[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Chester as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 3-19-1991 by Ord. No. 8:11-91]
The following rules and regulations shall pertain
to all public parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities owned,
leased or controlled by the Township of Chester, County of Morris,
State of New Jersey.
The maximum speed limit shall be 15 miles per
hour.
Parklands are open to the public from 1/2 hour
before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset or as set by resolution by
the Township Council from time to time.
The carrying or discharge of firearms or weapons
of any kind or nature is prohibited.
Littering of any nature is prohibited, including
the posting, distribution or placing of any billboard, placard, handbill,
circular, advertisement or sign of any nature. Groups using the facilities
are responsible for the cleanup of areas used.
Trees, shrubbery and/or plants are not to be
disturbed without a written permit issued by the Township of Chester.
[Amended 9-5-2000]
A.
Soliciting, hawking, peddling and vending of any nature is prohibited, except as provided in accordance with Chapter 134, Peddling and Soliciting, or as approved by permit by the Parks Advisory Committee.
B.
No solicitor, hawker, peddler or vendor shall conduct, or attempt to conduct, his/her business within 200 feet as measured from the perimeter of the area used for any event or activity approved by the Parks Advisory Committee or Township Council, unless the sponsor for such event or activity permits the licensee to conduct business. In such case the licensee shall pay the required vendor fee as stated in Chapter 130.
No person shall willfully injure, deface, displace,
remove, destroy or tamper with any park property.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on parklands.
A special permit may be issued by the Township Council for special
events upon written application for the same to the Township Council.[1]
Hazardous or unsafe objects or activities, including
fireworks of any kind of nature, are prohibited on parklands.
A.
A special permit may be issued by the Township Council
for a fireworks display upon written application for the same.
B.
Beverages in glass containers are prohibited.
C.
The driving of golf balls within the limited confines
of Township parklands creates a hazard to public safety and is strictly
prohibited.
D.
The training of dogs on or off the leash on Township
parklands constitutes a hazard to public safety and is prohibited.
Children eight years of age or under shall be
supervised by a parent or authorized adult at all times.
Throwing or depositing stones, sticks or debris
of any kind or in any manner in any pond or area used for ice skating
or on ice during freezing weather is prohibited. Skating in a manner
that endangers or interferes with other skaters is strictly forbidden.
Skating is permitted only when a green flag is displayed. Ice hockey
will be limited to designated areas and times. Ice skating on the
pond at Tiger Brook Park is strictly prohibited.
A.
A fee established by the Township Council shall be
charged for each event to be held on parklands unless such fee is
specifically waived by motion of the Council or Parks Advisory Committee.
[Amended 9-5-2000]
B.
Use of parklands for sponsored events shall be by
the filing of an application with the Park Committee and its approval
thereof. Fees are payable upon approval of the application.
C.
Commercial, for-profit activities, such as, but not
limited to, tennis lessons and sports clinics, for which a fee is
charged, shall be prohibited without a permit issued by the Parks
Advisory Committee or the Township Council. The fee for such a permit
shall be set by the Parks Advisory Committee or the Township Council.
Evidence of liability insurance shall be submitted prior to a permit
being issued.
[Added 10-19-1999[1]]
D.
The Township Council reserves the right to require
the posting of a security bond, in an amount to be determined by the
Council, by any applicant requesting permission to use parklands.
Such security bond shall be refundable, in full or in part, after
the permitted use is concluded at the discretion of the Township Council
or Park Committee.
E.
The Township of Chester, the Township Council and
its employees and agents shall not be held responsible jointly or
severally for loss and/or any injuries to any person occurring during
or resulting from any approved use of the park.
No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use
a fire except in places provided for such purpose. Any fire for which
permission has been granted and in such places as have been designated
shall be continuously under the care and direction of a competent
person from the time it is kindled until it is extinguished.
No tents, shacks or any other temporary shelter
shall be set up or used for overnight or camping purposes without
the permission of the Township Council.
Swimming and boating on parklands in Chester
Township is strictly forbidden unless a permit is issued by the Township
Council upon written application for the same.
All persons shall conduct themselves in a proper
and orderly manner at all times while on parklands. No person or persons
shall disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person, persons or
party occupying any area of parklands or participating in any activity
under the authority of a permit.
Any person violating any provision of these
rules and regulations shall be deemed to be a disorderly person in
accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
[Adopted 3-5-1996; amended in its entirety 4-20-2010 by Ord. No.
2010-3]
Group use of parklands and park facilities located in the Township
of Chester shall only be permitted by approved application and evidence
of liability insurance. A group shall constitute any organized gathering
or 12 or more people for a common event or activity.
Reserved use of Township parklands or park facilities by individuals,
groups or agencies operating as for-profit enterprises is not permitted,
except that reserved use of Township parklands or park facilities
shall be permitted by a for-profit enterprise which provides recreational
or educational instruction or activities to Township residents.
The approval of all applications for use of Township parklands
or park facilities, including the setting or waiving of appropriates
fees, the requiring of police and safety offices and the establishment
of special conditions, shall be determined by the Chester Township
Park Committee.
Applications for use of Township parklands or park facilities
shall be on the proper form and shall be reviewed as received, beginning
on the first day of January in each year. Groups which are based within
the Township of Chester and service the residents of Chester Township
may be granted preference in the reservation of a park site.
All applicants shall be required to submit with their application
an original copy of the sponsoring organization's certificate of insurance
in an amount of not less than, but not limited to, $500,000 for property
damage and $1,000,000 for bodily injury. The Township of Chester shall
be the specific certificate holder and shall be named an additional
insured on the certificate of insurance.
Applicants, their guests and invitees for reservation of Township
park facilities shall abide by all park rules and regulations as set
forth by ordinance of the Township of Chester.[1] Failure to abide by the rules and regulations for Township
parklands and park facilities, permit application procedures, special
conditions or roster requirements may result in loss of security deposit
and/or forfeiture of the group use permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. 1, Public Parks, Playgrounds and Recreation
Facilities, of this chapter.
The following fees are hereby established for group reserved
use of parklands and park facilities of the Township of Chester:
A.
General fees.
(1)
General fees shall be as follows:
[Amended 2-6-2018 by Ord.
No. 2018-01]
|
Group Size
|
Standard Fees
(per day)
|
Reduced Fees
(per day)
|
Security Deposit
(per day)
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 to 50
|
$2/person
|
$1/person
|
$100
|
|
51 to 100
|
$200
|
$100
|
$100
|
|
101 to 250
|
$400
|
$200
|
$500
|
|
251 to 500
|
$500
|
$250
|
$500
|
|
501 to 1,000
|
$700
|
$350
|
$750
|
|
1,001 to 2,000
|
$1,000
|
$500
|
$1,000
|
|
2,000 to 3,500
|
$2,000
|
$1,000
|
$2,000
|
|
3,501 to 5,000
|
$3,500
|
$1,500
|
$3,500
|
|
Greater than 5,000
|
$5,000
|
$2,500
|
$5,000
|
(a)
Fees may be reduced if the reserving group or agency meets the
following criteria:
[Amended 11-14-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-10]
[1]
The reserving group is a resident adult group. A resident adult
group is defined as a group of individuals where at least 50% of the
members are residents of Chester Township or Chester Borough.
[2]
The reserving group is a group organized for recreational activities
without attempting to make a profit from the activities consisting
of members under 19 years of age and is open to participation by Chester
Township youths.
[3]
The reserving group is a group of individuals or an organization
holding an event or activity that is open to all Chester Township
and Chester Borough residents without attempting to make a profit
from the event.
(b)
Reduction of a fee shall be determined by the Chester Township
Park Committee by a majority vote of the quorum present.
(2)
Security deposits are refundable in full or in part after inspection
of facilities at the conclusion of sponsor cleanup and breakdown of
a permitted event. Group size is limited to a maximum of 2,000 attendees
per day unless specific authorization to exceed this attendance level
is granted by the Township Council. Fee calculation is based on actual
attendance or total attendance anticipated on the application, whichever
is greater.
B.
Electrical use fees, assessed when a group receives permission to
use electrical service at a reserved facility, shall be as follows:
|
Group Size
|
Electrical Fee
(per day)
|
|---|---|
|
1 to 500
|
$50
|
|
501 to 1,000
|
$75
|
|
1,001 to 2,000
|
$100
|
|
More than 2,000
|
As determined by Township Council
|
C.
Vendor fees.
(1)
Vendor fees are assessed when a group which has reserved a Township
park uses the services of a for-profit enterprise in support of a
permittee's event. Such uses include, but are not limited to, private
food vendors, novelty sales vendors and horseback riding tack vendors.
(2)
A fee of $100 per vendor per day shall be assessed for any for-profit
vendor or business which is operating in a Township parkland for the
support of an agency or event holding a valid park use permit. The
Park Committee shall have the authority and discretion to reduce or
waive said vendor fee upon good cause being shown.
D.
Parking fees.
(1)
The fee for parking in Township parklands for activities outside
of the parks will be as follows:
|
Number of Cars
|
Fee
(per day)
|
|---|---|
|
Less than 500
|
$750, plus $1,000 security fee
|
|
500 to 1,000
|
$1,250, plus $1,000 security fee
|
|
More than 1,000
|
$1,500, plus $1,500 security fee
|
(2)
If the parking is for a nonprofit activity, the Parks Committee may
reduce or waive said fee upon good cause being shown. Security deposits
may be required for both for-profit and nonprofit activities.
E.
Athletic field use fees.
[Amended 2-6-2018 by Ord.
No. 2018-01]
(1)
Athletic field use fees shall be as follows:
|
Standard Fee
|
Reduced Fee
|
Security Deposit
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Playing Field (up to 3 hour use period, per field)
|
$100
|
$50
|
$250 per season or 2x 'Standard Rate' for Time Booked
|
|
Practice Field (up to 3 hour use period, per field)
|
$70
|
$35
|
$250 per season or 2x 'Standard Rate' for Time Booked
|
(2)
Full day use will be counted as two of the three-hour use periods
(i.e., double the rates listed above).
(3)
Fees may be reduced if the reserving group meets any one of the following
criteria:
[Amended 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-14]
(a)
The reserving group is a resident adult group. A resident adult
group is defined as a group of individuals where at least 50% of the
members are residents of either Chester Township or Chester Borough.
(b)
The reserving group is a group organized for recreational activities
without attempting to make a profit from the activities consisting
of members under 19 years of age and is open to participation by Chester
Township youths.
(c)
The reserving group is a group of individuals or an organization
holding an event or activity that is open to all Chester Township
and Chester Borough residents without attempting to make a profit
from the event.
(4)
Reduction of a fee shall be determined by the Chester Township Park
Committee by a majority vote of the quorum present.
F.
Highlands Ridge Park Community Barn fees.
(1)
Fees
for the reserved use of the Highlands Ridge Park Community Barn shall
be as follows:
|
Reserved Area
|
Chester Resident Daily Use Fee
(per day)
|
Nonresident Daily Use Fee
(per day)
|
|---|---|---|
|
Community Room
|
$200
|
$400
|
|
Meeting Room
|
$50
|
$100
|
|
Kitchen Area
|
$50
|
$100
|
|
Reserved Area
|
Chester Resident Security Fee
(per day)
|
Nonresident Security Fee
(per day)
|
|---|---|---|
|
Community Room
|
$500
|
$1,000
|
|
Meeting Room
|
$50
|
$100
|
|
Kitchen Area
|
$100
|
$200
|
(2)
Electricity
charges.
[Added 4-7-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-03; amended 12-7-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-17]
(a)
User fee per day: $30. Groups or individuals scheduled to use the
Community Barn for 120 minutes or less per day shall be exempt from
this fee.
(b)
The user fee charge shall apply to the days the Community Barn or
any portion thereof is actually used for an event. The use charge
shall not be imposed for any days devoted to setting up for the event.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection G, regarding Highlands
Ridge Park Athletic Field fees, which immediately followed, was repealed
2-6-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-01.
A.
Fees shall be made payable to the Township of Chester.
B.
Anticipated fees shall be paid in full a minimum of 30 days prior
to the starting date of the event or activity. Fee adjustments due
to increased attendance shall be paid within seven days after the
conclusion of the event or activity.
C.
Waiver of fees.
(1)
Park use and security fees may be waived if the reserving group meets
the following criteria:
[Amended 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-14]
(a)
The reserving group is providing a recreational activity without
attempting to make a profit from the activity and serves the residents
of the Township of Chester and the surrounding municipalities that
participate in reciprocal field agreements for the reserving group
to persons under 19 years of age.
(b)
The reserving group is a not-for-profit agency serving the Chester
area with a minimum of 50% of its annual operating budget providing
either direct or in-kind recreational, education or charitable services
to the residents of Chester.
(2)
Approval or denial of a waiver or fee shall be determined by the
Chester Township Park Committee or by the Chester Township Council,
as appropriate.
The Chester Township Park Committee shall be authorized to spend
such sums for recreational-related activities as may be appropriated
from time to time by the Township Council.
