[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Lopatcong 8-19-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-11; amended in its entirety 6-4-2014 by Ord. No.
2014-05. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The public shall be excluded from the Lopatcong Township recreational
area from dusk until the following daylight, unless specifically authorized
by an approved function at one of the facilities. The facilities affected
by this article shall be the Lopatcong Township municipal pool, the
Lopatcong Township municipal pool parking lot and road system and
the Lopatcong Township pavilion located behind the pool area, including
the park playground and fields adjacent to the pavilion area and the
road system running to the pavilion area.
Appropriate signs be placed at the entrance of the road systems
to notify the public of this article.
Any violation of this article shall result in a complaint being
filed in Municipal Court and shall be punishable, upon conviction,
by a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding
90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or
any combination thereof.
This article contains the policies and procedures for recreational
facilities and park use within the Township of Lopatcong. The purpose
of this policy is to assure that usage, access, and distribution of
all recreational sites are in accordance with Township regulations.
The primary use of Township recreation facilities and parks is for
resident recreation activities. Township facilities may be made available
for additional activities if available and if not in conflict with
proper maintenance of the facility or other community use. Factors
to be considered in determining usage include: resident priority,
efficient scheduling, coordination of uses, regular maintenance, rehabilitation
of facility after a specific use, availability, weather, and availability
of services at the site. All facility users shall comply with applicable
federal, state, and local laws. Users shall be responsible for payment
of all costs, expenses, fines, penalties, and damages which may be
imposed upon Lopatcong by reason of, or arising out of, the user's
failure to comply with legal requirements or failure to comply with
provisions of this policy.
The recreational facilities and parks within the Township of
Lopatcong are listed as follows:
|
Location
|
Facility
|
|---|---|
|
Aurora Street
|
Tennis Court 1, 2
|
|
Edward Street/Harry Snyder Memorial Park
|
Baseball/Softball Field
|
|
Municipal Park
|
Quad Baseball/Softball Fields 1, 2, 3, 4; Junior Baseball/Softball
Field, Football Playing Field, Football Practice Field, Soccer Fields
1, 2, 3, Field House/Concession Stand, Basketball Court 1, 2, Pavilion,
Pool.
|
|
Park Square
|
Baseball/Softball Field
|
A.
Permits for field and facility use are issued by the category in
which the organization or event is placed. Group I use shall have
priority over Group II, II over III, etc. Within a Group, Subgroup
A has priority over Subgroup B. In reviewing a permit application,
the Recreation Director may also consider whether a demonstrated need
for providing the activity is evidenced, or whether a program duplicates
a similar activity offered within the community.
B.
Except as provided hereinbelow for field use by all users except
Group I users, all permits for the use of municipal fields and park
lands shall be issued by the Recreation Director. Applications for
all field usage shall be on a form approved by the Recreation Director
and the Lopatcong Athletic Association (LAA). Applications shall be
submitted to the Recreation Director at least 30 days prior to field
use, except that applications for tournaments and camps and similar
uses shall be submitted at least 90 days prior to field use. No permits
shall be issued unless these requirements are met. Generally, games
shall have priority over practice. The use of fields by Group II and
III shall be submitted to the Recreation Director and approved by
the LAA Board of Directors. The use of fields by Group IV or Group
V users shall be submitted to the Recreation Director and approved
by resolution of the Mayor and Council, and then cleared for availability
by the LAA Board of Directors. The Mayor and Council, in reviewing
an application, shall take into consideration certain factors, including,
but not limited to, wear and tear on the field; scheduling conflicts
with other events; provision of sufficient parking for the event;
and whether the event benefits the Lopatcong community.
C.
Groups are categorized as follows:
(1)
Group I: Recreation and Parks directly sponsored activities. These
activities include programs run by the Recreation and Parks Department,
such as day camps, after-school programs, day programs, special events
and seasonal sporting activities.
(2)
Group II: teams in established leagues. These groups are independent
organizations outside of the LAA that have been established to serve
the recreational interest of the participants. Group IIA shall be
teams with Lopatcong residents being at least 75% of the host team
participants. Group IIB shall be teams with Lopatcong residents being
at least 20% but less than 75% of the host team participants. Group
IIC shall be teams with less than 20% of the participants being Lopatcong
residents.
(3)
Group III: school events and teams. Group IIIA shall be Lopatcong
school events or teams. Group IIIB shall be Phillipsburg High School
events or teams. Generally, the Township is not responsible for providing
field usage to schools.
(4)
Group IV: private groups. These groups are made up of residents of
Lopatcong or businesses located in Lopatcong who request the use of
facilities on an occasional basis when space is available. At least
50% of the host group participants must live or work full time in
Lopatcong.
(5)
Group V: privately operated programs. Township facilities can be
made available for organizations, camps, leagues, or groups for the
purpose of providing recreational services to youth or adults. This
group includes instructional activities that extend beyond one day
and for which a separate fee or tuition is charged.
A.
Recreation Director and LAA field liaisons. The Recreation Director
and the LAA shall assign members to report on current field maintenance
issues and future needs for the budget process. Complaints about the
use or misuse of any Township field or athletic facility shall be
made to the Recreation Director. The Recreation Director may restrict
or deny access to groups who abuse any facility. The Recreation Director
and LAA President, with recommendations from the Recreation Committee
and the LAA, will develop a seasonal field and facility schedule.
The Recreation Director and LAA President, with recommendations from
the Recreation Committee, the LAA and the Superintendent of the Department
of Public Works, shall establish the opening and closing dates for
field use. The Recreation Director and LAA President shall provide
the Recreation Committee, the LAA, the Police Department, and the
Department of Public Works with the field schedule.
B.
In-season priority. In addition to the criteria for usage priorities established in § 157-6 above, priority shall be given within a particular sport's New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ("NJSIAA") designated "season" for that sport. In-season sports have equal status to each other; out-of-season sports have equal status to each other, but secondary status to in-season sports.
C.
Make-up schedule. Make-up schedules shall be made in the sole discretion
of the Recreation Director and LAA President. The Recreation Director
and LAA President shall have authority to move scheduled events as
necessary.
D.
Field closing due to weather. All use of athletic fields is subject
to the determination of field playing conditions on a daily basis.
Determination is made on weekdays by the Superintendent of Public
Works or his or her designee. Generally, all users are subject to
the same standard for closure. Nevertheless, determination will be
made on a field-by-field basis, as well as a user-by-user basis where
conditions are such that some fields may be playable while others
are not, and some users may do less damage by use than others. At
later times and weekends, each organization is required to close its
fields if injury may result to participants or if damage may result
to the playing surface, affecting not only its continued use by this
user but also use by others in this season and in the following season.
If in doubt, the field or facility shall be closed. Users must notify
the Superintendent of Public Works or his or her designee if they
have closed the fields so other users questioning whether to close
their fields can be so advised.
E.
Special events. The Township sponsors numerous special events such
as sports tournaments, fireworks, sports clinics, parades, Community
Day, etc. Every effort shall be made to accommodate such events. Exceptions
to the stated policy may be granted for such special events. These
exceptions may be granted by the Recreation Director and the Mayor
and Council.
A.
Use of any active recreation area by a group of more than 10 participants
is authorized by permit only.
B.
Alcoholic beverages or controlled substances of any kind are prohibited.
C.
Smoking is prohibited on all Township property.
D.
Profane, loud, threatening, insulting, indecent and abusive language
is prohibited.
E.
Amplifiers for music, announcements or otherwise shall not be unreasonably
loud.
F.
Athletic fields/facilities may not be used before 8:00 a.m. or after
dusk, except where lights are utilized. Lights shall be turned off
as soon as the pickup of players allows.
G.
All trash shall be placed in proper receptacles. Users shall leave
the facility in the same condition in which it was found, or better.
H.
Concession sales are by separate permit only in compliance with all
Township ordinances.
I.
Warm-ups for the next scheduled event must be performed so as not
to interfere with an existing event and so as not to endanger the
welfare of all participants, spectators and facilities.
J.
All managers, coaches, or persons in charge of a group using the
fields will be responsible for the conduct of all participants, spectators
and others connected with the activity, including visiting teams and
opponents.
K.
Any group that desires a "port-o-john" at a site must gain approval
from the Recreation Director. The Department of Public Works shall
be responsible for the site location. Complaints about the portable
facility shall be made to the Recreation Director.
L.
Clothes shall be changed in rest rooms only.
M.
All participants, including instructors, coaches, officials and players,
shall provide evidence of insurance in such form and amounts as may
be required by the Township's Risk Manager.
N.
All team sport members shall adhere to the LAA's Code of Conduct.
O.
All coaches shall be in good standing in Lopatcong or any other municipality.
Participants not in good standing shall be banned.
P.
Any substantial proposed changes to the fields or parks should be
submitted to the Recreation Director to consider their impact upon
facility use. This requirement shall include advertising and signs.
The placement of all movable items (port-o-johns, portable stands,
goals, batting cages, blocking sleds and dummies, temporary fencing,
etc.) shall be the responsibility of the Recreation Director or his
or her designee. The Recreation Director or his or her designee shall
coordinate with the Department of Public Works. Signage and all banner
placements with the purpose of advertisement shall be reviewed by
the Recreation Director, and presented to the Mayor and Council for
approval.
Field and facility schedules will be posted in the Recreation
Department. Event or team rosters and insurance information will be
maintained in the Recreation Department. All such information shall
be available upon request.
The following fees shall be charged for use of the Township
facilities: Please see current resolution on file with the Township
Clerk.
The following fees shall be charged for the use of the pavilion:
Please see current resolution on file with the Township Clerk.
The following fees shall be charged for the use of the pool:
Please see current resolution on file with the Township Clerk.
The following fees shall be charged for the use of the tennis
courts: Please see current resolution on file with the Township Clerk.
