[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Newton 6-8-1970 as Sec. 5-14 of the Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 307.
The rules and regulations promulgated herein shall apply to public parks and recreational areas and, where applicable, to other lands owned or controlled by the Town and devoted to public recreational use or purpose, including but not limited to that area commonly known as:
A. 
Memory Park situated on both sides of Moran Street north of Moore's Brook.
B. 
Heritage Park situated at the intersection of Trinity Street and Water Street.
C. 
Summit Park situated at the corner of High Street and Summit Avenue.
D. 
New Hampshire Street Park situated at the easternmost end of New Hampshire Street.
E. 
Pine Street Park situated at the end of Pine Street.
[Added 2-11-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-3]
[Amended 2-28-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-3; 2-13-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-2]
A. 
No person shall enter or remain in any portion of the public parks and recreational areas and, where applicable, other lands owned or controlled by the Town and devoted to public recreation use or purpose from dusk to dawn. The only exceptions are: the use of parks by organized athletics on fields with lighting; approved events at the Newton Town Pool; or other activities, events, or programs approved by the Newton Town Manager or his designee. This subsection is not intended to restrict any municipal employee from conducting official business in those areas as part of his respective employment responsibilities established pursuant to § 200-4 of this chapter.
[Amended 2-11-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-3]
B. 
No person shall:
(1) 
Ride or drive any vehicle except on established roads and ways and then only at posted speeds.
(2) 
Park a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area.
(3) 
Leave a vehicle standing or parked at night in established parking areas or elsewhere in the park area.
(4) 
Have animal(s) in any public park or recreational area within the Town, unless animal waste is immediately picked up and properly disposed of and the animal is accompanied by a person over the age of 12 years and is securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash not more than six feet long.
[Amended 10-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-26]
(5) 
Kill, injure or disturb any animal or bird, or have in his possession the young of any wild animal, or the eggs or nest, or young of any reptile or bird; or; damage any grass, tree, shrub, plant, soil, rock, sand or any building, sign, structure or equipment upon any premise under the jurisdiction of the Town.
(6) 
Carry or use firearms or explosives, air rifles, sling shots or any weapon.
(7) 
Use or ride any motorcycles, minibikes, or snowmobiles, or any motorized vehicle, except in those areas designated by the Advisory Recreation Commission.
(8) 
Scatter litter or any form of waste material; or break, throw, or place any glass on lawns, walks, roads, benches, tables, wooded or other areas on any park property.
(9) 
Throw, discharge, or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters of any pond, lake, stream or other body of water in or adjacent to any park or tributary, stream, storm sewer, or drain flowing into such water, any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of such waters.
(10) 
Coast with hand sleds, bobs, skis, carts or other vehicles on wheels or runners, except in places designated by the Advisory Recreation Commission.
(11) 
Swim, bathe or wade in any waters or waterways in or adjacent to any park.
[Amended 2-11-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-3]
(12) 
Sell, vend or give away in or upon any of the parks or drives, any articles of merchandise whatever without the express permission of the Advisory Recreation Commission.
(13) 
Solicit alms or contributions for any purpose, whether public or private, without permission of the Advisory Recreation Commission.
(14) 
Gamble or participate in or abet any game of chance, except in such areas and under such regulations as may be designated by the Advisory Recreation Commission.
(15) 
Have alcoholic beverages in one's possession, except by written permission of the Newton Town Council; nor shall any person in the park be under the influence of intoxicating beverages at any time.
(16) 
Disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person or party occupying any area or participating in any activity under the authority of a permit.
(17) 
Leave a picnic area before the fire is completely extinguished and before all trash is placed in the disposal receptacles where provided. If no such trash receptacles are available, then trash shall be carried away from the park areas by the picnicker to be properly disposed of elsewhere.
(18) 
Build or attempt to build a fire, except in such areas and under such regulations as may be designated. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other inflammable material within any park, or on any highways, roads or street abutting or contiguous thereto.
(19) 
Paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription whatever, nor shall any person erect or cause to be erected any sign whatever on any public lands or highways or roads adjacent to the park, except in areas designated by the Advisory Recreation Commission.
C. 
Fines for violation of Subsection B(1), (2), (3) and (7) of this section are as follows:
(1) 
Riding or driving except at posted speed [Subsection B(1)]: $55.
(2) 
Parking in other than an established or designated parking area [Subsection B(2)]: $55.
(3) 
Leaving vehicle standing or parked at night in established parking areas [Subsection B(3)]: $55.
(4) 
Using or riding any motorcycle, minibike or any motorized vehicle, except in those areas designated by the Advisory Recreation Commission [Subsection B(7)]: $55.
[Amended 6-28-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
A. 
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PUBLIC PARKS
All parks, playgrounds, and athletic fields located within the geographic boundaries of the Town of Newton and shall also mean all public places as defined and/or set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a, regarding use of cannabis or its derivatives in public places, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-13, regarding smoking in public, and N.J.S.A. 26:3D-577 et seq., regarding smoking and vaping in public places.
SMOKING
The burning of, inhaling from, exhaling the smoke from, or the possession of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked, or the inhaling or exhaling of smoke or vapor from an electronic smoking device or aerosol dispenser. Smoking shall also include the consumption of cannabis or its derivatives, as defined or set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a, regarding use of cannabis and/or its derivatives in public places, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-13, regarding smoking in public, and N.J.S.A. 26:3D-57 et seq., regarding smoking and vaping in public places.
B. 
Smoking shall be prohibited at all times within the Town of Newton's public parks, including but not limited to:
(1) 
All restrooms, park bleachers areas, dugouts, any playground equipment (including commonly known as the "tot-lot"), pool areas, and shelter building.
(2) 
All enclosed public park buildings owned, leased, or operated by the Town of Newton.
C. 
A "No Smoking" sign shall be clearly, sufficiently, and conspicuously posted at every public area where smoking is prohibited by this chapter.
D. 
Any person who violates this section shall pay a penalty of $50 for a first offense and a penalty of $200 for any subsequent offense.
The Town Manager, with the advice of the Advisory Recreation Commission, shall have the power to promulgate and publish rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter governing activities and programs sponsored by the Department of Health and Recreation, and for the safety and well-being of the general public.
Applications for reserved use of facilities may be obtained at the office of the Town Manager or other designated locations. Applications shall be completed in full and returned at such times as may be designated by established rules and regulations prescribed according to § 200-5.
It shall be the duty of the Town Manager, through the Chief of Police or the recreation supervisor, to enforce the provisions of this section. It shall be unlawful for any person to disobey the direction of any person supervising any public park or recreational area or to disobey the direction of any sign or to deface, destroy or remove any such sign. The Town Manager or recreation supervisor shall have the authority to suspend one's privileges of use of all or part of the public parks or recreational areas for periods of time not exceeding seven days.
[Amended 2-13-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-2]
Except as provided in § 200-3C, any violation of any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction of a violation, be punishable as set forth in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty.