[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of West Lampeter 11-11-2002 by Ord. No. 171. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Park and Public Property Ordinance."
For the purpose and within the meaning of this
chapter, the following definitions shall pertain:
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Lampeter,
or its duly authorized representative.
Includes parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and all other
areas of the Township of West Lampeter and devoted to the active or
passive recreation by the public within the Township of West Lampeter.
Includes all other lands owned by the Township of West Lampeter
and devoted to uses other than those listed in the definition of "park"
above.
The Township of West Lampeter.
A.
All public parks and playgrounds owned, operated,
maintained or supported by the Township shall be closed between the
hours of sunset and sunrise unless such hours are modified by the
Board of Supervisors for a particular park or playground by motion
or resolution approved by the Board at a public meeting. No person,
other than authorized supervisors, police, road crew or similar personnel,
shall occupy, frequent or use the parks and playgrounds between such
closed hours, except when the parks and playgrounds are being used
for special events, entertainment, athletic contests or similar affairs
which have been authorized or scheduled and/or are supervised by the
Township.
[Amended 5-12-2008 by Ord. No. 207]
B.
All structures, equipment and facilities owned by
the Township in park and public property are to be used in an appropriate
fashion for the activities for which they were designed and intended.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the
acts hereinafter described within the limits of any Township park
or public property:
(1)
To engage in any conduct which interferes with the
peaceable use of park or public property by other people, including
but not limited to the throwing of stones, sticks or hard objects
in the vicinity of other people (and the use of lewd, vulgar or sexually
suggestive language or behavior in the presence of other people).
(2)
To permit any owner's dog, livestock or other pet
or animal under the owner's control to run at large.[1] An owner is responsible for cleaning up any waste from
his or her animal and properly disposing of said waste in containers
provided for same or in the owner's trash collection receptacles.
(3)
To discharge any firearms as that term is defined by § 6120(b) of the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act except for the justifiable use of force as authorized by Chapter 5 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code or to use or possess any bow and arrow, slingshot, air rifle or any other device (other than firearms as defined above) capable of throwing any projectile of any sort, including the hand throwing of rocks or stones intended to be used as weapons. This Subsection C(3) shall not be operative in any specific area now designated or to be designated in the future by the Township as a rifle range, archery range, or any other specific area whose purpose is to allow the activities otherwise prohibited by this subsection.[2]
[Amended 5-12-2008 by Ord. No. 207]
(4)
To engage in archery and hitting of golf balls, except
on such grounds or place specifically designated for such purpose.
(5)
To possess, drink or be under the influence of any
alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs.
(6)
To break, cut, deface, disturb, injure or take any
flower, fruit, plant, tree, shrub, bench, building, fence, monument
or other structure, apparatus or property.
(7)
To operate any motorized vehicle, snowmobiles, minibikes,
go-carts or any similar device at any place other than roadways or
special areas specifically designed for operation of such vehicles.
(8)
To throw or deposit cans, bottles, broken glass, paper
or rubbish of any kind except in specially designated containers provided
for their proper disposal.
It shall be required to obtain a permit to reserve
any facility or pavilion for an activity, event or function in any
of the Township parks.
A.
Each permit issued by the Township, or its designated
agent, shall be subject to park rules and regulations, and a person
to whom such a permit may be granted shall be bound by the rules and
regulations as fully as though the same were inserted in the permit.
B.
Any person to whom such a permit may be granted shall
be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any person for
reason of negligence of the person or persons to whom such permits
may be granted, their agents or employees.
C.
Specific portions of the rules and regulations of
this chapter may be waived only upon written approval of the Board
of Supervisors.
D.
The Board of Supervisors may from time to time, by
separate resolution, establish reasonable fees and deposits for the
use of parks and facilities therein.
Any person who shall violate or fail to comply
with the provisions of this chapter or any regulations adopted by
the Board of Supervisors thereunder is guilty of a summary offense
and upon conviction thereof shall before a District Justice be sentenced
to pay a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $300 together with
costs of prosecution and in default of payment thereof shall be imprisoned
for not more than 30 days.
