[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Merion 4-15-1981 by Ord. No. 1954, which ordinance also repealed former Ch. A168, Park Rules and Regulations, adopted 7-17-1968 by the Parks and Playgrounds Committee of the Township of Lower Merion, as amended. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and playgrounds — See Ch. 109.
Park rules and regulations shall be as follows:
A. 
Hours. No person shall be allowed in a park except between sunrise and sunset, daily local time, except as follows:
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650; 3-16-2022 by Ord. No. 4239]
(1) 
The Vernon V. Young Park shall be open from sunrise to 10:00 p.m. daily.
(2) 
The Lewis Smith Park Facility shall be open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily or until such later time as may be designated in writing by the Director of Parks and Recreation.
(3) 
The Cynwyd Heritage Trail shall be open 24 hours per day, except from sunset to sunrise it may be used only as a transportation corridor.
B. 
Permit charges. All permits shall be free of charge except as otherwise set forth in this subsection or in Chapter A167 of this Code. No refunds of permit fees will be granted.
C. 
Organized games.
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650]
(1) 
A permit to play organized, pre-arranged, games, such as football, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, ultimate frisbee, or hockey, in a Township park or playground must be obtained from the Director of Parks and Recreation.
[Amended 4-20-2011 by Ord. No. 3942]
(2) 
Priority will be given to groups and organizations composed of members of whom 51% or more are residents or taxpayers (excluding the occupational privilege tax) of the Township of Lower Merion.
D. 
Picnics. A permit to use a picnic area in a Township park is required for groups of five or more and will be issued by the Director of Parks and Recreation. Priority will be given to groups and organizations of whom 51% or more are residents or taxpayers (excluding the occupational privilege tax) of the Township of Lower Merion.
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650; 4-20-2011 by Ord. No. 3942]
E. 
Meetings.
(1) 
A permit to hold a meeting in a township building is required and will be issued by the Director of Parks and Recreation only to groups and organizations which are nonprofit, public and patriotic, charitable, philanthropic, educational or scientific in nature.
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650]
(2) 
Township buildings shall not be used for meetings of private organizations such as, but not limited to, private corporations, trade associations and labor unions.
(3) 
A permit to hold a meeting in a township building will be issued to service clubs and similar groups by the Director of Parks and Recreation subject to the fees set forth in Chapter A167 of this Code.
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650]
(4) 
Priority will be given to groups and organizations composed of members of whom 51% or more are residents or taxpayers (excluding the occupational privilege tax) of the Township of Lower Merion.
[Amended 4-20-2011 by Ord. No. 3942]
Permits shall be subject to the following restrictions, policies and conditions:
A. 
A permit must be in the possession of the permit holder and must be presented upon request to any employee of the Department of Parks and Recreation or to any police officer of the Township of Lower Merion.
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650]
B. 
The activities of the organization or group holding a permit shall be confined to the area assigned to such organization or group.
C. 
Gambling or the use of malt or alcoholic beverages on Township property are prohibited, except as otherwise set forth in this Code, and any such activity or use will result in the immediate cancellation of the permit.
D. 
The use of profane or indecent language or rowdy or objectionable conduct will result in the immediate cancellation of the permit.
E. 
Persons over five years of age must wear shirts or other proper covering.
F. 
No dogs or other domestic animals are allowed in the township parks, playgrounds or indoor facilities, except when an activity involving such animals is officially sanctioned by the township or except when any other provision of this Code expressly permits the presence of such animals in such areas or portions of such areas as set forth in Chapter 109 of this Code.
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650]
G. 
Articles and equipment belonging to the Township must be returned promptly in good order and condition. Articles and equipment subjected to wear and tear beyond that which would reasonably be expected must be replaced.
H. 
All grounds and facilities in Township parks and playgrounds must be left in good order and condition. The judgment of the Director of Parks and Recreation or of his/her duly authorized representative as to whether or not this has been done, as well as to whether or not township property is in good condition to be used, shall be final.
[Amended 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650]
I. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection I, regarding the percentage of residents or taxpayers, was repealed 7-17-2002 by Ord. No. 3650.
J. 
The violation of any restriction, policy or condition governing a permit will result in the immediate cancellation of the permit.
[Added 4-20-2011 by Ord. No. 3942; amended 1-21-2015 by Ord. No. 4048]
The following rules and regulations shall apply to the Flat Rock Park boating facilities:
A. 
A permit is required to park boat trailers in any of Flat Rock Park's three parking lots. There is no permit fee. The permit must be displayed on the left side (driver's side) of the trailer tongue, one foot from the hitch.
B. 
All boat operators must follow all established rules and regulations concerning the use of Township boating facilities.
C. 
All boat operators must follow all established Lower Merion Township laws and ordinances.
D. 
All boat operators must follow all Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Boating Regulations.
E. 
The boat ramp must remain open and clear to allow for launching and retrieving boats.
F. 
The docks may be used for temporary mooring of boats only.
G. 
The following activities are not permitted on/from the docks:
(1) 
Loitering.
(2) 
Sunbathing.
(3) 
Eating or drinking.
(4) 
Fishing.
(5) 
Swimming.
H. 
The rigging area is to be used to prepare boats for launch and to secure equipment upon leaving the water. Parking is not permitted in this area.
I. 
Parking for boat trailers in the main lot is limited to trailer parking spaces. Additional parking for trailers is available at the Hollow Road and Mill Creek Road parking lots.
J. 
Should a boat operator not adhere to any of the rules and regulations, his/her permit may be revoked, fines levied and/or a fee charged for damages.
[Added 4-20-2011 by Ord. No. 3942]
The following rules and regulations shall apply to those parks where dogs are permitted off-leash by Chapter 109 hereof:
A. 
Only dogs with valid and visible off-leash permits from the Township will be allowed off-leash in designated fenced and unfenced areas and at designated times.
B. 
All dogs must wear collars with current rabies tag visible.
C. 
Dog owners/handlers must have their permit cards with them.
D. 
One adult may have no more than two dogs under their control and off leash and must have a separate leash no longer than eight feet available for each dog.
E. 
Dog owners/handlers are responsible for the actions and behavior of their dogs at all times.
F. 
Dogs must be in view of and under control, including voice control, of their owner/handler at all times, as required by Pennsylvania state law.
G. 
Dogs will come and stay by the side of their owner/handler immediately when called.
H. 
Dogs will not charge or display aggression towards any person or behave in a way that any reasonable person finds to be harassing or disturbing.
I. 
Dogs will not chase or display aggression towards other dogs.
J. 
Dogs will not chase, harass or disturb wildlife.
K. 
Dogs must be leashed immediately at the first sign of aggression or unruliness and removed from the designated area.
L. 
Dog owners/handlers must pick up and dispose of their dog's excrement.
M. 
Designated areas:
(1) 
Rolling Hill Park:
(a) 
The unfenced off-leash area is restricted to signed, designated trails and is permitted from sunrise until 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 until 6:00 p.m. seven days a week. Dogs must be kept on leash everywhere else in the park except the fenced dog area.
(b) 
Dogs must be kept on leash in the parking area and entrance trail until entering the woods and trails identified as the off-leash area.
(c) 
When walking through fields, dog owners/handlers must remain on the trail and all dogs must be kept leashed to protect the meadow and grassland wildlife.
(d) 
On-leash zones: Dogs are permitted, but must leashed at all times where these signs are posted.
(2) 
Rolling Hill Park fenced area:
(a) 
The fenced off-leash dog area is open from sunrise until sunset seven days a week.
(b) 
No food, drink or rawhide is allowed in the fenced area.
(c) 
No children under six years of age are permitted unless under an adult's supervision at all times.
(d) 
Puppies under six months are not permitted.
(e) 
Dogs in heat are not permitted.
(f) 
Pinch and choke chains and spiked collars are not permitted.
(3) 
West Mill Creek Park:
(a) 
Off-leash areas: Dogs are permitted from sunrise until sunset seven days a week.
(b) 
Dogs must be kept on leash in the parking area and entrance trail until inside the park.
(c) 
Dogs can access Mill Creek only via identified stream access points.
(d) 
Dogs are not permitted in the wetlands meadow or the riparian buffer.
N. 
Should a dog owner/handler not adhere to any of the rules and regulations, his/her permit(s) may be revoked at any time.