[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township
Committee of the Township of Wyckoff 8-15-1995 by Ord. No. 1228. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Environmental Commission — See Ch.
29.
Recreation and Parks Department — See Ch.
58.
Mechanical amusement devices — See Ch.
85.
Hunting and firearms — See Ch.
124.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch.
148.
Pet solid waste (Board of Health) — See Ch.
192.
Wildlife feeding (Board of Health) — See Ch.
193.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for
the protection, care and control of the public parks, playgrounds
and recreation areas within the Township of Wyckoff and to provide
rules and regulations for the use of and conduct in the parks, playgrounds
and recreation areas of the Township.
This chapter shall apply to all parks, playgrounds
and recreation areas under the jurisdiction and within the Township
of Wyckoff, unless expressly exempted. The use of the parks, playgrounds
and recreation areas is within the sole jurisdiction and control of
the Township Committee or the Board of Education of the Township of
Wyckoff. It is the policy of the Township Committee and the Board
of Education that these facilities are for the primary use of residents
of the Township of Wyckoff. It is the intent of the Township Committee
and the Board of Education of the Township of Wyckoff that these properties
shall be kept clean and well-maintained and shall not be subject to
the use and abuse of the activities prohibited herein.
In the interpretation of this and all succeeding
park, playground 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 requirement or prohibitions of any act shall respectively
extend to and include the causing and procuring of such act.
D. No provision hereof shall make unlawful any act necessarily
performed by any officer, employee or representative of the Township
of Wyckoff or the Board of Education in the line of duty or work as
such or by any person, his agent or employees in the proper and necessary
execution of the terms of any agreement with the Township of Wyckoff
or the Board of Education.
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 to do so and to the extent authorized thereby.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMALS
Includes cats, dogs, horses, any fowl or birds and any living
creatures within the jurisdiction of the parks, playgrounds or recreation
areas.
GARDENS AT WYCKOFF
All the lands and premises located within the Township of
Wyckoff being Lot 1.02, Block 203, as shown and designated on the
current Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff.
LARKIN HOUSE PARK
All the lands and premises located within the Township of
Wyckoff being Lot 32.01, Block 205, as shown and designated on the
current Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff.
[Added 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 1716]
MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
All the lands and premises located within the Township of
Wyckoff being Lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 28, Block 258, and Lot 2, Block
256, as shown and designated on the current Tax Map of the Township
of Wyckoff, commonly known as "Scott Plaza," and including, but not
by way of limitation, Town Hall, Memorial Field, Fire Department Co.
No. 1, Recreation Building equipment sheds, the enclosed playground,
the band shell, the Municipal Library, basketball courts, tennis courts,
handball courts, baseball fields and the Ambulance Corps building,
together with all parking areas and public lands contiguous thereto.
PARK, PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION AREA
Includes all public parks, playgrounds and recreation areas
within the Township of Wyckoff which are owned by or are under the
control and supervision of the municipal government or the Wyckoff
Board of Education. All prohibitions listed in this subsection and
other restrictions imposed by this chapter shall be deemed to apply
within all public lands within the Township of Wyckoff as herein defined,
except where this chapter provides for more specific rules and regulations
to a specific location or area.
PERSON
Any individual, natural person, partnership, joint venture,
society, association, club, trustee, trust, corporation or unincorporated
group or any officer, agent, employee, servant, factor or any kind
of personal representative thereof in any capacity acting either individually
or for any other person.
PULIS FIELD RECREATIONAL FACILITY
All lands and premises located within the Township of Wyckoff
being Lot 7.03, Block 202, as shown and designated on the current
Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff.
[Amended 7-7-2015 by Ord.
No. 1775]
RUSSELL FARMS COMMUNITY PARK
All the lands and premises located within the Township of
Wyckoff being Lot 18.05, Block 377, as shown and designated on the
current Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff.
[Added 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 1716]
SCHOOL PROPERTIES
All lands and premises located within the Township of Wyckoff
being George Washington School, 270 Woodland Avenue, Lots 9, 11, 15
and 16, Block 250; Calvin Coolidge School, 420 Grandview Avenue, Lot
53, Block 483; Dwight D. Eisenhower School, 344 Calvin Court, Lots
56, 99 and 103, Block 349; Sicomac School, 356 Sicomac Avenue, Lot
14, Block 391; and Abraham Lincoln School, 325 Mason Avenue, Lot 110.01,
Block 214.
WYCKOFF COMMUNITY PARK
All the lands and premises located within the Township of
Wyckoff being Lot 36, Block 346, as shown and designated on the current
Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff.
ZABRISKIE HOUSE/MUSEUM
All the lands and premises located within the Township of
Wyckoff being Lot 6, Block 234, as shown and designated on the current
Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff, commonly known as "421 Franklin
Avenue, Wyckoff, New Jersey."
ZABRISKIE PARK/POND
All the lands and premises located within the Township of
Wyckoff being Lots 2 and 16, Block 235, as shown and designated on
the current Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff.
A. No person shall injure, deface, displace, remove,
alter disturb, tamper with, damage or destroy any trees, shrubs, soil,
grass, plant life or any structure, building, post, playground equipment,
water fountain, railing, fence, bench, seat, table, platform, walkway,
telephone or electric pole, wires, pipes or appurtenances or any other
park or recreational equipment or facility or any hydrant, water,
storm or sewer drain, pipe, main, basin covering, manhole or any appendage
or appurtenance thereof or any sign, inscription, post or monument;
or injure or in any way interfere with the operation of any machinery
or equipment used under the direction of the Township or the Board
of Education or of any of their departments, agencies, officials or
representatives; or deface, destroy, alter, damage or tamper with
any drive, path, walk, bridge, parking area or shelter; or take up,
scatter, remove or carry away any asphalt, concrete, stone, rock,
wood, gravel, clay or earth; or make any excavation of any kind.
B. Every person using rest rooms and washrooms shall
cooperate to maintain them in a neat and sanitary condition.
C. No person shall hunt, molest, kill, frighten, trap,
chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird.
D. Public
facilities shall not be used for commercial activities and/or personal
monetary gain.
[Added 11-3-2014 by Ord.
No. 1752]
No person shall carry, possess, sell, buy, expose
for sale, consume, use or give away any alcoholic beverage in any
park, playground or recreation area.
No person shall carry, possess, sell, buy, expose
for sale, use or give away any in any park, playground or recreation
area any narcotic, drug or controlled dangerous substance prohibited
by law.
No person shall kindle, ignite, build or maintain
a fire within any park, playground or recreation area.
No person shall have in his possession, ignite
or otherwise cause to explode or discharge any firecracker, torpedo,
rocket or other fireworks or explosions of flammable materials, except
as may be pursuant to an approved agreement and permit authorized
by the Township Committee or the Wyckoff Board of Education.
No person shall take into, carry through, leave
in or throw, cast, deposit, lay, drop or discharge into or upon or
permit any agent, representative or employee or person in his or her
charge to take into, carry through, leave in or throw, cast, deposit,
place, drop or discharge into or upon any park, playground or recreation
area any glass, wood, metal objects, ashes, cinders, paper, dirt,
sand, oil, stone, brush, stumps or any other material, objects, debris,
garbage or rubbish of any kind. All rubbish, trash and garbage shall
be placed in containers provided for that purpose or removed from
the park.
[Amended 8-2-2011 by Ord. No. 1661; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 1672; 9-24-2012 by Ord. No. 1698]
No domestic animals, except Seeing Eye dogs, shall be allowed
or permitted within any park, playground or recreation area, except
as expressly permitted below:
A. Dogs which are properly and legally licensed and registered may be
walked by a person competent to properly manage and control the actions
of said dog, only if such dog is securely confined and controlled
by an adequate leash not more than 10 feet long, at the following
locations:
[Amended 11-4-2013 by Ord. No. 1720]
(1) The portion of Wyckoff Community Park, within Lot 36, Block 346,
which is contained between Wyckoff Avenue and the edge of the parking
lot which abuts the recreational fields. Such permitted area shall
be inclusive of the parking lot. There shall be no dog walking permitted
on the recreational fields.
(2) The outdoor areas of the Larkin House property, known as Lot 32.01,
Block 205.
(3) The paved and improved portion of the public right-of-way which serves
as access and parking for the Memorial Field Complex which extends
from Woodland Avenue in a westerly direction and ends at the intersection
of Demarest Avenue and Jeffer Court. There shall be no dog walking
on the adjacent recreational fields and/or facilities.
(4) Russell Farms Community Park, known as Lot 18.05, Block 377.
(5) Pulis Field Recreational Facility, being Lot 7.03, Block 202, as
shown and designated on the current Tax Map of the Township of Wyckoff
except that no dogs shall be permitted on the artificial turf athletic
fields.
[Added 7-7-2015 by Ord.
No. 1775]
B. All individuals walking dogs at the above-permitted areas shall be required to immediately and properly dispose of such dogs' solid waste pursuant to Chapter
192 of the Code of the Township of Wyckoff.
No person shall bring into any park, playground
or recreation area or use therein any rifle, shotgun, handgun, air
gun, knife, slingshot or other similar weapon or instrument.
No person shall participate or take part in
the playing of archery or golf in any park, playground or recreation
area.
The playing of recreational games such as football,
baseball, T-ball, softball, soccer, basketball and tennis shall be
permitted only on the fields and in the specific locations provided
for such activities or as otherwise designated by the Township Committee
or the Board of Education.
No person shall throw or propel any stone, stick,
glass, metal or other hard or offensive object or substance in any
park, playground or recreational area.
No person shall expose or offer for sale any
foodstuffs, products, articles or things, nor shall any person station
or place any stand, cart or vehicle for the transportation, sale or
display of any foodstuffs, products, articles or things, except such
persons who may be duly approved by the Township Committee or Board
of Education, where applicable.
No person shall skate on any ice, except where
a sign shall indicate that it is safe to do so.
No person shall use any violent, legally obscene
or profane language or commit legally disorderly conduct. No person
shall unreasonably interfere with or disturb any other person in the
use of any park, playground or recreation area.
A. Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies, parks,
playgrounds and recreational areas shall be open for the public every
day of the year during designated hours approved by the Township Committee
or the Board of Education. The opening and closing hours for each
individual park, playground and recreational area shall be posted
therein for public information and shall be established from time
to time by the Township Committee or the Board of Education, where
applicable. If no opening or closing hours are established or posted,
the parks, playgrounds and recreational areas shall be open for use
from sunrise to sunset.
B. Any park, playground or recreation area or part thereof
may be declared closed to the public by the Department of Public Works
or by the Township Committee or the Township Administrator or the
Board of Education or School Business Administrator, where applicable,
at any time and for any interval of time as shall be deemed reasonably
necessary in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare.
No person shall interfere with or fail to obey
any police officer, Dog Warden or Recreation Department personnel
in the proper performance of duties and responsibilities in any park,
playground or recreation area.
No person shall park a vehicle in other than
an established designated parking area. Such use shall be in accordance
with any posted directions or signs and the directions of any attendant
who may be present. In addition, no person shall leave a vehicle unattended
or parked at night (sunset to sunrise) in any park, playground or
recreational area unless specifically authorized by the Police Department.
No person shall swim, fish, bathe or wade in
any waters or waterways in or adjacent to any park, playground or
recreational area, except in areas provided for that purpose.
No person shall cast, lay, drop, place or discharge
into the waters and waterways of any park, playground or recreational
area any legally hazardous substance.
No person shall be permitted to ride a bicycle
on other than a paved vehicular road or path designated for that purpose.
Persons shall be permitted to walk, wheel or push a bicycle by hand
over any grassy area or wooded trail or on any paved area reserved
for pedestrian use.
No person shall use any roller skates, roller
blades or skateboards in any park, playground or recreational area,
except at such times and upon such purposes as may be provided for
that purpose by the Township Committee or the Board of Education,
where applicable.
No person shall sleigh ride or coast with hand-held
sleds, toboggans, wagons, discs or other similar devices or vehicles
on wheels or runners in any park, playground or recreational area,
except in such places as provided for that purpose by the Township
Committee or the Board of Education, where applicable.
No persons shall drive, operate or use or bring
into any park any motorbike, moped, minibike, go cart, snowmobile
or motorcycle or any other motor vehicle or motorized vehicle, except
for vehicles duly licensed and then only in areas, if any, designated
for the parking or operating of such vehicles.
A. No person shall solicit the payment of money or contributions
for any purpose in any park, playground or recreational area, except
such person who shall have been issued a valid permit therefor by
the Township Committee of the Township of Wyckoff or the Board of
Education, where applicable.
B. No person shall attempt to solicit the payment of
moneys or other contributions from any person or for any purpose in
any park, playground or recreational area without first having secured
a permit therefor from the Township of Wyckoff or the Board of Education,
where applicable.
No person shall post, exhibit or otherwise display
any signs, posters or other advertising materials in any park, playground
or recreational area, except where authorized in connection with the
issuance of permits for special events. This section shall not apply
to bulletin boards or signs erected or maintained by the Township
or the Board of Education or any of their departments or agencies.
No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter
lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other
flammable materials within any park, playground or recreational area
or on any highway, road or street abutting or contiguous thereto.
A. A special event is an event which is conducted, sponsored
or permitted by an organized charitable or nonprofit group of persons
involving any advanced publicity or advertising by or from said group.
B. Permits for special events or parades in parks shall
be obtained by application, in writing, to the Township Committee
or the Board of Education, where applicable.
Except where permitted on Memorial Field and
for lights provided for safety and security, lighting facilities shall
be prohibited at any park, playground or recreational area unless
otherwise approved by the Board of Education, where applicable.
A person or persons who utilize the facilities
at the parks, playgrounds and recreational areas do so at their own
risk and shall be fully liable for their losses, damages or injuries
sustained for whatever reason. Parents and guardians are responsible
for their children's safety and the safety of children in their charge
while on public parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities.
The use of a public address system, audio amplification
system or device designed to raise the volume of voices above the
normal speaking level is prohibited or as otherwise designated by
the Township Committee or the Board of Education, where applicable.
A. Memorial Field Complex; application for use of Memorial
Field Complex and regulations with respect to Memorial Field Complex.
[Amended 2-21-2023 by Ord. No. 1974]
(1) Application for use of lighting facilities. All applications
for use of the lighting facilities on Memorial Field shall be made
to the Recreation and Parks Department Board of the Township of Wyckoff
for its recommendations at least 30 days prior to the intended use.
The Recreation and Parks Department Board shall review all applications
and transmit them, together with its recommendations, to the Township
Committee for its approval or disapproval.
(2) Schedule of events requiring lighting. The Recreation
and Parks Department Board shall submit to the Township Committee
a schedule of all events which will require the utilization of the
lighting facilities at Memorial Field for its approval or disapproval.
Any additions or changes to the schedule shall be submitted to the
Township Committee at a reasonable time prior to the event.
(3) Hours for use of lights. A lighting facility shall
not be illuminated on Sundays nor on any evening after 10:00 p.m.,
except when a baseball game is in progress, and then no inning may
commence after 10:15 p.m. The Recreation and Parks Department Board
shall be responsible to ensure compliance with this section.
(4) Sound amplification. The use of a public address system,
radio amplification system or device designed to raise the volume
of voices above the normal speaking level at Memorial Field is prohibited,
except as approved by the Township Committee or in connection with
the Recreation and Parks Department Board approved use of the band
shell.
(5) Pickleball. The permitted hours for the playing of pickleball at the Memorial Field Complex tennis courts shall be from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. The playing of pickleball shall be prohibited from 8:00 p.m. through the following day at 8:00 a.m., in addition to other hours and/or time limitations as designated and approved by the Township Committee pursuant to §
146-19 above.
B. Gardens at Wyckoff. In addition to the other applicable
sections of this chapter, the following specific regulations shall
apply at the Gardens at Wyckoff:
(1) The gardens are open and limited to Wyckoff residents,
their families and/or guests. Hours are dawn to dusk from the spring
through fall.
(2) No commercial activity shall be conducted on the property.
(3) The property and the ponds thereon shall not be used
for any active recreational use, including but not limited to swimming,
fishing, picnicking, athletic fields, playgrounds, skateboarding,
roller-blading, golf, tennis, soccer, baseball or boating.
(4) No motorbikes, mopeds, motorcycles or the like shall
be used, operated or permitted on the property, except as a means
of access to and from the parking lot.
(5) No littering shall be allowed on the property, nor
shall horses, dogs or other domestic pets be allowed on the property.
(6) Visitors must take their trash out of the property
with them.
(7) Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
(8) All children and minors must be supervised by a parent
or guardian.
(9) Parents and guardians are responsible for their children's
safety and the safety of children in their charge while on the property.
C. Zabriskie House/Museum. In addition to all other applicable
sections of this chapter, the following specific regulations shall
apply at the Zabriskie House/Museum:
(1) No commercial activity shall be conducted on the property.
(2) The use and operation of the Van Voor Haze, Quackenbush
and Zabriskie House and appurtenances thereto shall be used and operated
as an historical landmark and/or museum to preserve its historical
value and the Early American history associated with the house and
premises, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Last
Will and Testament of Grace Quackenbush Zabriskie, dated October 31,
1970.
D. Zabriskie Pond/Park. In addition to all other applicable
sections of this chapter, the following specific regulations shall
apply at Zabriskie Pond/Park:
(1) No commercial activity shall be conducted on the property.
(2) No buildings shall be constructed or maintained except
as may be incidental to the primary use of the premises as a public
park.
(3) The lake and park area shall not be used for swimming
or picnicking.
(4) The premises shall be maintained in its present natural
state and as a sanctuary for wild birds and other animal life.
(5) No building shall be constructed or maintained on
the pond area.
(6) No building shall be constructed on the park area,
except as may be incidental to the primary use of the premises as
a public park.
(7) The park area shall be maintained in its natural state
insofar as the same may be practical and consistent with the public
good and welfare. The park area shall be maintained as a sanctuary
for wild birds and other animal life, except for development of parking
areas and small buildings which are incidental to the use of the park.
[Added 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 1716; amended 11-2-2015 by Ord. No. 1786]
It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke within the boundaries of any of the parks, playgrounds or recreational areas which are defined within §
146-4 of this chapter. To the extent possible, "smoke-free area" signs shall be clearly, sufficiently and conspicuously posted at properties where smoking is prohibited by this chapter. The signs shall have the words "smoke-free area" in lettering that is not less than two inches in height and shall contain the international no-smoking sign
In addition to any other penalty expressly provided
for by New Jersey statute, any person violating or neglecting to comply
with any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated
pursuant thereof shall, upon conviction, be fined in an amount not
to exceed $1,000 or be sentenced up to 90 days in jail, or both. As
an alternate penalty or in combination with any other penalty, any
convicted person may be ordered to perform up to 50 hours of community
service. Each day such violation or neglect is committed or permitted
to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable
as such.
This chapter may be enforced by the Police Department,
Dog Warden and such other employees or departments of the Township
as designated, in writing, by the Township Administrator.
If any section, subsection, clause or phrase
of this chapter is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid,
such decision shall not affect the remaining provisions of this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect upon final passage
and publication as prescribed by law.