting, however, that oil or gasoline camp stoves
may be used in picnic areas where other stoves are provided.
A.
No person shall
bear any weapon or firearms within or into a Township park or recreation
area. Firearms shall not be carried not be in possession of anyone
in the Township park or recreation areas. Carrying of and shooting
with bow and arrow are prohibited in said areas.
B.
No person shall
molest, trap, capture, hold, remove, injure or kill any animal or
disturb its habitat within a Township park or recreation area.
A.
No person shall
engage in any commercial enterprise, including but not limited to
the offering of services, soliciting, selling or peddling any liquids
or edibles for human consumption or distributing circulars or hawking,
peddling or vending any goods, wares or merchandise within a Township
park or recreation area except within concession areas designed and
leased by the Township.
B.
No person shall
cut, carve, paint, mark, paste or fasten on any tree, fence, wall,
building, monument or other object within a Township park or recreation
area any bill, advertisement or inscription; nor shall any person
distribute, cast, throw or place any handbill, pamphlet, circular,
advertisement or notice of any kind within a Township park or recreation
area.
A.
No person shall
use any portion of a Township park or recreation area for the purpose
of a way, except drives, parking areas, roadways, paths, walks and
trails established for such purposes by the Township; and footpaths
or walks established for pedestrian travel shall not be used for vehicular
travel. The use of mopeds or motorized bikes will be limited to roadways,
drives and parking areas as established and opened to all other vehicular
traffic and shall not be operated at any time within a Township park
or recreation area unless such mopeds or motorized bikes are registered,
licensed and operated in accordance with applicable motor vehicle
statutes of the State of New Jersey.
B.
No person shall
drive or propel or cause to be driven or propelled along or over any
road within a Township park or recreation area any vehicle at a rate
of speed greater than 10 miles per hour.
C.
No person shall
drive or propel or cause to be driven or propelled along or over any
road, parkway, drive or parking area within a Township park or recreation
area any motor vehicle in a reckless manner or in a manner to endanger
the life, limb or property of pedestrians or the drivers or occupants
of other vehicles or any other person within a Township park or recreation
area. The motor vehicle operator and the motor vehicle operated within
a Township park or recreation area shall be in compliance with New
Jersey State Motor Vehicle license and Safety Laws.
D.
No person shall use any area
of the Township park(s) or recreation areas for takeoff, landing or
any other use by motorized hang gliders or similar vehicles or aircraft,
except in the case of emergency.
[Added 12-4-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-12]
No person shall, without permission, enter into
or remain within a Township park or recreation area except during
the posted hours the park or recreation area is open to the general
public.
A.
No person shall
harass, obstruct, molest, assault or interfere with any person lawfully
within a Township park or recreation area or shall resist, obstruct,
molest, assault or interfere with any agent or officer of the Township
or law enforcement officer of the State of New Jersey.
B.
No person shall
remain within a Township park or recreation area who does not abide
by conditions adopted and posted by the Township for the preservation
of good order and the protection of property within a Township park
or recreation area and no person shall remain within a Township park
or recreation area who does not abide by the instructions and directions
of duly authorized officers or agents of the Township in the lawful
performance of their duties. Any person directed by an agent or officer
of the Township to leave a Township park or recreation area shall
do so promptly and peaceably.
C.
No person shall
use threatening, abusive, boisterous, insulting or indecent language
or gestures within a Township park or recreation area, nor shall any
oration, harangue, public demonstration or any nuisance be made.
A.
Permits for special
events in parks and recreation areas shall be obtained by application
to the Township, filed at the office of the Township Clerk, in accordance
with the following procedure:
(1)
A person
seeking issuance of a permit hereunder shall file an application stating:
(a)
The name
and address of the applicant.
(b)
The name
and address of the person, persons, corporation or association sponsoring
the activity, if any.
(c)
The day
and hours for which the permit is desired.
(d)
The park
or portion thereof for which the permit is desired.
(e)
Any other
information which the Township shall find reasonably necessary to
make a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued
hereunder.
(f)
Variances
required from park rules and regulations.
(2)
Standards
for issuance of a use permit shall include the following findings:
(a)
That the
proposed activity or use of the park will not reasonably interfere
with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park.
(b)
That the
proposed activity and use will not unreasonably interfere with or
detract from the promotion of the public health, welfare, safety and
recreation.
(c)
That the
proposed activity or uses that are reasonably anticipated will not
include violence, crime or disorderly conduct.
(d)
That the
proposed activity will not entail extraordinary or burdensome expense
or police supervision by the Township or state law enforcement agency.
(e)
That the
facilities desired have not been reserved for other use on the date
and hour requested in the application.
B.
A permittee shall
be bound by all park rules and regulations and all applicable ordinances
as fully as though the same were inserted in said permit.
C.
The person or
persons to whom the permit is issued shall be liable for all loss,
damage or injury sustained by any person whatever by reason of the
negligence of the person or persons to whom such permit shall have
been issued. A permittee may be required to submit evidence of liability
insurance covering injuries to members of the general public arising
out of such permitted activities in such amounts as may be from time
to time determined prior to the commencement of any activity or issuance
of any permit.
A.
The Township
Police Department or any other law enforcement officer of the State
of New Jersey having jurisdiction in the absence of an established
Township Police Department shall have the authority to eject from
the park or recreation area any person or persons acting in violation
of this chapter.
B.
The Township
Police Department or any other law enforcement officer of the State
of New Jersey having jurisdiction shall have the authority to seize
and confiscate any property, thing or device in the park or recreation
area or used in violation of this chapter.
[Amended 8-7-1990 by Ord. No. O:90-15; at time of adoption
of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
