[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Northampton as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 3-17-1988 by Ord. No. 1005 (Ch. 16, Part 1, of the 1993 Code of Ordinances)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
PARK or PARKS
Unless specifically limited, shall be deemed to include all parks, playgrounds, recreation areas, tennis courts, recreation structures and facilities, and also entrances and approaches thereto, and all other land or property or structures under the jurisdiction of the Borough Council, now or hereafter owned or acquired by the Borough for park or recreational purposes.
PERSON
Any natural person, corporation, organization of persons, company, association or partnership.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Any rules and regulations hereby or hereafter promulgated by the Borough Council under the authority herein conferred.
All parks shall be opened daily to the public at such hours as Borough Council may from time to time designate, but in no event shall any person be permitted to be in attendance in any park between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., unless special permission be granted by Borough Council.
[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
No person in attendance at a park shall:
A. 
Injure, deface, remove, cut or damage any of the trees, plants, shrubs, turf, buildings, structures, signs or fixtures, or any other property of the Borough located within the park.
B. 
Litter any area of the park with garbage, paper, bottles, cans or other waste material; nor dispose of the same in any way except in receptacles designated for such purpose.
C. 
Kindle or maintain any fire in the park except in fireplaces or areas specially designated for that purpose and located by authority of Borough Council.
D. 
Remove any bench, seat, table or other appliance without permission of Borough Council.
E. 
Injure, deface, destroy or remove any notice, rule or regulation posted at any place within the park by authority of Borough Council; nor shall any notice or placard be posted within the park other than by authority of said Council.
F. 
Set up any booth, table or stand for the sale of any article or service whatsoever within the limits of the park without permission of Borough Council; distribute, sell, service or rent any services or commodity or solicit for any purpose without permission of Borough Council.
G. 
Operate, stop or park any motorized vehicle, bicycle or other means of conveyance except in areas where permitted or designated by proper authority of Borough Council, or operate the same in a reckless or negligent manner or in excess of any posted speed limit or in such a manner as to become a nuisance to other area users.
H. 
Operate commercial vehicles, unless providing authorized services.
I. 
Carry or discharge slingshots, firecrackers, fireworks or other missile-propelling instruments or explosives or arrows, or other dangerous weapons which have such properties to cause annoyance or injury to any person or property, unless permission has been granted by Borough Council in designated areas; police officers in the performance of their duties will be exempt from these provisions.
[Amended 10-2-2014 by Ord. No. 1195]
J. 
Be allowed to play golf or practice hitting golf balls.
K. 
Disrobe or change clothing except in buildings or facilities made available for that purpose.
L. 
Disturb the peace by any conduct so as to annoy any other person using the park for recreational purpose.
M. 
Operate a snowmobile, minibike, motorcycle, or any vehicle recreational or otherwise except on designated roads, trails, or areas set aside for their use.
N. 
Use threatening, abusive, insulting, profane or obscene language or words.
O. 
Commit any disorderly or immoral acts.
P. 
Hold any public meeting or rally with more than five persons or engage in any marching or driving as members of a military, political or other organization without permission of Borough Council, which requires a statement of information, including the name of the organization, its purpose, number of persons expected to be invited, expected duration and name(s) in charge.
Q. 
Disobey a proper order of a police officer or Borough Council member, or disobey or disregard or fail to comply with any rule or regulation, warning, prohibition, instruction or direction given by an authorized person and posted or displayed by sign, notice, bulletin, card, poster, or when notified or informed as to its existence by Borough Council or an authorized person.
R. 
Hunt for, capture or kill, or attempt to capture or kill, or aid or assist in the capturing or killing of, in any manner, any wild bird or wild animal of any description, either game or otherwise, and to that end, it is unlawful for any person to carry onto or possess in any park, a shotgun or rifle or pistol or firearm of any make or kind.
S. 
Be permitted to walk or ride any type of animal.
[Amended 3-17-1988 by Ord. No. 1005]
All laws pertaining to fishing in the commonwealth shall apply to fishing in parks and recreation areas, and provisions thereof are hereby incorporated by reference.
[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
The use of all ballfields and pavilions shall be on a first-come, first-served basis unless otherwise reserved.
A. 
Pavilion will not be available before March 1 or after October 31. (Rest room facilities may not always be available during March and October due to weather conditions.)
B. 
No permits for the use of any recreational facilities will be taken until on or after March 1 of the year in which they are requested.
C. 
The Borough shall not be obligated to pay for any additional electrical service than is otherwise provided at the park and pavilion areas.
D. 
The issuance of a permit on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) for a pavilion shall also include the use of the ballfields which are adjacent to these facilities. The restriction on the use of the ballfields does not preclude a baseball team from renting the pavilion area on weekends.
E. 
In the event that a rain date is requested by any organization or individual, there will be an additional charge, as established from time to time by resolution of Borough Council, for the rain date and the rain date must be at least one month from the date of the original request to utilize the facility. There will be no rain dates granted after August 15 of any year.
[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
All organized activities require a permit issued by the Borough Manager. The fees for such permits shall be as established, from time to time, by resolution of Borough Council. Activities for which permit fees shall be charged are as follows:
A. 
Use of the baseball fields on a daily basis, with the only exception being if an organized league in the Borough of Northampton rents any of the baseball fields for a season. The seasonal fee for a Northampton league shall be calculated on the basis of the daily charge, with an upper and lower limit as established by resolution of Council.
B. 
Use of the pavilion areas shall require a fee as established, from time to time, by resolution of Borough Council.
C. 
Waiver of fees must have approval from Borough Council.
D. 
No permits for the use of any recreational facilities can be issued until on or after March 1 of the year in which they are requested for Borough of Northampton residents or organizations and until on or after April 1 of the year in which they are requested for non-Borough residents or organizations.
Recreation facilities which become hazardous for public use due to weather, water, fire or unforeseeable conditions may be closed only at the discretion of Borough Council.
The police officers of the Borough of Northampton are charged with enforcement of the provisions of this article (and of rules and regulations promulgated by Borough Council).
[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $600 and costs and, in default of payment thereof, shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.
[Adopted 5-16-2002 by Ord. No. 1110; amended in its entirety 12-4-2003 by Ord. No. 1115]
A. 
If one individual initiates a fight, the second individual is directed to walk away from the situation and report the incident immediately to the front desk. The Northampton Borough Recreation Center realizes that peer pressure makes walking away and reporting the incident difficult for any person, young or old; but failure to do so will result in a minimum one-month suspension of all NBRC privileges for both participants.
B. 
Any member or nonmember who engages in a fight or instigates a fight while participating with any organization, including but not limited to: Northampton Athletic Association, Basketball or Volleyball, will be suspended for a minimum of one month. Also, said member or nonmember will lose all NBRC privileges for a minimum of one month. There will be no exceptions regarding the NBRC's fighting policy.
All members and nonmembers should be aware that all items issued to them remain the property of the NBRC. Special care must be given to every piece of equipment and other items (basketball, volleyball, etc.) given them to use, and said item is only to be utilized for its intended use. Each member and nonmember is responsible to return the borrowed property. If any property or pieces of equipment are lost or damaged, the member or nonmember is responsible to pay for those items. Any member or nonmember who fails to make restitution for lost or damaged property will be subject to arrest and/or fined.
The telephones at the front desk are to be used for NBRC business. Emergency calls will be made by NBRC staff on behalf of requester. All social and nonemergency calls are to be made from the pay phone.
All members must refrain from using foul language, profanity, antisocial, discriminatory and/or abusive language.
All members must wear proper attire (workout clothing; not street clothes, sneakers, etc.) while utilizing the facilities.
All members must exercise safety when using the gym or exercise room.
No alcoholic beverages or smoking are permitted on the property of the Northampton Borough Recreation Center.
All members must remove their locks from the lockers after using the Northampton Borough Recreation Center.
Be alert! The fitness equipment in this facility presents hazards which, if not used properly, could cause injury. Prior to using the equipment, read the warning labels and instruction placards affixed to each machine. If you are unsure on how to use a machine, seek the assistance of our floor personnel. We will be happy to instruct you on how to use the equipment properly. Immediately report any piece of equipment that is not functioning properly to our floor personnel so that it may be evaluated and serviced promptly. Do not attempt to use or fix any piece of equipment that is not functioning properly. All members must refrain from dropping plates and dumbbells (i.e., throwing plates or dumbbells to the mat). All plates and dumbbells must be placed back on their appropriate racks after usage. All equipment in the fitness and exercise room must be wiped clean after usage.
All members must be 14 years of age or older to use the exercise room.
Water is the only kind of beverage allowed in the exercise room. All other beverages and food may be consumed in the concession area only. Food and drink are not permitted in the gymnasium. All coaches of team sports in the gym are responsible for cleaning up the gym after practices and games, including the bathrooms and locker rooms.
The Recreation Center reserves the right to eject and/or suspend for a period, as solely determined by Northampton Borough Recreation Center Board, any person(s) who does not act in accordance with Center and/or Borough policies, regulations, rules and ordinances, or the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
All members must present their card to staff member at the front desk and print their name in full on the sign-in sheet. There is a $5 fee for a replacement card. No member will be issued a locker key or any piece of equipment without a membership card or some identification. Membership and/or membership cards are nontransferable.
All day-pass individuals or nonmembers utilizing the facility must conform to the rules and regulations of the Northampton Borough Recreation Center. Violation of any rule will result in immediate expulsion from the Center. No nonmembers will be issued a locker key or any equipment without a valid form of identification.
The Northampton Borough Recreation Center will not refund the cost of a membership once it is purchased. The NBRC Board can revoke any membership without issuing a refund, if said member has violated the Rules and Regulations of the NBRC.
No pictures can be taken with a camera, camera phone or video recorder of anyone either inside or outside the NBRC or on the property of the NBRC.