Cross references: Outdoor assemblies, § 38-186 et seq.; streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 58; vegetation, ch. 82.
State law reference: Township parks, MCL 42.1,
41.421 et seq.
[Code 1974, § 34-2]
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
The overnight lodging or sleeping of a person or persons
on the ground or in any manner or in a sleeping bag, tent, trailer-tent,
trailer coach, vehicle camper, motor vehicle, or in any other conveyance
erected, parked, or placed within any park.
The Charter Township of Meridian Park Commission.
Any vehicle which is self-propelled by any means whatever,
including all devices in, upon, or by which any person or property
may be transported or drawn, excluding wheelchairs or other ambulatory
assistance devices or devices moved exclusively by human power.
Permitting a vehicle to remain standing, whether occupied
or not, when not loading or unloading.
Any off-street area, whether paved or not, which is designated
for public parking.
Any property owned by the Township and delineated as a park
or natural area in the Township's community park and recreation
plan.
Written rules and regulations and any amendments thereto
concerning the use and maintenance of Township park property, adopted
by the commission and approved by the Township Board, copies of which
are available to the public at the Township parks office and the Clerk's
office.
|
Cross reference: Definitions generally, § 1-2.
|
[Code 1974, § 34-27]
The commission shall be the body responsible for the interpretation
of this article. A decision of the commission concerning an interpretation
of this article may be appealed to the Township Board within 10 days
of the date of the decision.
[Code 1974, § 34-26]
The Township may establish emergency rules necessary to protect
the health, welfare, and safety of park visitors and to protect park
property, including, but not limited to, ordering all persons off
park property, and closing all or any portion of a park.
[Code 1974, § 34-25]
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as prohibiting
Township employees or agents from performing work or activities at
any Township park at a time and in a manner directed by the Township.
|
Cross reference: Officers and employees, § 2-51 et seq.
|
[Code 1974, § 34-3]
(a)
The commission or its designee may grant a permit for a special park
use which otherwise is prohibited by this article when, in its discretion,
the commission or its designee determines that adequate sanitary and
safety precautions will be taken, that the activity will not unreasonably
interfere with the use of the park and neighboring property by others,
and that there is adequate security against damages to the Township.
(b)
An activity which involves an exhibition or performance which may reasonably be expected to cause large numbers of persons to congregate shall be considered a special park use requiring a permit under this section. Outdoor gatherings of persons in excess of 500 in number must also comply with the provisions of Chapter 38, Article V, regulating to outdoor assemblies.
(c)
Application for a special park use permit shall be made 45 days in
advance of the time of any special park use being requested.
[Code 1974, § 34-4]
Fees and charges may be assessed for the use of any park facility,
land, area, or program in accordance with the rules and regulations
on park user fees.
[Code 1974, § 34-5]
No person shall remain upon park property between sundown and
sunrise except by a special park use permit.
[Code 1974, § 34-6]
A group or gathering of 10 or more persons may use an area within
a park, to the limited exclusion of others, only by a special park
use permit in accordance with the rules and regulations on reservations.
The use of any athletic field within park property for organized competition
or practice shall be by special park use permit.
[Code 1974, § 34-7; Ord. No. 2003-02, 1-7-2003]
No person on Township park property shall damage, deface, destroy,
or remove any shrub, tree, flower, or natural resource or other public
property or throw or deposit trash or litter on park property except
in designated containers. Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor
punishable as provided by this Code.
[Code 1974, § 34-8; Ord. No. 2003-02, 1-7-2003]
No person on Township park property shall hunt, trap, catch,
wound, or kill or attempt to trap, catch, wound, or kill any bird
or animal or molest or rob any nest of any bird or any lair, den,
or burrow of any animal. Fishing shall be allowed in a Township park,
subject to all state and local laws. Any violation of this section
is a misdemeanor punishable as provided by this Code.
|
Cross reference: Animals, ch. 10.
|
[Code 1974, § 34-9; Ord. No. 2003-02, 1-7-2003]
No person shall, at any time, bring upon the Township park property,
nor possess or discharge anywhere upon such property, any firearm
of any description, or air-rifle, spring gun, bow and arrow, sling,
or any other form of weapon potentially dangerous to wildlife and
human safety, or any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank
cartridges, or any kind or trapping device. Shooting into park property
from beyond park boundaries is prohibited. This section however, shall
not apply to any duly appointed law enforcement officer while carrying
out the duties and responsibilities of their position. Any violation
of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as provided by this Code.
[Code 1974, § 34-10]
(a)
Permitted. Dogs and other pets may be brought upon park property,
unless posted otherwise.
(b)
Control. Any dog on park property shall be upon a leash of six feet
or less, unless posted otherwise, and shall be under the immediate
control of a competent person at all times.
(c)
Removal of feces. Any person having custody of a dog on park property
shall immediately remove all feces deposited by such dog on any public
footpath, athletic field or other area frequented by the public, and
shall dispose of same in a sanitary manner.
(d)
Public buildings. No dog or pet shall be allowed to enter any public
building.
(e)
Application to guide, service, or leader dogs. This section does
not prohibit the use of guide dogs, service dogs, or leader dogs as
provided and defined in § 502c of the Michigan Penal Code
(MCL § 750.502c).
[Code 1974, § 34-11]
Bicycles may be ridden in any Township park, unless posted otherwise.
Bicycles ridden on park property shall remain upon designated paths,
trails, or roadways.
[Code 1974, § 34-12]
(a)
No person shall operate or park any motor vehicle of any kind, including
snowmobiles and motorcycles, except maintenance and security vehicles,
upon any park land, including public footpaths, except on public roads
and designated parking areas.
[Code 1974, § 34-13]
A horse or other draft animal may be brought upon park property,
unless posted otherwise, as long as the horse or draft animal is under
the immediate control of a competent person at all times. No person
shall ride a horse on park property in a careless, negligent, or reckless
manner so as to endanger persons or property.
|
Cross reference: Animals, ch. 10.
|
[Code 1974, § 34-14]
No person shall camp in a Township park, except in an area designated
for such purpose, and in accordance with the rules and regulations
on camping in parks and public grounds.
[Code 1974, § 34-15; Ord. No. 2003-02, 1-7-2003]
(a)
The following provisions shall govern fires in the Township's
parks:
(1)
No person shall willfully set or cause to be set on fire any tree,
woodland, brushland, grassland, or meadow within park property.
(2)
No person shall drop, throw, or otherwise scatter lighted matches,
burning cigars, cigarettes, tobacco paper, or other flammable materials
within park property.
(3)
No person shall build any fire within park property except in designated
grills, firepits, receptacles, or open spaces designated for such
purpose. All cooking within park property shall be restricted to Township
supplied grills.
(4)
Fires within park property shall not be left unattended. All fire
shall be extinguished upon leaving the immediate vicinity.
(5)
Fires within park property are subject to the conditions and restrictions
of the Township's burning ordinance.
(b)
A violation of Subsection 54-42(a)(1) is a misdemeanor punishable as provided by this Code.
|
Cross reference: Fire prevention and protection, ch. 26.
|
[Code 1974, § 34-16; Ord. No. 2003-02, 1-7-2003]
No person shall fire, discharge, or have in their possession
any rocket, firecracker, torpedo, squib, or other firework or any
substance of an explosive nature within park property. Any violation
of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as provided by this Code.
|
Cross reference: Fireworks, § 26-1.
|
[Code 1974, § 34-17]
No person shall swim or bathe in any drain or pond located within
park property.
[Code 1974, § 34-18]
No person shall bring, use, or navigate any boat, canoe, raft,
or other watercraft upon any drain or pond located within park property,
except at such times and in such places as may be designated for such
purpose.
[Code 1974, § 34-19]
No person shall operate a motorized model airplane on Township
park property.
[Code 1974, § 34-20]
No person shall use a loudspeaker, public address system, or
amplifier within park property without a special park use permit.
[Code 1974, § 34-21]
No person shall skate, walk, or go upon any ice upon any drain
or pond within park property, except at such times and in such places
as may be designated therefor. No person shall coast with a hand-sled,
bob, cart, or other vehicle on wheels or runners on park property,
except at such times and in such places as may be designated therefor.
[Code 1974, § 34-22]
No person on park property shall peddle or solicit business
of any nature whatsoever, distribute handbills or other advertising
matter, post any unauthorized sign on any park land, water, structure,
or property, or use such land, water, structure, or property for peddling
or soliciting without a special park use permit.
[Code 1974, § 34-23]
No person shall by force, threat, intimidation, unlawful fencing,
or enclosing, or by any other means, prevent any person from entering,
leaving, or making full use of any park property. This section, however,
shall not apply to any duly appointed law enforcement officer when
carrying out the duties and responsibilities of his position.
[Code 1974, § 34-24]
No installation, construction, or maintenance shall be made
above or below ground, across or beneath Township park property by
any person, except duly authorized park personnel, without the prior
written permission of the Township for such installation, construction,
or maintenance specifying in detail the work to be done and any conditions
to be met.
