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Charter Township of Meridian
Ingham County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (0) Index
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:
CAMPING
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.
COMMISSION
The Charter Township of Meridian Park Commission.
MOTOR VEHICLE
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.
PARKING
Permitting a vehicle to remain standing, whether occupied or not, when not loading or unloading.
PARKING AREA
Any off-street area, whether paved or not, which is designated for public parking.
PARK, PARK PROPERTY and TOWNSHIP PARK PROPERTY
Any property owned by the Township and delineated as a park or natural area in the Township's community park and recreation plan.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
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.
(b) 
No person shall leave, or cause to be left, any motor vehicle upon park property when the park is closed. Members of the Township department of public safety are authorized to remove any such motor vehicle at the owner's expense.
Cross reference: Traffic and vehicles, ch. 74.
[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.