The purpose of this chapter is to establish
rules and regulations governing the use of public parks and recreation
areas in the Township of Mount Laurel. Rules of acceptable conduct
are established herein for all persons using public park facilities,
as well as prohibited activities and procedures for obtaining use
permits.
While in a public park or recreational area,
all persons shall conduct themselves in a proper and orderly manner,
and, in particular, all persons shall obey the following regulations:
A. All areas and facilities shall be available on a "first
come, first served" basis unless the Township has authorized the use
of such facilities or areas for specific designated times by written
permission as provided for herein. Township officials shall have the
authority to regulate activities and use of facilities in such areas
to prevent congestion and to secure maximum use for the comfort and
enjoyment of all. Visitors shall comply with any directives given
for this purpose. The use of any facility shall be reasonable and
in lengths of time in relation to the number of persons desiring to
use such facilities. No person shall arbitrarily or unreasonably exclude
or prevent other persons from using such facilities.
B. No person shall utilize any facility or area of a
park or recreational area for other than the designated use of said
facility or area. Participating in or abetting the playing of any
games involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects such as balls,
stones, arrows, horseshoes, quoits or model airplanes shall be in
those areas set apart for such forms of recreation. The playing of
rough or potentially injurious games such as football, baseball, lacrosse
and hockey shall be allowed only on the fields, courts or areas specifically
provided for these uses. Roller skating and skateboarding, if allowed
shall be confined to those areas specifically designed for such activities.
C. General regulations. All persons shall:
(1) Properly maintain all picnic areas by placing all
trash, refuse, garbage and debris in designated disposal receptacles
where provided. If no trash receptacles are available, or if available
but full, then trash shall be carried away from the park area by the
picnicker, to be properly disposed of elsewhere.
(2) Maintain all rest rooms and washrooms in a neat and
sanitary condition.
(3) Swim, bathe or wade only in public bodies of water
specifically designated for such activities. No person shall use any
waters customarily designated for the purpose of swimming when such
activities are prohibited by the Township.
(4) Obey all regulations where fishing is permitted.
(5) Appear at any park in only proper clothing, and no
person shall dress or undress in any place, vehicle or structure except
those structures provided and designated by posted notice for such
purpose.
(6) Be responsible for preventing the entry of dogs or
other domestic animals into areas clearly marked "Domestic Animals
Prohibited in This Area." In areas where they are permitted, all pets
and animals shall be restrained at all times on adequate leashes not
greater than six feet in length. Dogs shall not be permitted to run
at large. The riding of horses shall be on designated bridle trails
where permitted. Horses shall be thoroughly broken and ridden with
due care and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended, nor shall
horses be hitched to any rock, tree or shrub. Where domestic animals
are permitted, proper cleanup shall be completed by the responsible
person.
(7) Boat only in those waters and at such times as are
designated for such purposes by the Township. Any person navigating,
directing or handling any boat shall do so in a manner so as to not
unjustifiably or unnecessarily annoy, frighten or endanger the occupant
of any other boat.
(8) Ride all bicycles with all reasonable regard to the
safety of others. Bicycling shall be confined to areas so designated
for such activity. Bicycles shall be parked in bicycle racks or other
areas when such facilities are provided.
(9) Operate, drive and park vehicles only on roads and
parking areas so designated by the Township and only during the times
set forth by said Township. Vehicles shall be driven in accordance
with posted directions or at the direction of any authorized attendant
who may be present.
[Added 8-16-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-29; amended 9-20-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-32]
A. The public parks and recreation areas of the Township
of Mount Laurel shall operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:30
p.m. during the months of May, June, July, August, September and October
and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the remaining months of the
calendar year. In addition, special application may be made to the
appropriate personnel to extend the hours, said hours to be extended
by permit.
B. Any person present on the public parks or recreation
areas before opening time and after closing time shall be deemed to
be in violation of this section.
Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies,
all parks shall be open to the public every day of the year during
the hours designated by the Township. Any area or facility may be
declared closed to the public by the Township at any time and for
any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated
intervals (daily or otherwise).
Permits for special events or use of particular
areas or facilities of a park or recreational area shall be granted
by the Township after submission and review of an application in accordance
with the following standards and regulations:
A. The application shall contain the following information:
(1) The name and address of the applicant.
(2) The name and address of the person, persons, corporation,
association or organization; the name and address of the president
and secretary of said organization and relationship of applicant to
said organization.
(3) The date and time for which permit is desired.
(4) The park or portion thereof for which such permit
is desired.
(5) The activity to be undertaken or reason for the application.
(6) The number of persons anticipated to participate.
(7) Any other information which the Township shall find
reasonably necessary to make a fair determination as to whether a
permit should be issued.
B. Standards for issuance of a use permit by the Township.
Standards may include the following findings:
(1) That the proposed activity or use of the park or recreational
area will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general
public enjoyment of the park.
(2) That the proposed activity and use will not unreasonably
interfere with or detract from the promotion and maintenance of public
health, welfare, safety and recreation.
(3) That the proposed activity or uses that are reasonably
anticipated will not induce or tend to induce violence, crime or disorderly
conduct.
(4) That the proposed activity will not entail extraordinary
or burdensome expense or police operation by the Township.
(5) That any fees assessed participants or requests for
contributions will be solely for the purpose of offsetting or equaling
the organization's reasonable expectation of expenses to be incurred.
(6) That the facilities desired have not been reserved
for another use at the date and time requested in the application.
C. Conditions of issuance. All permits issued shall be
on the condition that:
(1) The permittee shall be bound by all park rules and
regulations and all applicable ordinances fully as though the same
were inserted in the permit.
(2) The person, persons or organization to whom the permit
is issued shall be liable for all loss, damage or injury sustained
by any person whatever by reason of negligence of the person, persons
or organization to whom such permit shall have been issued. The Township
shall have the right to require that prior to the issuance of a permit
or commencement of the activity, the applicant 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
om time to time determined by the Township and which names the Township
of Mount Laurel as additional insured. The Township will also require
a hold-harmless waiver to be signed by applicant.
[Amended 2-24-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-3]
(3) The permittee shall maintain the park, recreational
area or facilities by removing all trash or debris and restoring the
area or facilities to a condition equal to or better than its condition
prior to the granting of the permit. In the event that special or
extraordinary maintenance is required or additional costs are incurred
for a proposed use or activity, such costs shall be borne by the applicant.
(4) No structures shall be erected or placed, no utilities
installed, run or extended and no alteration of a natural or man-made
feature, facility or object shall be allowed unless so authorized
in the permit issued by the Township and, when so authorized, in accordance
with its requirements for such use and alterations.
(5) No permit shall be valid except for the facilities,
area and time expressly set forth therein.
(6) The permittee will obey any other reasonable requirement,
condition or restriction which the Township authorizes.
(7) Fees may be charged for a permit and the Township
may require a cash deposit or bond in reasonable amount to ensure
performance of the terms and conditions of the permit, which deposit
shall be refundable after deducting the cost of necessary expenses
incurred by the Township in restoring the leased area to the condition
the same was in at the time the permit was issued, reasonable wear
and tear excepted.
D. Submission of applications. Applications for permits
shall be submitted to the Township or its duly authorized representatives.
If a permit is denied, the applicant shall be given written notice
setting forth the reasons therefor.
E. Denial of permit. If a permit is denied by the Township's
authorized representative, the applicant shall have the right to appeal
said decision to the Township Council by serving written notice thereof
on the Municipal Clerk within five days from receipt of notice of
denial. A copy of said notice shall also be served on the Township's
authorized representatives which denied the permit within the same
time and said representative shall immediately forward the application
and the reasons for its refusal to the Township Council, which shall
consider the application under the standards set forth in this section.
The Township Council shall consider such appeal at its next regular
meeting or prior thereto at a special meeting, which appeal shall
be considered on the record without public hearing. In any event,
the Township Council shall affirm, reverse or modify the decision
to deny the permit within 30 days from the filing of notice of appeal,
in default whereof the appeal shall be considered denied. Written
notice of the decision of the Township Council upon any appeal shall
be given to the applicant within 10 days thereof.
F. Revocation of permit. The Township's authorized representative
shall have the authority to revoke a permit if the applicant or any
person acting in his behalf shall violate any of the provisions of
this chapter or any rule or regulation of the Township or any of the
restrictions, terms or conditions under which the permit was issued.
In the event of such revocation, the applicant shall have the right
to appeal to the Township Council in the same manner and on the same
terms set forth above.
[Added 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-11; amended 10-5-2009 by Ord. No.
2009-17; 9-20-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-14; 3-7-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-1; 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-2; 2-24-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-3]
Department
|
Use
|
Fee
|
---|
Parks and Recreation
|
Ball field rental
|
$10
|
Parks and Recreation
|
Ball field rental all summer weekends
|
|
|
Multiple field use
|
$400
|
|
Single field use
|
$100
|
Parks and Recreation
|
Men's pickup basketball
|
$25
|
Women's pickup basketball
|
$25
|
Parks and Recreation
|
Pavilion rental
|
|
|
Resident
|
|
|
|
Up to 50 people
|
$30
|
|
|
Over 50 people
|
$70
|
|
Nonresident
|
|
|
|
Up to 50 people
|
$60
|
|
|
Over 50 people
|
$100
|
Parks and Recreation
|
Senior citizens classes
|
|
|
|
8-week session
|
|
|
|
|
Resident
|
$25
|
|
|
|
Nonresident
|
$50
|
|
|
Aerobics per day
|
$12.50
|
Parks and Recreation
|
Softball league
|
$200
|
Parks and Recreation
|
Summer playground program
|
|
|
|
Half-day program
|
$600 per child
|
|
|
Full-day program
|
$1,000 per child
|
Recreation: Fees for renting Senior Center/Meeting Facilities
at 100 Mount Laurel Road and/or Walton Avenue for events
|
---|
|
Residential
|
$100 per hour
|
|
Nonresidential
|
$200 per hour
|
|
Township employee
|
No charge
|
Additional charges:
|
---|
|
Damage fee
|
$400; refundable if there is no damage
|
|
Police officer fee
|
Hourly cost of police officer if alcohol is to be served during
event
|
|
|
At the request of a community-based, not-for-profit organization,
the Township may waive fees by adoption of a resolution. The Township
shall not charge a fee for monthly meetings for local organizations
that currently use the facilities including homeowner associations,
boy scout and girl scout clubs and political party organizations.
The Clerk shall prepare and maintain a list of such organizations
grandfathered from the hourly fee.
|
[Added 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-22]
United States veterans shall be granted a discount of $5 on the rates listed in §
107-6.1 for all classes and activities held at, by and through the Community Center. Veterans shall not be required to produce paperwork for such discount unless, in the determination of the program administrator, credible evidence exists that the individual has not served in the American Armed Services.
The Township or its duly authorized representatives,
including the custodians, supervisors and assistants appointed by
the Township, or any police officer, shall be responsible for the
enforcement of this chapter and shall have authority to eject from
any park or recreation area any person or persons acting in violation
thereof and shall also have the authority to seize and confiscate
any property, thing or device which is being used in a park or recreational
area in violation thereof.