[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of North Coventry 8-10-1981 by Ord. No. 65; amended in its entirety 6-24-2019. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and Recreation Commission — See Ch. 50.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PARK
Any real estate in which North Coventry Township has an ownership interest, either in fee simple, right-of-way or easement, which is used, intended for use or made available for use as public open space or a recreational facilities.
PARK SYSTEM
Includes all parks as well as any Township open space area, including any recreation area, wildlife habitat,or trail controlled by the Township; any easement for trails, open space, park, or recreational purposes; and any Township lot or property not actively used for park or open space purposes.
SAP
Special Activities Permit.
TOWNSHIP
North Coventry Township, Chester County, PA and/or its Board of Supervisors.
The Township Park System shall be operated and maintained under the supervision of the Township Parks and Recreation Commission as organized under Chapter 50 of the North Coventry Code of Ordinances. The Board of Supervisors shall have the power and authority to overrule the Parks and Recreation Commission in regulating any portion of the Park System.
A. 
A special activities permit ("SAP") shall be necessary for any exemption or variance of any provision of this chapter.
B. 
No person under the age of 18 shall be issued a permit to use the Park System.
C. 
A SAP shall be issued by the designee of the Parks and Recreation Commission pursuant to an application filed on an official form of the Township which shall be accompanied by the requisite security and/or fee unless waived by the Parks and Recreation Commission or Township.
D. 
The fee schedule for the SAP shall be approved by the Board of Supervisors of the Township.
A. 
No person shall be permitted within the Park System between sunset and sunrise of the following day except when allowed by an SAP or for a public function as determined by the Parks and Recreation Commission or Board of Supervisors with such conditions as may be reasonably imposed upon the public.
B. 
The Parks and Recreation Commission may establish, by a resolution, as approved by the Board of Supervisors, the time when all or portions of the Park System may be open to the public. Times shall be posted as to the opening or closing times when such changes are made.
C. 
Any portion of the Park System may be closed by the Parks and Recreation Commission, its designee, the Township Police Department, or the Township.
A. 
No person shall alter, destroy, deface, mark, disfigure, tamper with, displace, or otherwise damage any designation of a boundary line or a survey within the Park System including monuments, stone markers, benchmarks, stakes, posts, or blazed trail markings.
B. 
No person shall alter, destroy, deface, mark, disfigure, tamper with, displace, or otherwise damage any Township property within the Park System including buildings, tables, benches, signs, paving, railings, stormwater facilities, or other improvements.
C. 
No person shall alter, destroy, deface, mark, disfigure, tamper with, displace, dig, pick, gather, remove or otherwise damage any tree, shrub, plant, flower, seed or turf within the Park System.
D. 
No person shall alter, destroy, deface, mark, disfigure, tamper with, displace, remove or cause to be removed, or otherwise damage any archeological or historical property within the Park System or use metal detectors unless otherwise permitted by an SAP.
A. 
No person shall discard, deposit, dump, litter, or allow to blow away any trash, debris, or refuse of any kind within or upon the Park System.
B. 
An SAP shall provide for trash containers and such shall be used and maintained accordingly.
C. 
No person shall discard, deposit, dump, or litter any trash, debris or refuse of any kind in trash containers in the Park System unless such trash or refuse resulted from trash or refuse accumulated in the Park System.
D. 
Where recycling containers are provided in the Park System, trash and refuse arising during use of the Park System shall be placed as indicated on the containers.
A. 
No person shall pursue, catch, attempt to catch, strike, molest, wound, harass, or kill any wild animal, mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate, or disturb any nest, den, burrow, or the habitat of any wild animal.
B. 
No person shall hunt, fish or trap in the Park System unless authorized in specified areas by the Parks and Recreation Commission in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
C. 
No person shall allow dogs or other pets to pursue, catch, attempt to catch, strike, molest, wound, harass, or kill any wild animal, mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate, or disturb any nest, den, burrow, or habitat of any wild animal, except as allowed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or otherwise authorized by the Township and the Parks and Recreation Commission.
D. 
No person shall drive or pursue any animal from the confines of the Park System or within the confines of the Park System except when allowed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and authorized in designated areas by the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Township.
A. 
No person shall bring any animal into any park unless the said animal has been properly vaccinated and has a current license, if so required.
B. 
No person shall ride or lead a horse or pony within any park unless the area is designated as an equestrian use area or is a bridle trail.
C. 
No person shall ride a horse in a careless or reckless manner so as to create a nuisance or to endanger the well-being of persons or property with the Park System.
D. 
No person shall bring, drive, lead, or carry any pet or animal which is unleashed into a park, or on a leash more than six feet in length. All animals must be under immediate control of a competent person.
E. 
Pet owners and/or custodians of animals must remove all feces deposited by the pet within the park.
F. 
No owner or custodian of an animal shall leave such animal unattended within the Park.
A. 
No person shall possess or be under the influence of any controlled substance prohibited by Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Code, the Crimes Code.
B. 
No person shall possess or serve, unless expressly allowed by an SAP, any alcoholic beverages in the Park System. No person shall be under the influence of any alcoholic beverages in the Park System.
A. 
No person shall engage in obscene or indecent act or acts or abusive, threatening, indecent, profane, vulgar, lewd, obscene, violent or otherwise disorderly conduct in or upon any part of the Park System.
B. 
No person shall engage in any form of gambling except as allowed by an SAP.
No person shall produce or cause to be produced sound in excess of the decibels allowed by the Township Noise Ordinance, Chapter 237 of the Township Code, except as provided by an SAP.
A. 
No person shall cause a fire to be set upon or burn any building, plant or habitat area in the Park System.
B. 
No person shall cause a fire to be created or burn except within fireplaces, grills or campfire areas as designated by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
C. 
No person shall dump, throw or otherwise scatter any burning or flammable material, including burning cigarettes, cigars and comparable products, or other flammable material in the Park System.
D. 
The prohibitions as set forth in this section shall not apply to prescribed fires used for habitat management and for setting backfire and wildfire control.
E. 
The Township and/or Parks and Recreation Commission may permit bonfires. If the bonfire is to be permitted for a nonmunicipal event, an SAP must first be obtained and the conditions related to the bonfire must be strictly adhered to.
No person shall possess, fire or discharge any rocket, firecracker or other fireworks or any substance of an explosive nature except as specifically set forth in an SAP and with the approval of the Fire Marshal in the Park System.
A. 
No person shall camp in or upon the Park System except as expressly permitted by an SAP.
B. 
The Township hereby authorized the Parks and Recreation Commission to set forth further rules and regulations governing camping by resolution adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission. The SAP may set forth all conditions for allowing camping pursuant to the adoption of rules and regulations by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
A. 
No person shall offer any article for sale, peddle or solicit business of any nature, including food or beverage sales in violation of Chapter 259 of the Township Code in the Park System, except as expressly provided by an SAP.
B. 
No person shall advertise any article or service for sale, nor post any sign, in the Park System, except as expressly set forth in an SAP.
C. 
No person shall distribute any flyers or handbills in the Park System, except as expressly provided in an SAP.
A. 
No person shall swim, bathe, tube or wade in any watercourse, lake or pond in the Park System except as expressly provided in an SAP or while wading in the course of legally fishing.
B. 
No person shall use or navigate any boat or other watercraft in or upon any watercourse, lake or a pond in the Park System except as expressly provided by an SAP.
C. 
No person shall skate, walk, or go upon any ice formed in any watercourse, lake or pond in the Park System except as expressly allowed and authorized by an SAP.
D. 
No person shall coast with sleds, carts, other wheeled or runner vehicles in the Park System except in areas designated for that purpose or as authorized by an SAP.
A. 
No person shall prevent, threaten, intimidate, or obstruct any person from entering, leaving or using the Park System so long as the use is in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
No person shall hinder or in any other manner interfere with any employee or agent of the Township performing his or her official duties.
A. 
No person shall operate in the Park System a bicycle in an unsafe, reckless or careless manner, including transporting more than one person on a bicycle, unless the bicycle was equipped to carry more than one person.
B. 
No person shall operate a bicycle in an environmentally sensitive area, congested area, or upon any trail or a pathway designated for pedestrian use only in the Park System.
C. 
No person shall park a bicycle in any roadway, parking area, trail, walkway or active use area that would adversely affect safe travel or safe use of the area in the Park System.
A. 
No person shall enter or leave the Park System except by entrances or exits provided for such purpose unless specifically authorized to do so by the Township.
B. 
No person shall park a motor vehicle except in designated parking areas during times that the Park System is open for public use unless expressly authorized by the Township.
C. 
No person shall drive a motor vehicle in or upon the Park System except on a designated road or driveway unless specifically authorized to do so by the Township.
D. 
No person shall drive a motorized mini bike, go-cart, snowmobile, or an all- terrain vehicle in the Park System unless specifically authorized to do so by the Township or an SAP.
E. 
No person shall operate or park a vehicle in such a manner as to take up more than one designated parking space in the Park System unless specifically authorized to do so by the Township or an SAP.
F. 
No person shall operate or park a vehicle as to obstruct the exit or removal of another vehicle in the Park System.
G. 
No person shall drive in an unsafe, reckless, or careless manner, disregarding the rights and safety of others or in a manner to endanger any person or property in the Park System.
H. 
No person shall wash or make repairs to vehicles in the Park System except in the event of an emergency.
A. 
No person shall enter upon any grounds or structure in the Park System posted by the Township as "NO TRESPASSING."
B. 
No person shall enter any building in the Park System that is not open to the public.
C. 
No person shall enter or disturb any construction area in the Park System.
A. 
No person shall discharge a firearm from within, upon, or into any portion of the Park System, unless the person is a duly appointed and authorized police officer, peace officer, park ranger, or other law enforcement officer, while carrying out the duties and responsibilities of his or her position or a person lawfully using a designated target range.
B. 
No person shall discharge an arrow or other projectile from a bow or sling shot in the Park System, except while hunting during an authorized wildlife management program or on a designated target range.
C. 
No person shall use a javelin, boomerang, or any other athletic equipment in the Park System that is potentially dangerous, unless under the supervision of an authorized program supervisor or as expressly provided by an SAP.
D. 
No person shall drive, chip or putt golf balls in the Park System unless under the supervision of an authorized program supervisor or as expressly authorized by an SAP.
A. 
No person shall place a game camera in or upon the Park System and its facilities, unless authorized by a designated hunting program or as allowed by an SAP, or for a bona fide law enforcement purpose. Such cameras must be visibly placed and displayed with the contact information of the owner, without the necessity of moving the camera so that the contact information can be easily read.
B. 
No person shall place a tree stand in or upon the Park System unless authorized by a designated hunting program or allowed by an SAP. All tree stands must visibly display the name and appropriate contact information for the owner without the need to move the stand. All tree stands must be appropriately disabled when not in use so as not to create an attractive nuisance or safety hazard.
C. 
No person shall place artwork, kindness rocks or other personal displays of creativity in the Park System, except as allowed by an SAP.
D. 
No person shall place geocaching containers, scavenger hunt items or other search or find paraphernalia in the Park System, unless authorized by a designated program or expressly allowed by an SAP. All such containers must visibly display the name and appropriate contact information for the owner without the need to move the item.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the North Coventry Police Department, the North Coventry Fire Marshal, and/or the North Coventry Code Enforcement Department to enforce the provisions of this chapter and any amendments thereto. Any person who violates or permits the violation of this chapter shall, for every offense, upon conviction thereof, in a summary proceeding before a district justice, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this chapter. If the defendant neither pays nor appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure.
B. 
It shall be further the duty of the North Coventry Police Department and/or the North Coventry Code Enforcement Department to remove illegally parked vehicles from the Park System. An illegally parked vehicle is a vehicle that meets one of the following criteria:
(1) 
It is not registered;
(2) 
It is not parked in the designated space; or
(3) 
After notice, it is not removed.