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Township of Doylestown, PA
Bucks County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (2) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Doylestown as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Mass public assemblies — See Ch. 58.
Firearms — See Ch. 92.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 94.
Garbage, rubbish and refuse — See Ch. 100.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 121.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 124.
Skateboards — See Ch. 140.
[Adopted 9-30-1997 by Ord. No. 266[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Article I, Conduct in Parks, adopted 11-1-1983 by Ord. No. 129, as amended.
A. 
Except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms used in this article shall have the following meanings:
FACILITY
Refers to areas and amenities within the park system boundaries which are available for public use.
FACILITY USE PERMIT
Refers to the written authorization issued by the Township granting permission for the use of a requested facility or activity.
PARK SYSTEM
Any lands or facilities owned or leased by the Township of Doylestown and designated or used for park, recreation or open space purposes.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, association, unincorporated association or any other group who may apply for a facility use permit.
B. 
In accordance with recognized standards as outlined in the Handbook For Public Playground Safety, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and ASTM F1487 except as otherwise modified herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings.
PLAYGROUND
Designed for and limited to use by school-age children.
TOT LOT
Designed and limited to use by preschool age children.
A. 
The park system is open for public use from sunrise to sunset unless otherwise authorized, in writing, by the Township.
B. 
Lighted tennis and basketball courts are open for public use until 11:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted by the Township.
A. 
All park system visitors must comply with all rules and regulations established by the Township of Doylestown.
B. 
Application for a facility use permit shall be made upon the official forms designated by the Township and shall be accompanied by the required fee(s).
C. 
Applications for a facility use permit are available at the Township Building.
D. 
Any gathering or group of 20 or more persons shall be required to obtain a facility use permit.
E. 
In the event more facility use applications are received than space is available, such applications will be considered and the final determination, in whole or in part, shall be made by the Director of Parks and Recreation or his/her designee.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
F. 
An applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
G. 
Persons or organizations to whom facility use permits are issued will be held responsible for the actions and conduct of all those associated with the authorized facility use.
H. 
Groups or individuals in receipt of a facility use permit may not prevent other park system users from making use of available facilities.
I. 
The cost, if any, for a facility use permit shall be established by the Board of Supervisors, by resolution, from time to time.
A. 
No person shall injure, deface or destroy any notice, sign, rule or regulation posted within the park system, nor shall any person post any notices or placards in the park system without first obtaining written permission from the Township.
B. 
Cutting, mutilating or taking away of trees, shrubs and flowers or the removal, defacing, damaging or vandalism of park system property and structures is prohibited.
C. 
No person shall utilize park amenities or fixtures in a manner for which said items are not designed or intended.
D. 
No person shall remove from or relocate any bench, table or other structure in any Township park.
A. 
Vehicles are to be driven and parked only in designated areas. Authorized vehicles only shall be permitted on bike/hike paths or grass areas unless otherwise authorized.
B. 
The designated speed limit within the Township park system shall be 15 m.p.h.
C. 
Motorists shall at all times yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in a designated crosswalk.
D. 
Motorists shall refrain from obstructing traffic on any park system roadway or parking area.
E. 
No person shall wash or perform mechanical work on any vehicle within the park system.
A. 
Unless authorized in writing by the Township, private solicitation of any kind is prohibited within the park system.
B. 
Unless authorized in writing by the Township, no individual or group shall set up any booth, table or structure within the park system.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 124, Peddling and Soliciting.
A. 
The Township may require security deposits and/or usage fees for individual and/or group use of park system facilities as established by the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
The sponsors of any gatherings (not sponsored by the Township) which require police, maintenance or other personnel and/or equipment shall be responsible for all associated costs as determined by the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A180, Fees.
A. 
No persons shall conduct themselves in any violent, loud, boisterous, abusive, immoral or otherwise disorderly fashion tending to create a breach of peace, or disturbing or annoying others while in or on any Township property.
B. 
No persons shall commit any indecent or immoral act tending to corrupt the morals or manners of the public while in or on Township property.
C. 
No persons shall operate any amplification equipment within the park system unless otherwise authorized by the Township.
A. 
Other than an officer of the law, no person shall discharge a firearm, rifle or other weapon within the park system.
[Amended 2-3-2015 by Ord. No. 376]
B. 
Hunting, shooting, trapping, injuring, killing or otherwise disturbing of any birds or animals in any Township park, and the damaging, destroying or removal of any nest or habitat is strictly prohibited.
C. 
The discharge or possession of any rocket, firecracker or other fireworks or any explosive substance, including model rockets, within the park system is prohibited unless authorized by permit.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 92, Firearms.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
The possession, consumption or distribution of any alcoholic beverages or any controlled substance, as defined by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the United States of America, within the park system is prohibited unless authorized by the Township in conjunction with a Township-organized, -sponsored and/or -affiliated event/activity.
A. 
Unless authorized by a facility use permit, open fires are prohibited within the park system.
B. 
Fires are permitted only in patron supplied charcoal/gas grills (the patron shall be responsible for clean-up and removal of all ash, charcoal, etc.) No fire shall be left unattended at any time.
C. 
Matches, cigarettes, cigar and pipe ashes must be completely extinguished before discarding into appropriate containers.
D. 
Smoking is prohibited within the park system.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
E. 
Unless authorized by a facility use permit, the pavilion fireplace (Central Park) shall not be available for public use.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 94, Fire Prevention.
A. 
The discarding, dumping or littering of refuse of any kind or nature is prohibited. All refuse shall be disposed of in trash containers provided for such purpose.
B. 
Disposal of any type of trash, refuse or debris within the park system, whether disposed of in receptacles or not, and if such refuse did not result from park usage, is prohibited.
C. 
For safety reasons, glass containers are prohibited within the park system.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 100, Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
A. 
Dogs are permitted within the park system, but must be kept on a physical leash and under control at all times, unless otherwise authorized by a facility use permit. Electronic/remote restraint devices are not permitted in lieu of a physical leash.
B. 
Dogs are prohibited in all designated wildlife and sensitive environmental protection areas.
C. 
Persons with dogs shall be required to immediately clean up and properly dispose of all fecal material.
D. 
Dogs are restricted from the tennis/basketball/bocce/volleyball courts and any other areas specifically designated by the Township.
E. 
Dog park use/access is limited only to registered members/dogs in good standing.
No person shall interfere with, use profanity towards or in any manner hinder any Township employee, official or agents who are performing their official duties within the park system.
A. 
The use of bicycles and rollerblades is permitted within the park system, except in areas specifically designated by the Township.
B. 
Helmets and appropriate safety equipment are required at all times.
C. 
The operation of bicycles and rollerblades on any grass area is prohibited.
D. 
The jumping of curbs, tables and/or other objects is prohibited.[2]
[2]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection E, which designated the amphitheater loop as a pedestrian walkway only, was repealed 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 140, Skateboards.
A. 
Swimming, boating or wading in any natural or man-made waterway within the park system is prohibited.
B. 
Boating on any natural or man-made waterway within the park system is prohibited.
C. 
Except at such times and at such places as may be designated by the Township, skating, sledding, skiing, walking or otherwise going upon any natural or man-made waterway which may appear frozen is prohibited.
A. 
Tot lots shall be designated for use by preschool-age children, unless in a supervisory capacity.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
B. 
Playgrounds shall be designated for use by school-age children, unless in a supervisory capacity.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
C. 
Supervision of all school-age children shall be the sole responsibility of parents/legal guardians or designated adult supervisors.
A. 
Tennis and basketball courts are available for public use on a first-come, first-served basis.
B. 
Court use is limited to the activities of tennis and/or basketball only.
C. 
All wheeled vehicles, including, but not limited to, bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, etc. are strictly prohibited.
D. 
Rubber sole shoes must be worn at all times.
E. 
Food and glass containers are prohibited within the court area.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
F. 
Trash must be removed from court areas and placed in designated containers.
G. 
At peak use times when individuals may be waiting, consideration shall be given and playing time limited.
A. 
Golfing is prohibited within the park system unless specifically designated as a public golfing area or those areas specifically designated by the Director of Parks and Recreation for Township-sponsored programs/events.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
B. 
Due care must be exercised and consideration given to the safety of other park users while participating in a golfing activity.
A. 
Nothing contained in this Code, in whole or in part, shall prohibit authorized Township employees, police officers or agents from performing their official duties.
B. 
The Township has the right, as deemed necessary, to supersede all or any of the rules and regulations set forth herein in conjunction with any Township-sponsored event, maintenance activity or emergency situation.
C. 
Township-sponsored events shall take precedence over any approved or nonapproved park system use.
D. 
The Township has the right to revoke and/or cancel any approved or nonapproved activity at any time.
A. 
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding before any District Justice, be liable for a fine or penalty not to exceed $300 for each and every offense; or, if failure to pay is not caused by indigence or lack of sufficient assets, shall be subject to imprisonment in the Bucks County Prison for a period not to exceed 30 days. All prosecutions shall be brought in the name of Doylestown Township, and all fines shall be paid to Doylestown Township.
B. 
The Doylestown Township Police Department and any other law enforcement agency, shall have such authority as is conferred upon them pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Township herein authorizes any member of its Police Department to enforce the provisions of this Code.
[Adopted 3-12-1990 by Res. No. 358]
A. 
This policy is established by the Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors in order to regulate the use of the Township's athletic fields and parks by athletic associations, Township residents and other individuals/associations. The following information outlines the policy that will be implemented by the Township administration.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
B. 
The use of Doylestown Township's public facilities are subject to the rules and regulations as set forth in Article I of this chapter.
[Amended 9-30-1997 by Ord. No. 266]
A. 
All requests for use of an athletic field or park facility shall be made on the use form. Phone requests will not be accepted.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
B. 
Facility use forms can be obtained at the Doylestown Township Building, 425 Wells Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
C. 
All applications shall be signed by the applicant. If the applicant is an organization, the application shall be signed by one responsible officer of the organization submitting the application.
D. 
Approval.
(1) 
The applicant shall receive written approval from the Director of Parks and Recreation or his/her designee.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
(2) 
The allocation of an approval of use of requested facilities will conform to the general conditions and requirements as set forth.
(3) 
In the event that an organization wishes seasonal use of a recreation area, the application for use must be received by the Director of Parks and Recreation within the designated timeframe and will be acted on accordingly.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
(4) 
If an organization or individual wishes to utilize a recreation facility on a one-time basis or for a special event, the application for use must be received by the Director of Parks and Recreation as specified in the special event application form.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
(5) 
Approval cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, it is upon the applicant to request use as early as possible.
(6) 
The Township reserves the right to refuse any application or revoke any approval of an application and/or cancel the proposed event which has been previously approved.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former§ 119-14, Fees and charges, was repealed 9-30-1997 by Ord. No. 266.
[Amended 9-30-1997 by Ord. No. 266; 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
A. 
All groups wishing to use park system facilities on a recurring basis must submit a current certificate of liability insurance, naming Doylestown Township as an additional insured, in the minimum amount of $500,000/$250,000 bodily liability, $100,000 property damage.
(1) 
This certification must be on file at the Township administration office prior to the organization using any Township facility. Approval will not be granted until certification is received.
(2) 
All certificates of insurance will be forwarded to the Township's administrative office.
B. 
All groups requesting facility use on a scheduled basis must comply with the current procedure/protocols in place as established by the Parks and Recreation Department.
C. 
All organizations granted the authorization to use Township facilities will provide the appropriate forms, documentation and supplemental materials as required.
[Amended 9-30-1997by Ord. No. 266]
A. 
Violations of the provisions of Article I of this chapter may result in the revocation of any permits or approvals granted for the use of any portion of the Township's park system.
B. 
In addition to the provisions of Subsection A, as noted herein, playing fields are to be used only for their intended purpose, and a permittee may not transfer, set over or permit any other individual and/or users to make use of the rights and privileges afforded to the permittee as a result of the issuance of the permit by the Township. Furthermore, no portable lights shall be utilized in any of the Township's fields and/or parks unless written permission is granted in the permit, and there shall be no installation of equipment or alterations to existing playing fields by the permittee without said alterations or installation of equipment being specifically approved within the permit.
The Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors, in recognition of the ever-increasing demand within the Township for the use of active recreation areas and playing fields and the limited number and availability of existing playing fields within the Township, hereby adopts the following policy statements to be used in the allocation of playing fields under its control:
A. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection A, which recognized certain youth sports organizations, was repealed 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386.
B. 
Doylestown Township will use due diligence to fairly distribute playing areas for organizations that apply for such use.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
C. 
When a request is made for seasonal use by any group or individual that has not been allocated Township fields in the past, the applicant will be instructed by the Township to contact the appropriate organization. If an agreement cannot be reached between the requesting group and the organization, the Director of Parks and Recreation or his/her designee will be consulted and act as a mediator to reach a compromise, if one shall exist. In the unlikely event that no compromise can be met, the Director of Parks and Recreation or his/her designee will determine the outcome of the request.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
D. 
If a particular group was granted use of a field in the past year, then that group will be given priority consideration to use the same field in the coming year, under the following conditions:
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
(1) 
An application for field use has been submitted in accordance with the guidelines set forth.
(2) 
The proposed use for the field is the same as in the previous year.
(3) 
The number of participants of the group using the field has not been substantially changed from the past year.
(4) 
The group has not, in the previous year, violated the rules and regulations established for field use.
E. 
Doylestown Township reserves the right to assign these facilities for any special event as it deems necessary.
F. 
Doylestown Township reserves the right to revoke any previously approved allocation as it deems necessary.
G. 
Doylestown Township programs and/or activities have preference over all requests for facilities.
[Added 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 386]
A. 
No person shall possess or operate any radio-controlled or other remotely operated model, rocket, drone, toy or similar device including, but not limited to, cars, boats, rockets, drones, airplanes or gliders within the park system except in connection with Township-sponsored programs/events.
B. 
Special exemption may be granted by the Director of Parks and Recreation as deemed appropriate and with submission of a current certificate of insurance naming Doylestown Township as additional insured.