[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Nether Providence as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-10-1992 by Ord. No. 581]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Park Ordinance."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PARK
Includes trees, playgrounds and all areas under the jurisdiction of the Nether Providence Park Commission, whether or not said areas have been fully dedicated to park use or conditionally placed under the jurisdiction of said Park Commission.
[Amended 4-10-1997 by Ord. No. 618]
The Park Commission shall consist of seven persons, including a Walkway Committee representative, who shall be residents of the Township of Nether Providence and who shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners, which shall designate one member as Chairman of the Commission. The members shall be appointed for a term of five years and shall serve without compensation. Vacancies in such committee shall be filled by the Board of Commissioners. All persons so appointed shall serve their full term unless they voluntarily resign or are removed by the Board of Commissioners.
A. 
The Park Commission shall have the authority to investigate the condition of the shade trees in the Township, particularly those planted within the lines of the streets and highways thereof, and to make recommendations from time to time to the Board of Commissioners with reference to the proper care thereof and additional planting as the same may be required. The Board may from time to time authorize the Commission to take appropriate action and make appropriate expenditures in specific cases designed to conserve and foster such shade trees. However, the Commission shall have no power to incur any expense of any kind whatsoever or execute any contracts unless in each instance the Board has given prior consent thereto by motion or resolution.
B. 
The Park Commission shall have the right to make recommendations to public authorities, corporations or individuals residing or functioning in the Township with reference to the planting, trimming and care of trees and shrubs on private property.
C. 
The Park Commission shall have the authority to investigate the condition of trees and shrubs afflicted with Dutch elm or other disease which threatens to injure or destroy shade trees in the Township and to make recommendations from time to time to the Board of Commissioners with reference to the proper care thereof and the cutting and removal thereof as the same may be required.
A. 
No person shall be allowed in a park except between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. local time, unless a permit has been obtained as hereinafter provided.
B. 
No persons shall enter or leave a park except by entrances or exits provided for such purpose.
C. 
No person shall stand or lie on a table, bench or seat.
D. 
No persons shall enter a toilet set apart for the use of the opposite sex.
E. 
No intoxicated person shall be permitted in a park.
F. 
No distribution or consumption of beer, ale or other intoxicating beverages shall be allowed in any park.
G. 
No gambling nor any obscene or indecent act or any abusive, threatening, indecent or profane language or any conduct that may annoy others shall be allowed in a park.
H. 
No person shall solicit alms or subscriptions in a park.
I. 
No horses, dogs (other than those on a leash) or other animals shall be permitted in a park.
J. 
No person shall park any vehicle in any portion of a park except in spaces definitely set aside and marked for parking purposes, and no person shall occupy a parked vehicle after dark except with the interior light turned on.
K. 
No person shall carry or use firearms or throw stones or other missiles or leave dead animals or offensive matter of any kind in a park.
L. 
No person shall scatter, drop or leave any paper, rag, garbage, dead flowers or plants, glass, tin cans or other rubbish anywhere in a park, except in receptacles provided for such purpose.
M. 
No person shall injure, damage or deface any buildings, structures, fences, bridges, playground equipment or other property in a park nor climb any tree or break, cut down, trample upon, remove or in any manner injure or damage any ornament, rock, stone, tree, plant, shrub, fern, blossom, flower or turf nor foul nor contaminate any stream or water. The picking of violets, buttercups, daisies or dandelions is permitted.
N. 
No person shall annoy, injure or kill any animals or birds in a park nor disturb any fish or waterfowl in the streams, pools or ponds nor remove or carry away any bird's nests or eggs.
O. 
No person shall injure, deface or destroy any public signs or notices posted in a park.
P. 
No advertisement, placard or notice, except notices of the Township or agencies thereof, shall be posted or distributed in a park.
Q. 
No person shall light or permit a fire to burn in a park except in fireplaces provided for such purpose.
R. 
The playing of golf in any park is prohibited except on putting greens provided for such purpose.
S. 
The promiscuous use of javelins, arrows, discus or similar athletic equipment dangerous in character is prohibited unless used under the direct supervision of an authorized playground supervisor.
T. 
The use of a park for any of the following purposes is prohibited unless a permit is first obtained from the Township Manager as hereinafter provided:
(1) 
Sale of merchandise.
(2) 
Use of fireworks.
(3) 
Musical or theatrical entertainments.
(4) 
Use of radio, television, motion picture, record player, amplification equipment or any other kind of sound or amplification system or equipment.
(5) 
Overnight camping.
(6) 
Parties or gatherings in excess of twenty-five (25) persons for any purpose whatever.
(7) 
Use of park between hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., local time.
The Police Department shall enforce the regulations hereinabove set forth and shall exercise general supervision over persons and property in all parks.
The Nether Providence Park Commission shall have general custody of all parks, subject to such conditions of jurisdiction heretofore or hereafter imposed by resolution or ordinance, and all maintenance, repair and replacement of property and equipment therein and shall be chargeable with the duty of keeping the parks in a clean and sanitary condition at all times. In view of the fact that the parks and playgrounds of the Township have been acquired and are maintained primarily for the use of the residents of the Township, the Nether Providence Park Commission, or any person or persons designated by it, shall have the right to exclude therefrom any person who is not a resident of the Township.
Special permits for the use of parks shall be issued by the Township Manager upon application therefor. No charge shall be made for such permits. No permit shall be issued, however, unless an application therefor is made to the Township Manager in writing at least fourteen (14) days before the applicant intends to use the same. Any person to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any person by reason of negligence or fault of the applicant, his servants, agents or employees.
Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Art. II, Violations and Penalties, § 1-17, Other violations. Such fine and penalty may be collected by suit brought in the name of the Township before any District Justice, in like manner as debts of like amount may be sued for by existing laws.
[Adopted 2-9-2017 by Ord. No. 793]
Areas of parks and playgrounds where children are present in Nether Providence Township are hereby designated as tobacco-free and the use of any tobacco product in any form shall be prohibited hereafter. This chapter shall be applicable to the following Township-owned parks:
A. 
Bullens Lane Park; Hepford Park; Furness Park, Gouley Park; Houston Park and Robert Urban Fields; Leiper Park; Sapovits Park; Woodrow Wilson Park.
"Young Lungs at Play" signs or other appropriate signage will be posted delineating the tobacco-free areas.
Violations of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 for each offense.