[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Swatara 3-12-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-3.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alcoholic beverages — See Ch. 100.
Animals — See Ch. 104.
Curfew — See Ch. 132.
Fees — See Ch. 147.
Trailer coach parks — See Ch. 191.
Noise — See Ch. 195.
Access to public places — See Ch. 216.
Trees — See Ch. 266.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 271.
Off-road vehicles — See Ch. 275.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the repeal
of former Ch. 203, Parks and Recreation Areas, adopted 4-9-1975 by
Ord. No. 1975-4, as amended.
The intent and purpose of these regulations is to ensure the
preservation of public parklands, recreation facilities and conservation
areas of Swatara Township, to regulate activities within these areas
consistent with the enjoyment of unspoiled natural settings of park
facilities and to prevent nuisances arising out of the use of such
public parklands, recreation facilities and conservation areas.
No person shall, in any park, recreation or conservation area
of Swatara Township, injure, deface, disturb, befoul or in any manner
destroy or cause to be destroyed any part of any recreation, park
or conservation site owned by the Township or any building, sign,
structure, equipment, utility or other property used or found thereon;
remove or injure or destroy any tree, flower, shrub, plant or growing
thing or any rock or other mineral; kill, trap, hunt, pursue or in
any manner deliberately disturb or cause to be disturbed any wild
bird or animal; throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be
placed in the waters of any fountain, pond, lake or other body of
water in or adjacent to any park, recreation or conservation area,
or any tributary, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into such waters,
any substance, matter or things, liquid or solid, which may result
in the pollution of such waters; or dump, deposit or leave any bottles,
broken glass, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage, refuse
or trash anywhere within the park, recreation or conservation sites
owned by the Township, but rather to make use of proper receptacles
where provided, and where receptacles are not so provided, carry such
materials away from the park and properly dispose of the same elsewhere.
A.
The Board of Commissioners shall determine by resolution the hours
during which recreation and park areas shall be open to the public.
B.
In the event of hazardous conditions endangering life or property,
any Township park or facility may be closed at the discretion of the
Township Manager, Assistant Manager, or his/her designee.
[Amended 2-3-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-2]
C.
Persons found on park property after the park is closed are subject
to trespassing provisions under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code and Vehicle
Code.
A.
Permits.
(1)
Facilities and areas in Township park, recreation or conservation
sites shall be used for the purposes designated or implicit in their
character. Scheduled use of park facilities, including, but not limited
to, organized and unorganized instruction, exhibition, competition,
or demonstration, shall require a facilities use permit prior to such
events being conducted.
(2)
Facilities use permit applications may be obtained at the Swatara
Township Municipal Building, at the reception desk, located at 599
Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or phone (717) 564-2551.
The application will also be available on the Swatara Township website
at www.swataratwp.com.
(3)
Swatara Township reserves the right to deny an application for a
facility use permit if, in the opinion of the Township, the health,
safety and welfare of the public is endangered. If the entire application
is not denied, Swatara Township reserves the right to deny or approve
certain activities requested by the user.
(4)
Approved users of parks and facilities will be provided a copy of
the signed permit application from the Township. Users will also be
provided a copy of the Swatara Township Parks and Facilities Rules
of Use. The signed permit and rules form should be maintained by the
user or group contact during the time of the event at the park or
facility.
B.
Fees.
(1)
Groups or individuals requesting reserved exclusive use of park facilities
may be subject to a reservation or rental fee.
(2)
A refundable restroom key deposit of $75 will be charged for each
group or individual who wishes to reserve or rent a park facility,
pavilion, or field. The fee of $75 will be refunded upon return of
the restroom key as long as the key is returned within 48 hours of
completion of the reservation or rental period.
(3)
Individual or family groups of nonresidents of Swatara Township will be charged a nonrefundable fee of $100 for reservation or rental of any Swatara Township park, pavilion, field, or other facility. This fee is in addition to the key deposit of $75 per § 203-4B(2). Professional or business organizations that operate for pecuniary gain will be charged a minimum nonrefundable rental fee of $150 per day per field or facility. See Subsection B(6) below. Fees for nonprofit organizations will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending upon the reason for use. This is in addition to the refundable restroom key deposit of $75 per § 203-4B(2).
(5)
Organized sports groups which reserve fields are issued restroom
keys for the duration of their season. Failure to return the issued
restroom key(s) within the specified time period listed on the sports
association permit application will result in a fee of $125 per key.
(6)
Damage fees will be assessed to the renter of record on the permit
application form for actual costs, including staff time, for repair,
replacement, or damage to Township property, facilities or equipment
caused by attendees of the event.
A.
Organized sports groups and professional or business organizations
must provide liability insurance coverage at a minimum amount of $1,000,000.
All certificates of insurance must provide for written notice of cancellation,
revocation or modification prior to the date of the event(s).
B.
All insurance certificates shall be originals and list Swatara Township
as an additional insured. All certificates must be signed by a licensed
insurance broker or insurance company representative. Sub limits shall
not be less than the per-occurrence limit amount required.
C.
Insurance certificates must be received in the Swatara Township Building,
Administration Department, prior to the close of the last business
day before the first date of park, field, or facility use requested
by the organization or group's first event. Failure to provide
the insurance certificate automatically voids the approved, permitted
use of the park, field, or facility by the requesting individual or
group.
A.
The following rules and regulations are to be observed by all users
of the Swatara Township parks and associated facilities. Observation
of these rules and regulations will help to preserve and maintain
the longevity and usefulness of the parks, facilities, and associated
equipment. Care of these items along with expected, proper, civil
behavior will allow all users of these facilities to enjoy the setting
and prevent nuisances. A handout of the rules and regulations will
be provided to renters of facilities, but failure to receive such
handout or to be aware of the rules and regulations does not excuse
any violation of them.
(1)
No vandalism or defacing of property, including the removal, injury
or destruction of any tree, flower, shrub or plant or growing thing
or any rock or other mineral.
(2)
No gambling.
(3)
No fighting.
(4)
No alcoholic beverages except by Township-issued permit.
(5)
No littering or polluting of any fountain, pond, lake or any other
body of water in or adjacent to any park, recreation or conservation
area.
(6)
No fireworks except by permit.
(7)
No bicycles on fields or playgrounds.
(8)
No profane language.
(9)
No disorderly or disruptive behavior, including but not limited to
preventing any person from using any park or any facilities, or interference
with such use in compliance with the rules applicable to such use.
(10)
No hanging on basketball hoops.
(11)
No weapons.
(12)
All animals must be kept on a six-foot leash, and it shall be
unlawful for owners of domesticated animals to allow or permit those
animals to be on or stationary (not walking past) within 25 yards
of athletic areas, grandstands, bleachers, pavilions, restrooms, or
playground or park equipment.
(13)
All animal waste must be cleaned up by the owner of the animal
or person in control of the animal.
(14)
No merchandising, sales, or display of items for sale (unless
they are concessions, fundraisers, etc., for organized sports organizations
or otherwise approved by the Board of Commissioners, Manager, Assistant
Manager or his/her designee).
[Amended 2-3-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-2]
(15)
No posting, pasting, fastening, painting, writing, drawing,
carving, tacking, or affixing any placard, bill, notice, sign, advertisement,
or any inscription whatsoever upon any structure, tree, stone, fence,
thing or enclosure within any recreation, park or conservation area,
or on any public lands, highway or roads adjacent to any recreation,
park, or conservation area, except that the Manager or Assistant Manager
may place or direct to be placed any informational signs within such
areas.
[Amended 2-3-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-2]
(16)
No smoking, i.e., the carrying or holding by a person of a lighted
cigar, cigarette, pipe or other lighted smoking device, within 25
yards of athletic areas, grandstands, bleachers, pavilions, restrooms,
or playground or park equipment.
(17)
No killing, trapping, hunting, pursuing or in any manner disturbing
or causing to be disturbed any wild bird or animal.
(18)
No open fires without written permission of the Township Fire
Marshal.
(19)
Licensed motor vehicles shall be permitted only on designated
roadways. The speed limit for such vehicles on such roadways shall
be 15 miles per hour. Motor scooters, motorcycles, minibikes, go-carts
and snowmobiles shall not be permitted on roadways designated for
licensed vehicular traffic unless licensed for travel on public roads
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All vehicles shall be parked
in areas or places so provided and designated. Parking in places contrary
to posted regulations and times is prohibited, and such vehicles may
be removed by the Township at the owner's expense. All parking
is prohibited after regular closing time. It shall be unlawful to
clean, wash, repair or do any work whatsoever on private vehicles
within recreation, park and conservation areas except for emergency
repairs.
A.
The following are currently designated parks and recreation facilities
under the control and direction of Swatara Township:
[Amended 12-2-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-14]
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Berard Memorial Park at Spring Hill on Pine Ridge Drive
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Bishop Park on Hanshue Street
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Bumps Randolph Park on Sue Drive
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Clown Park on Kaylor Drive
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Crest Park on Canyon Road
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Enhaut Park on Second Street
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Field of Dreams on Keckler Road
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Horner Park on South Harrisburg Street
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Ivy Ridge Park on Harvard Court
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Lenker Manor I (Taylor Park) on Brisban Street/Lenker Road
| |
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Lenker Manor II on Brisban Street
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Long Park on 65th Street
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Margie McNaughton Park on Chatham Glenn Way North
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McNaughton Family Park on Route 322, Paxton Street
| |
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Plesic Park on Center Street
| |
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Schiavoni Park on Bridge Road
| |
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Vanatta Park on South 49th Street
|
B.
Other parks and recreation facilities may be developed and, upon
their acceptance by the Township, may become part of this designated
list.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than
$30 nor more than $600, and costs of prosecution, or, in default of
payment of such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for not more
than 30 days; provided that, where violation of any provision of this
chapter results in the removal, destruction, damaging, defacement
or befouling of the recreation, park and conservation area or the
contents thereof, the cost of maintenance, repair or replacement shall
be charged to the convicted violator in addition to any fine; provided,
further, that any person convicted of violating any provision of this
chapter may be denied further use of recreation and park facilities
in addition to the imposition of fines and costs.
