[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Franconia as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-13-1975 by Ord. No. 85; amended in its entirety 2-16-2010 by Ord. No. 366]
The Board of Supervisors of Franconia Township hereby establish
the following rules and regulations which shall be applicable to all
Township parks, recreation areas and Township-owned open space areas,
in Franconia Township.
The Township parks are open to all Township residents and guests
from sunrise to sunset throughout the year, except special events
authorized by the Park and Recreation Board.
[Amended 2-21-2023 by Ord. No. 417]
A.
Use of pavilions by organized or other groups shall be only by reservation
secured by completing a pavilion reservation form in person at the
Township office. The Township will begin accepting reservations on
January 1 of each year, and permits will be issued on a first-come-first-served
basis. Pavilion reservation request forms will only be processed if
submitted with a user fee and security deposit in an amount as shown
on the Township's fee schedule.
B.
Use of fields by organized or other groups shall be only by reservation
secured by completing a field reservation request form in person at
the Township office. The Township will first begin accepting field
reservation forms from local youth sporting organizations on January
1 of each year and from all other groups on February 1 of each year.
Permits will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis. Field reservation
request forms will only be processed if submitted with a user fee
and security deposit in an amount as shown on the Township's
fee schedule.
C.
Use of the concession stand shall be only by reservation secured
by completing a concession stand reservation form in person at the
Township office. The Township will begin accepting reservations on
January 1 of each year, and permits will be issued on a first-come-first-served
basis. Concession stand reservation request forms will only be processed
if submitted with a user fee and security deposit in an amount as
shown on the Township's fee schedule.
D.
Any applicant for reservations of any field must submit a certificate
of insurance that indemnifies the Township prior to being issued a
permit for the use of the field. In addition, any applicant for reservation
of any pavilion, field, concession stand, or other Township facility
for any event that will be open to the public must submit a certificate
of insurance that indemnifies the Township prior to the issuance of
a permit for the use of the pavilion, field, concession stand, or
other Township facility. Any and all fees required must be paid in
full prior to use of the pavilion, field, concession stand, or other
Township facility. The Township shall not issue a permit until after
receipt of all requirements of this chapter. The permit must be clearly
displayed when using the pavilion, field, concession stand, or other
Township facility.
E.
All rules and regulations must be followed when using a Township
park or open space area. Certain modifications to the rules and regulations
are permissible only with the written permission of the Board of Supervisors
or Township Manager.
F.
All organizations must submit a certificate of insurance that indemnifies
the Township before use of the park and facilities is permitted. All
fees must be paid in full prior to use of fields.
G.
All organizations and individuals must report all damages that occur
during the use of a Township-owned property or facility within 24
hours following such use.
H.
All organizations and individuals must remove all garbage and trash
generated from use of any Township-owned property or facilities.
I.
All organizations must obtain a permit for field use, and that permit
must be clearly displayed when using the field.
J.
With the exception of local youth sporting organizations, all other
groups or organizations shall be limited to two reservations per calendar
year.
[Amended 2-21-2023 by Ord. No. 417]
The following are prohibited in any Township park, recreation
area, or Township-owned open space areas:
A.
Possession or use of drugs or alcoholic beverages.
B.
Intoxication, indecent language, unnecessary noise and/or any act
offensive to other park users.
C.
Boisterous, immoral or indecent conduct.
D.
Discarding of trash, garbage, or other litter, except in containers
provided for that purpose.
E.
Damaging, defacing, destroying, or removing Township-owned signs,
property, structures, equipment, trees, shrubs or other material.
F.
Planting, cutting, digging and/or removing plant material (e.g.,
trees, shrubs, crops, ground cover, etc.) except as authorized by
the Township Park and Recreation Board.
G.
Operating any passenger car or truck on a park road or parking lot
in a reckless or negligent manner, in excess of posted speed limits,
or in such a manner as to become a nuisance to other park users.
H.
Operating a motorcycle, minibike, snowmobile or other similar recreational
vehicle anywhere in a Township park recreation area or Township-owned
open space area.
I.
Operating, stopping or parking of any passenger car or truck except
on designated roads or parking areas. Working authorized farm vehicles
and Township maintenance equipment are excepted.
K.
Fires other than in the designated grills maintained for that purpose.
L.
Pets, unless properly licensed and restrained by a leash and under
an individual's direct control.
M.
Sound amplification equipment unless specifically approved by the
Park and Recreation Board or the Township Manager.
N.
Distributing or displaying advertising materials or placards.
O.
Setting up booths, tables, and other equipment for use in the sale
of merchandise or any other objects, whether for profit, nonprofit,
or fundraising events.
P.
Food trucks or vendors.
Q.
Trapping or any other injury or destruction to wildlife.
R.
Archery.
S.
Playing or practicing golf, swinging golf clubs, or hitting golf
balls.
T.
Car shows.
U.
Dogs or any other animal on tennis courts.
W.
Possession, use, or discharge of fireworks.
X.
Gambling.
Y.
Possession or use of paintball guns or paintball markers.
Z.
Repairs, cleaning, washing or maintenance of any vehicle.
AA.
Camping.
Public use of those portions of the open space facilities that
are leased by the Township to tenants is limited and shall in no way
result in injury to crops, livestock, fences and/or buildings and
shall not inconvenience in any manner the tenants in their legal activities.
[Amended 2-21-2023 by Ord. No. 417]
Township activities have priority over all other uses. Official
functions preempt all other programs and activities. The Board of
Supervisors and the Township Manager maintain the right to cancel
or otherwise make unavailable any dates that conflict with Township
operations.
A.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall,
upon being liable therefore in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced
by the Township, pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 plus all court costs,
including reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the Township. No
judgment shall be imposed until the date of determination of violation
by the District Justice. If the defendant neither pays nor timely
appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant
to the applicable Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. All organizations
and individuals must report all damages that occur during the use
of Township-owned property or facilities within 24 hours following
such use.
B.
All rules must be followed unless otherwise permitted by the Franconia Township Board of Supervisors or the Township Manager. Any person violating any rules in relation to the fields or pavilions or any other reserved area will forfeit their reservation and deposit and become subject to the terms outlined in Subsection A.
[Amended 2-21-2023 by Ord. No. 417]
All other resolutions or ordinances of Franconia Township inconsistent
with this chapter are hereby repealed.
[Adopted 7-12-1993 by Ord. No. 194]
[Amended 3-8-1999 by Ord. No. 271]
The Branchwood Park shall be open during hours
of operation established from time to time by the townships and posted
at the entrance to the park. No person shall enter into or remain
in the park except during posted hours of operation without permission
of the townships or the Franconia/Salford Joint Park Board. The park
shall be open throughout the year, except during special events authorized
by the Franconia/Salford Joint Park Board.
The use of the parks by groups or organizations
of 10 or more persons shall be scheduled in advance at the Franconia
Township Office.
[Amended 3-8-1999 by Ord. No. 271; 2-17-2015 by Ord. No. 382]
A.
The following are prohibited in the park:
(1)
The possession of alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances.
(2)
Immoral, indecent or boisterous conduct.
(3)
Discarding or depositing of trash, garbage, litter or recyclable
materials except in containers provided for that purpose.
(4)
Damaging, defacing, destroying or removing signs, equipment, structures
or other park property, including trees, shrubs or other materials.
(5)
Cutting, removing, digging or damaging trees, shrubs or other vegetation.
(6)
Operating any motor vehicle in the park other than on a designated
road or parking area. Operating any motor vehicle in a negligent or
reckless manner or in excess of posted speed limits or in such a manner
as to become a nuisance to persons in the park.
(7)
Operating any unlicensed motor vehicle, motor bike, moped, snowmobile
or similar recreational vehicle.
(8)
Discharging firearms, except in lawful self-defense or by constables,
sheriffs, prison or jail wardens or their deputies, police officers
of this commonwealth or its political subdivisions or other law enforcement
officers, while in the performance of their duties.
(10)
Building or maintaining fire except in facilities or receptacles
provided for such purposes.
(11)
Trapping or setting of snares.
(12)
Unleashed or untethered pets. Pet owners shall remove and properly
dispose of pet defecation.
(13)
Horseback riding except on designated trails.
(14)
Archery except in specially designated areas.
(15)
Swimming or diving.
B.
Camping, including the digging of latrines, shall be limited to approved
sites upon special approval and registration at the Franconia Township
office.
C.
Ice skating is permitted only when conditions are appropriate.
[Amended 6-10-1996 by Ord. No. 237]
Any person who violates or permits a violation
of this article shall, upon being liable therefor in a civil enforcement
proceeding commenced by the township, pay a fine not exceeding $600
plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred
by the township. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of the
determination of violation by the District Justice. If the defendant
neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the township may enforce
the judgment pursuant to the applicable Pennsylvania Rules of Civil
Procedure.
