Township of Elizabeth, PA Chapter 16 Parks and Recreation

Part 1 General Regulations on Public Grounds

§ 101 Alcohol Usage and Other Prohibited Acts.

[Ord. 454, 6/6/1977, §§ 1-4; as amended by Ord. 561, 6/1/1987; by Ord. 577, 8/1/1988, § 2R; and by Ord. 604, 10/1/1990, § 2]

1. Definitions – The following words and phrases when used in this Part shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

ALCOHOL

ethyl alcohol of any degree of proof originally produced by the distillation of any fermented liquid, whether rectified or diluted with or without water, or some other substance, whatever may be the origin thereof, and shall include synthetic ethyl alcohol, but shall not mean or include ethyl alcohol, whether or not diluted, that has been denatured or otherwise rendered unfit for beverage purposes.

LIQUOR

any alcoholic, spirituous, vinous, fermented or other alcoholic beverage, or combination of liquors and mixed liquor a part of which is spirituous, vinous, fermented or otherwise alcoholic, including all drinks or drinkable liquids, preparations or mixtures, and reused, recovered or redistilled denatured alcohol usable for beverage purposes, and shall include but shall not be limited to whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, wine, cordials, and any other similar type of beverage which is now or would be sold through the State Stores of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and contain an alcoholic content.

MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES

any beer, lager beer, ale, porter or similar fermented malt beverage containing 1/2 of 1% or more of alcohol by volume, by whatever name such beverage may be called.

2. Hereafter, it shall be unlawful for any person to drink or possess alcohol, liquor or malt or brewed beverages in or upon any public ball field which shall include the playing field, the adjacent spectators area and any public playground which is owned, operated or leased by the Township of Elizabeth within the geographic boundaries of the Township of Elizabeth.

3. The following special rules and regulations shall apply to any individual, group, company, corporation or organization using Township leased or owned real property for any purpose:

A. Permits to use Township leased or owned real property shall be issued by the Township on a first-come, first-served basis. Township residents shall be entitled to a priority position when permits are issued. Permits must be shown on request by the proper Township officials;

B. Users shall obey local fire and safety regulations;

C. No firearms shall be permitted on the real property;

D. Users shall not be permitted to deface, remove or damage any trees, shrubs, turf, buildings, structures, signs or any other personal property on the real property;

E. Dogs must be kept on leashes at all times;

F. Motor bikes and motor scooters are prohibited;

G. No profane, indecent, abusive or insulting language, gambling or public intoxication shall be permitted;

H. Parking shall be permitted only in the defined parking areas.

4. Penalties – Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this § 101 shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000.00; and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days. Every day that a violation of this § 101 continues shall constitute a separate offense.

§ 102 Regulations on Public Ground of River Banks.

[Ord. 491, 5/5/1980, §§ 1-3; as amended by Ord. 561, 6/1/1987; and by Ord. 577, 8/1/1988, § 2R]

1. The following acts or conduct on Township owned, leased, or controlled property including that area containing the fishing dock, boat launching area, and other facilities on the banks of the Youghiogheny River are specifically prohibited:

A. Overnight camping, the erection of any tent or other device used for, or capable of being used for, sleeping or cooking; sleeping; cooking or the building or maintaining of open fires; swimming or the cutting of trees.

B. Leaving, depositing and/or the disposal of any trash, garbage or other debris on any Township owned or controlled property, unless the same is placed in containers if provided for such purposes, and such disposal shall be limited to materials accumulated during the use of the said Township owned or controlled property. Disposing, leaving or discarding any refuse or garbage accumulated away from such Township owned or controlled property is strictly prohibited.

C. The removal or defacing of any sign, poster, or property; or damaging in any way any lands or interference with any devise or structure on such lands or to alter or interfere with the flow of water over or through any structure or lands owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the Township.

2. Vehicles used on the Township owned, leased or controlled property shall be subject to the following regulations:

A. Vehicles properly registered in conformity with the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code will be permitted on Township property provided they are operated only on roads open to the public and in such a manner so as to not endanger life or property.

B. Vehicles must be parked in designated areas only, and the blocking of driveways, access roads and launching ramps is strictly prohibited.

C. Vehicles shall not remain parked on Township owned or controlled property between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., prevailing time, which are used, or capable of being used for sleeping and/or the cooking of meals.

D. The use of motorized vehicles which are not registered in conformity with the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and which are capable of off-highway use (including trail bikes, Tote Gotes, Land Rovers, Jeeps, all terrain vehicles, and the like) shall be prohibited on Township owned, leased or controlled property.

3. Penalties – Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this § 102 shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000.00; and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days.

Part 2 Rules and Regulations for Public Gatherings While Using Public Facilities

§ 201 Rules and Regulations for Public Gatherings.

[Ord. 677, 9/11/1995, § 2]

There is hereby ordained in the Township that any gathering of individuals for purposes of meetings on property within the Township and the owners of any such property are subject to the following rules and regulations to protect the health, safety and welfare of other residents in the Township. It is specifically ordained that the provisions of this Part shall not apply to any gathering of individuals of the same family for purposes of pleasure, recreation, reunions or the like. It is further ordained that the terms and provisions of this Part shall not apply to any gathering of individuals numbering 25 or less on any particular site, nor to meetings held indoors, including firehall meetings, wedding receptions or other meetings in firehalls, church halls or the like. It is further ordained that the terms and provisions of this Part shall apply only to those meetings for which the owner of the premises exacts or charges, fees, rents for the use of the property involved or the renter charges admission or cover charges. The regulations that the Commissioners deem necessary and appropriate to preserve the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Township are as follows:

A. A permit for the meeting shall first be obtained from the appropriate officials, or official designated by the Commissioners for such purpose, which permit shall be granted only after review of the proposed meeting by the Chief of Police of the Township or designated officer, etc.

B. The owner of the premises on which the meeting is to take place, as well as the individuals responsible for conduct of the meeting, shall both execute the permit application referred to above.

C. The individuals responsible for the meeting shall provide adequate sanitary facilities for all those in attendance.

D. The entity responsible for the meeting shall assure that adequate security for the meeting shall be in place throughout the time that the meeting is conducted. In this respect, a security individual must be onsite for every 100 individuals who attend or are anticipated to attend the meeting.

E. No alcoholic beverages shall be permitted to be on the property on which the meeting is being held, and specifically shall be excluded from all the public ways of the Township unless a special occasion permit is obtained from the LCB.

F. No loud or raucous music or other disturbing sound shall be permitted on the site. Any musical performances on the site must cease by 12 midnight.

G. The disposal of all trash, refuse and waste shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property, and/or the entity responsible for the meeting, and the same shall be done in a prompt and sanitary fashion.

§ 202 Penalties.

[Ord. 677, 9/11/1995, § 3]

Any individual violating any portion of this Part shall be guilty of a summary criminal offense, and shall be subject to a fine of a minimum $100.00 to a maximum of $600.00 as shall be determined by the district justice of the peace having the jurisdiction to hear the matter, and/or 10 days in jail.