Township of Halfmoon, PA Chapter 169 Parks and Recreation

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Halfmoon 7-23-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-6 (Ch. 90 of the 1994 Code); amended in its entirety 4-9-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-06. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Park and Recreation Board — See Ch. 42.

Parkland dedication — See Ch. 166.

§ 169-1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ALCOHOL

All liquor or "malt brewed beverage" as defined by Pennsylvania Liquor Code, 47 P.S. § 1-102.

INTOXICATION

A state of person being drunk, inebriated or under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of narcotics or illegal drugs.

PARK

Unless specifically limited, shall be deemed to include all parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, stadiums, tennis courts, band shells, music pavilions, recreational areas and structures and land or property or structures under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Board, and all other land now or hereafter owned or acquired by Halfmoon Township for park and recreation purposes and specifically designated by the Township as subject to the rules and regulations contained therein.

PERSON

Any natural person, corporation, organization of persons, company, association or partnership.

POLICE OFFICER

Any peace officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

§ 169-2 Conduct prohibited in parks.

A. Hours. Park hours are "Dawn until Dusk" with the exception of lighted facilities which will be open until 10:00 p.m. No person shall be in the park outside of park hours without prior consent of Halfmoon Township.

B. Disturbing the peace. No person shall disturb the peace in any park by any act.

C. Possession of alcohol/intoxication. No person shall enter a park in an intoxicated condition nor shall any person have in his/her possession or drink or use in any park any alcoholic beverage, narcotics or illegal drugs of any kind.

D. Immorality and indecency. No person shall do any obscene or indecent act in any park, or display, expose or distribute any picture, banner, or other object suggestive of sex in a lewd, indecent, or immoral way.

E. Unbecoming language. No person shall use threatening, abusive, insulting, profane or obscene language or words in any parks.

F. Weapons, projectiles, etc. No person shall perform the following actions within parks or playgrounds without prior consent of Halfmoon Township: carry or discharge an air rifle or air pistol, a paintball gun or paintball marker; fireworks (including rockets) or other missile-propelling instruments or explosives, a slingshot or a bow and arrow, or other dangerous weapons, which have such properties as to cause annoyance or injury to any person or property; provided, further, that no person shall discharge any firearm within parks or playgrounds.

G. Vehicles. No use of snowmobiles, minibikes, motorcycles or any vehicle recreational or otherwise except on designated roads, trails, or areas set aside for their use. No vehicles shall be parked on the grounds of any park overnight.

H. Animals in parks. No person owning or being custodian, unless that animal meets the requirements of "service animal" as defined by Federal Americans Disability Act, or having control of any animal, shall cause or permit the same to be in any park.

I. Hunting. It is unlawful to hunt for, capture or kill, or attempt to capture or kill or aid or assist in the capturing or killing in any manner, any wild bird or wild animal of any description, either game or otherwise.

J. Camping. Day or overnight camping of any type is prohibited without prior consent of Halfmoon Township.

K. Setting of fires. No fires shall be set in any park except in areas where fires are designated as permitted or without prior consent of Halfmoon Township.

§ 169-3 Enactment of additional regulations; procedure upon violation.

A. This chapter and regulations may be enforced by any Township Supervisor, a Township Supervisor's designee, or a police officer having jurisdiction within the Township.

B. Any person violating any provision of this chapter, or any rule or regulation prescribed by the Township of Halfmoon, pursuant thereto, shall for each and every such violation, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 and court costs, including reasonable attorney fees. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the municipality may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day's continuance of a violation shall constitute a separate offense.