This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Public
Park Ordinance Regulating Conduct In Public Parks."
For the purposes of this article, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein.
When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present
tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular
number, and words in the singular number include the plural number.
The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
CITY
The City of Washington, Pennsylvania.
DIRECTOR
A person immediately in charge of any park area and its activities,
and to whom all park attendants of such area are responsible.
PARK
A park, reservation, playground, beach, recreation center
or any other area in the City owned or used by the City and devoted
to active or passive recreation.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
VEHICLE
Any wheeled conveyance, whether motor-powered, animal-drawn
or self-propelled. The term shall include any trailer in tow of any
size, kind or description. Exception is made for baby carriages and
vehicles in the service of the City parks.
[Amended 4-24-1986 by Ord. No. 1356]
A. Intoxicating beverages.
(1) Prohibition. No person in a park shall have brought alcoholic beverages,
nor shall any person drink alcoholic beverages at any time in the
park.
(2) Exceptions. At certain specifically designated recreation centers
where meals or lunches are served under concession privileges, the
sale of alcoholic beverages by such concessionaire will be permitted
under the strict regulation and control of the Director. Sales of
alcoholic beverages shall be made only in individual drinks (not in
original packages or otherwise in bulk) and shall be served for consumption
on the immediate premises of the concession.
(3) Drunkenness. No person in a park shall have entered or be under the
influence of intoxicating liquor.
B. Fireworks and explosives. No person in a park shall have brought
or have in his possession or set off or otherwise cause to explode
or discharge or burn any firecrackers, torpedo, rocket or other fireworks
or explosives of inflammable material, or discharge them or throw
them into any such area from land or highway adjacent thereto. This
prohibition includes any substance, compound, mixture or article that,
in conjunction with any other substances or compound, would be dangerous
from any of the foregoing standpoints.
C. Domestic animals. No person in a park shall have been responsible
for the entry of a dog or other domestic animal into areas other than
automobile parking concourses and walks immediately adjacent thereto
and in such other areas as may be clearly marked by signs bearing
the words "Domestic Animals Permitted in This Area." Nothing herein
shall be construed as permitting the running of dogs at large. All
dogs in those areas where such animals are permitted shall be restrained
at all times on adequate leashes not greater than six feet in length.
D. Reservation of facilities. No person in a park shall occupy any seat
or bench or enter into or loiter or remain in any pavilion or other
park structure or section thereof which may be reserved and designated
by the Director for the use of the opposite sex.
E. Dress. No person in the park shall appear at any place other than
in proper clothing. With the exception of the restricted bathing areas,
"properly clothed" shall be construed to prohibit the wearing of trunks
or clothing that does not cover portion of the body.
F. Alms. No person in a park shall solicit alms or contributions for
any purpose, whether public or private.
G. Fires. No person in a park shall build or attempt to build a fire
except in such areas and under such regulations as may be designated
by the Director. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter
lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other
inflammable material within any park area or on any highway, road
or street abutting or contiguous thereto.
H. Closed areas. No person in a park shall enter an area posted as "Closed
to the Public" nor shall any person use or abet the use of any area
in violation of posted notices.
I. Games of chance. No person in a park shall gamble or participate
in or abet any game of chance.
J. Going onto ice. No person in a park shall go onto the ice on any
of the waters except such areas as are designated as skating fields,
and provided a safety signal is displayed.
K. Loitering and boisterousness. No person in a park shall sleep or
protractedly lounge on the seats or benches or other areas, or engage
in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language,
or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to a breach
of the public peace.
L. Exhibit permits. No person in a park shall fail to produce and exhibit
any permit from the Director he claims to have upon request of any
authorized persons who shall desire to inspect the same for the purpose
of enforcing compliance with any ordinance or rule.
M. Interference with permittees. No person in a park shall disturb or
interfere unreasonably with any person or party occupying the area
or participating in any activity under the authority of a permit.
[Amended 4-24-1986 by Ord. No. 1356; 12-7-2006 by Ord. No. 1766]
A. Any individual, person, firm, corporation or other entity who shall
violate any provision of this article shall, upon being held liable
in any civil proceeding or upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to
pay a penalty, fine or charge of no less than $100 nor more than the
maximum amount permitted by law, but not to exceed $1,000, and in
default of payment or any failure to pay any fine or penalty, upon
a summary or other criminal conviction, shall be sentenced to imprisonment
for a period not to exceed 30 days, or both.
B. Each day that a violation of this article shall continue shall constitute
a separate offense, subject to the fines, costs, penalties and charges
set forth above for each offense.
C. Nothing herein shall limit, prevent or preclude the City of Washington
from taking any and all legal action or exercising any other remedy
available to the City by law, including but not limited to the initiation
of civil or criminal proceedings or injunctive relief, in order to
enforce or ensure compliance with this article. As an additional remedy,
the City of Washington may abate any nuisance, dangerous or hazardous
condition by any means permitted by law, which shall include but not
be limited to an action in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington
County, Pennsylvania, for injunctive relief; the use of any City of
Washington personnel, equipment and materials or that of an authorized
agent or contractor hired by the City to remove or abate any nuisance,
dangerous or hazardous condition, and with all costs thereof or related
thereto to be charged against the property owner(s) and/or person
or entity who has violated the article or portion thereof; said costs
shall include all actual costs and expenses, including all costs of
collection and reasonable administrative costs of the City, incurred
in enforcing the provisions of the article.
[Amended 4-24-1986 by Ord. No. 1356]
If a violation of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code has been committed
by a person while in the park, then they shall be prosecuted under
said code.