[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).
(4) 
Swatara Township residents requesting use of a park, field, or facility will not be assessed a rental fee for that use unless that use involves a personal pecuniary gain. A key deposit as per § 203-4B(2) above is still required as is damage responsibility per § 203-4B(6) below.
(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]
Berard Memorial Park at Spring Hill on Pine Ridge Drive
Bishop Park on Hanshue Street
Bumps Randolph Park on Sue Drive
Clown Park on Kaylor Drive
Crest Park on Canyon Road
Enhaut Park on Second Street
Field of Dreams on Keckler Road
Horner Park on South Harrisburg Street
Ivy Ridge Park on Harvard Court
Lenker Manor I (Taylor Park) on Brisban Street/Lenker Road
Lenker Manor II on Brisban Street
Long Park on 65th Street
Margie McNaughton Park on Chatham Glenn Way North
McNaughton Family Park on Route 322, Paxton Street
Plesic Park on Center Street
Schiavoni Park on Bridge Road
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.