[Adopted 6-4-1985 by Ord.
No. 816 (Art. 973 of the 1978 Codified Ordinances)]
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial
District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of
not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. Each day or portion
thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue
shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article
that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
[Adopted 5-11-2021 by Ord. No. 1382]
The following are the rules and regulations, which shall be
observed by all persons using any of the Township parks or public
riverfront access, including all facilities.
A. General rules.
(1) Littering is absolutely prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted
and subject to a fine of $100 for the first offense and $300 for subsequent
offenses.
(2) Smoking of any cigars, cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, or
use of any type of tobacco product is absolutely prohibited. Violators
will be prosecuted and subject to a fine of $100 for the first offense
and $300 for subsequent offenses.
(3) Picnics will be allowed only at locations provided for that purpose.
Persons holding picnics shall clean up and place all wastepaper and
other refuse in receptacles provided for that purpose. Recyclables
must be sorted from trash and placed in the receptacles provided for
recyclables. Staples shall not be used to secure table covers, signage,
etc. Use of staples is an automatic forfeiture of deposit. Permits
for use of buildings and recreation facilities may be obtained from
the Township office. Permits guarantee the use of the space for the
specific date/time specified on the permit.
(4) Picnic tables may not be removed from the shelter without obtaining
written permission from the Township Manager. With proper permission
all tables removed from the shelter must be returned to the shelter
in the original locations.
(5) Grass areas must not be used for roadways, parking, or other purposes
that would injure, damage or destroy the turf or landscaping.
(6) Grass, trees, shrubs, hedges, berries, and wild flowers or other
flowers must not be damaged, cut, broken, picked, defaced or destroyed
in any way.
(7) Buildings, fences, fountains, statuary, benches, signs, or other
structures must not be damaged, defaced or destroyed in any way.
(8) Games, contests, or sports are permitted only in areas designed for
such use and in no case shall use be permitted in areas where lawns
or planting may be damaged or where such games or contests may be
in conflict with park regulations.
(9) Fires are not permitted anywhere in the park other than in stoves
or grills provided or transported for that purpose. Stoves or grills
are restricted to shelter areas only. One fuel canister or cylinder
may be used, but shall not exceed 20 pounds unless being utilized
by a licensed and insured caterer. No deep fryers of any kind are
permitted. No person shall throw away or discard any lighted match,
cigar, or cigarette in any park.
(10)
Activities of a special nature prohibited by the regulations
may be engaged in only by special permit of the Township Manager.
This request must be a written application and under conditions as
specified in said special permit.
(11)
Defacing, littering, or making unsanitary any restrooms, washrooms,
etc., or preventing the proper drainage of any toilet, pipe, or drain
is prohibited.
(12)
Preventing proper drainage or damaging water fountains is prohibited.
(13)
Any person(s) using a Township park, whether with or without
a permit, shall be fully and financially responsible for any damages
inflicted upon park property or equipment.
(14)
Hunting, trapping, or the stalking of any animal, bird or game
is strictly prohibited.
(15)
No person shall use any Township parks for the purpose of playing
the game of golf, including but not limited to the hitting of golf
balls.
(16)
No chewing gum, food, beverages (excluding water), or cleats
of any kind are permitted in the adaptive playground area.
B. Privately owned riverfront developments with public riverfront access.
(1) The Township police may enforce Township park rules and regulations
as outlined in this article, as hereinafter may be amended, within
privately owned riverfront developments with public riverfront access.
(2) Where public riverfront access is provided within privately owned riverfront developments in accordance with Chapter
395, Subdivision and Land Development, public access to the riverfront for fishing is permitted from 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight year-round.
(3) Activities, with the exception of fishing, are to cease at 8:00 p.m.
(4) No amplified music of any kind at any time.
(5) No tents or canopies of any kind at any time.
(6) No organized gatherings without special permit obtained from the
Township Manager.
(7) No business activities of any nature may be conducted.
(8) Parking of motor vehicles shall be in designated areas only. Motor
vehicles and watercrafts shall not be parked/docked/stored more than
48 hours without special permit of the Township Manager. The Township
reserves the right to tow or remove motor vehicles and/or watercrafts
at the owner's expense.
C. Prohibited substances.
(1) Alcoholic beverages made by distillation ("liquor") or fermented
juice of any various kinds of grapes or other fruits containing 10%
to 15% alcohol by volume ("wine") are prohibited in Township parks.
Fermented alcoholic beverages brewed from malt and flavored with hops
("beer") are permitted in the shelter areas only at Meadow Park, O'Hara
Township Community Park and Woodland Park, subject to the issuance
of a shelter and beer permit.
D. Amenities of a special nature.
(1) No stakes of any kind are permitted to be placed in the ground. Doing
so may cause damage to electrical, water or sewage lines buried in
the park grounds. Use of stakes is an automatic forfeiture of deposit.
(2) Amenities of a special nature affiliated with a shelter rental, such
as, but not limited to, inflatable entertainment (bouncy castle),
hay rides, food and/or beverage trucks, and/or accessory structure,
may only be authorized by special permit of the Township Manager,
upon written request and under conditions specified in special permit.
Provider of said amenity must provide the Township of O'Hara a certificate
of insurance, with the Township named as the insured.
(3) All amenities of a special nature, such as, but not limited to, inflatable
entertainment (bouncy castle), and/or accessory structures, may only
be secured by the use of water barrels or other aboveground securing
mechanism to avoid damage to underground utilities in Township parks.
(No stakes.)
(4) Canopy.
(a)
A canopy may only be set up adjacent to a park shelter at O'Hara
Township Community, Meadow and Woodland Parks, or adjacent to the
gazebo at O'Hara Township Community Park.
(b)
A canopy may only be set up by the party who has rented the
park shelter or gazebo. Unless a facility is rented, a canopy may
not be set up.
(c)
Only one canopy may be set up per facility.
(d)
The canopy may only be set up the day the park shelter or gazebo
is rented and must be removed the same day the park shelter or gazebo
is rented.
(e)
A canopy may be no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet.
(f)
Permission for a larger canopy or more than one canopy may only
be granted to civic and/or Township-related organizations by the Township
Manager.
(g)
The Township Manager may grant permission for canopies to be
placed in any and all Township parks by civic and Township-related
organizations.
(h)
All canopies may only be secured by the use of water barrels
or other aboveground securing mechanism to avoid damage to underground
utilities in Township parks. (No stakes.)
E. Conduct.
(1) No person shall conduct themselves in any manner which causes harm
to the health, safety, morals, or general welfare of any person within
the parks.
(2) Lotteries, gambling, or games of chance are prohibited.
(3) Drunkenness, disorderly or indecent conduct, and profane or offensive
language are forbidden and will be subject to criminal prosecution.
F. Private lessons.
(1) All private lessons occurring in the O'Hara Township parks must be
conducted and scheduled through the Township or a recreation partner
designated by the Township.
(2) The recreation partner will abide by and, where necessary, implement
the Township's rules and regulations on use of Township parks.
(3) This will not apply to the use of the parks for which a Township
permit has been obtained (e.g., ballfield use or shelter use).
G. Automobiles and vehicular use.
(1) No person shall clean, polish, grease, lubricate, or make repairs
to any vehicle in any park, except those of a minor nature and then
only in cases of emergency.
(2) All speed, traffic control, and vehicular regulations and signage
on and about any roads, driveways, parking areas or other areas within
any of the Township's parks must be obeyed. Such regulations will
be strictly enforced by Township police.
(3) Motorized vehicles are permitted only on roadways and designated
parking areas, except for handicap mobility devices.
(4) Motorized vehicles are prohibited on walkways, trails and all grassy
areas, except for handicap mobility devices.
(5) Motor vehicles shall not be parked more than 48 hours without special
permit of the Township Manager. The Township reserves the right to
tow motor vehicles at the owner's expense.
(6) Electric vehicle charging stations parking spaces may be utilized
by electric vehicles that are actively charging. Any vehicle that
is not actively charging is subject to a fine. Any vehicle parked
at an electric vehicle charging station that is not charging four
or more hours may be towed at the owner's expense. Cars may charge
for a maximum of eight hours. Fees for charging electrical vehicles
will be established by the Township Fee Resolution.
(7) Moving company trucks and/or tractor trailers are not permitted to
stage vehicles in any Township park or municipal lots without special
permit of the Township Manager.
H. Swimming and fishing.
(1) There shall be no fishing in any of the ponds, lakes, or streams
of the parks by any person over the age of 14 years. Catch-and-release
fishing is permitted by children under said age, and senior citizens
over the age of 65 years.
(2) Swimming is forbidden in any lake, pond or stream. No use may be
made of these waters which may contaminate them.
I. Radio-controlled vehicles.
(1) Electric or sail (quiet power) radio-controlled boating is permitted
in the parks, ponds and streams. No gas-powered or high-speed watercraft
will be permitted.
(2) Radio-controlled aircraft including, but not limited to, quadcopters
and/or drones are prohibited.
(3) Radio-controlled model cars are permitted in Township parks.
(a)
Models must be electric quiet power only.
(b)
The operation of gas-powered radio-controlled model cars is
not permitted in Township parks.
(c)
Operation of radio-controlled model cars is not permitted on
park roads, trails or accessways.
(4) The operation of model rockets is not permitted in Township parks.
(5) The Township Manager may grant a special permit for use of radio-controlled
vehicles.
J. Pets.
(1) Canines, felines, and horses are permitted, only when held in leash,
on nature trails and similar areas. Canines, felines, and horses are
not permitted on any of the picnic areas, ballfields or play areas,
including ball outfields and soccer fields. Canines and felines must
be leashed at all times and under control of handler at all times.
(2) All canine, feline, and horse waste must be cleaned up and placed
in a trash receptacle, including areas where waste bags are not provided
by the Township.
(3) It is the responsibility of the person bringing the animal to the
park to clean up after that animal.
(4) Horses shall also be permitted on park roadways, which includes the
parking area.
K. Weapons and explosives.
(1) Discharge of any firearm or weapon, including but not limited to
handguns, rifles, shotguns, crossbow, bow and arrow, air rifle or
pistol, and any device firing a projectile by compressed gas or spring,
such as paintball devices, is prohibited in any Township park.
(2) Brandishing of a firearm or weapon including but not limited to handguns,
rifles, shotguns, crossbow, bow and arrow, air rifle or pistol, and
any device firing a projectile by compressed gas or spring, such as
paintball devices, is prohibited in any Township park. Firearms may
be transported through the park if kept in a car trunk, enclosed in
a case or otherwise inaccessible to use. Nothing contained herein
shall prohibit any person licensed under the Pennsylvania Uniform
Firearms Act, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6109, from possession of a
firearm as defined in Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act, 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6102.
(3) The provisions of this Subsection
K shall not apply to the use of firearms by officers of the law in the performance of their duties, nor to the justifiable use of firearms in the protection of persons and property by persons duly authorized under the laws of this commonwealth to carry or use such firearms nor to persons acting on behalf of, and consistent with requirements imposed by, the municipality to carry out deer population control measures authorized by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and approved by Council. This Subsection
K shall not apply to the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components (as such terms are used in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6120) when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
L. Tennis facilities.
(1) Use of the tennis court facilities is on a first-come basis for periods
not to exceed one-hour duration when others are waiting to play.
(2) Only racket-type sports with appropriate athletic footwear is permitted
on the O'Hara Township Community Park Tennis Court.
M. Solicitation. Peddlers, food, beverage, ice cream trucks, picnic
parties or any other person or persons whatsoever may not sell or
offer for sale any service for hire, article, or substance within
the limits of the park. Setting up any stand or booth for such purpose
is prohibited, or the distribution or display of handbills, cards,
or advertisements of any nature whatsoever is also prohibited. Authorization
for special permits may be obtained from the Township Manager.
N. Amplification and sound systems. When amplifying or sound systems are used, the maximum time permitted shall be limited to a maximum of four hours, and may only be used between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday. Noise levels shall not be in excess of 60 dB or of objectionable character or volume, per § 455-17.152 of Chapter
455, Zoning.
O. Hours.
(1) Park hours are as follows:
(a) May 1 through October 31: sunrise to 10:00 p.m.
(b) November 1 through April 30: sunrise to dark.
(2) No person shall, under any circumstances, remain in the park during
closed hours. Park entrances and exits may be locked during closed
hours.
(3) The Township Manager or a designated representative shall have the
right to close any park if it is in the best interest of the public's
health and safety.
Permits and fees shall be required. Applications for specific
use shall be filed with the Township Manager.
A. Shelter applications.
(1) Application to be secured from Township Manager or designated representative
who will issue shelter permit upon payment of proper fees and deposits.
Township residents, Township businesses and Township groups may reserve
park shelters up to one year in advance. Nonresidents may reserve
Township park shelters beginning the first Monday of April for the
current year.
(2) Shelters are rented on a first-come-first-served basis.
(3) Shelter fees may be established by resolution of the Township Council.
(4) A nonprofit group must meet the definition of a nonprofit organization
as defined by Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code and must supply
adequate proof that it does meet said criteria. If any applicant is
shown to be misrepresenting their affiliation, they shall have their
permit revoked and may be subject to a maximum fine of $600, plus
all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by
the Township.
(5) Prior to the issuance of the shelter permit, the applicant must deposit
with the Township Manager all applicable fees and a refundable deposit,
as established per resolution. This deposit will be promptly refunded
in full if the shelter is left in a clean and undamaged condition
following use.
(6) Arrangements for exceptional handicap access to the shelter shall
be made at least four days in advance of an event with the Township
Superintendent of Police, police officer in charge, or Township Manager.
The Police Department telephone number is 412-782-1403, and the Township
Manager may be contacted at 412-782-1400, Monday through Friday, between
the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
(7) Exceptions from fees. Fees may be waived by the Township Manager
on shelter applications for use between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday
through Thursday. Fees are required for Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
and holiday applications.
(8) Deposit requirements will not be waived.
(9) Beer permits.
(a)
Permits will only be issued for the drinking of beer in Meadow
Park, O'Hara Township Community Park and Woodland Park. These permits
may only be granted in conjunction with the issuance of a valid shelter
permit. Beer permit fees and refundable deposit fees shall be required
as established by resolution adopted by the O'Hara Township Council.
(b)
Beer permit fees and beer deposits are in addition to the regular
shelter permit fees and shelter deposits. Beer deposits will be refunded
in full if the park facilities are left in a clean and undamaged condition
following use.
(10)
Any costs incurred by the Township as established by resolution
due to police response or other unauthorized activities shall be deducted
from the deposit(s).
(11)
Group applications shall be limited to a maximum of 150 persons
per shelter in any and all parks. No application for any group in
excess of 150 persons shall be accepted or approved for any shelter
or event in any of the Township parks.
B. Gazebo applications.
(1) Applications to be secured from the Township Manager or designated
representative who will issue the gazebo permit upon payment of the
proper fee and deposit. Applications from Township residents or Township
groups shall be considered first in granting permits.
(2) When several applications are received for the gazebo on the same
day, permits will be issued to the Township resident applicants or
Township groups first in order received.
(3) Gazebo fees may be established by resolution of Township Council.
(4) A nonprofit group must meet the definition of a nonprofit organization
as defined by Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code and must supply
adequate proof that it does meet said criteria. If any applicant is
shown to be misrepresenting their affiliation, they shall have their
permit revoked and may be subject to a fine of $100.
(5) Prior to the issuance of the gazebo permit, the applicant must deposit
with the Township Manager all applicable fees and a refundable deposit,
as established per resolution. This deposit will be promptly refunded
in full if the gazebo is left in a clean and undamaged condition following
use.
(6) Applicants for gazebo use are to provide sound or amplifying systems
at their own expense.
(7) Hours of permitted use:
(a)
When amplifying or sound systems are used, the maximum time permitted shall be limited to a maximum of four hours, and may only be used between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday. Noise levels shall not be in excess of 60 dB or of objectionable character or volume, per § 455-17.152 of Chapter
455, Zoning.
(8) Any application for the gazebo in O'Hara Township Community Park
is limited to 150 persons, provided the maximum number of persons
approved to use other rented O'Hara Township Community Park facilities
on the same date does not exceed 150 persons for each of the park
facilities.
(9) Any costs incurred by the Township as established by resolution due
to police response or other unauthorized activities shall be deducted
from the deposit(s).
C. Ballfield applications.
(1) It is the general policy of the Township of O'Hara that ballfield
facilities are for the general use of the public for nonorganized
activity at no cost to the users on Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m., exclusive of holidays. Permits are required for the
exclusive use of ballfields for nonorganized activity at all other
times.
(2) Permits are required for the exclusive use of ballfields for all
organized activities, including leagues. Organized groups, including
leagues, may have use of a ballfield for a season from 4:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, and from 8:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The small fields located at O'Hara
Township Community Park, Meadow Park, and Woodland Park are available
for league use all day Saturday.
(a)
Spring baseball season begins in April and concludes in July.
(b)
Fall ball season begins in September and concludes in October.
(3) Season use by leagues and organized groups shall be scheduled on
an equitable basis. All applications for ballfields must be in writing.
The Township Manager shall have the exclusive right to determine whether
or not to schedule an organized use of a ballfield for any particular
day or time, or whether to leave the field open for nonorganized public
use.
(4) Permit fees are established by Township Council by resolution.
D. Police services. The Township Manager may require that a police officer
or officers be present at a park event depending upon the type of
activity proposed by the applicant. The applicant would be required
to pay for that police service as established by the Township Fee
Resolution.
E. Denial of permit. The Township Manager may deny an applicant shelter,
beer, gazebo or ballfield permit if it is determined that granting
the permit would not be in the interest of the public's health and
safety.
F. Permit fee refunds. In the event a shelter rental is canceled, shelter
permit fees will be refunded only if the previously rented facility
is rerented for the same day. The shelter permit fee refund shall
be made to the original permit holder by the Township. Upon cancelation
of a park shelter rental, the original permit must be returned to
the Township office.