[Ord. 236, 4/8/1992, § 1]
This Part shall be known as the "Plainfield Township Recreation Trail Ordinance."
[Ord. 236, 4/8/1992, § 2]
Except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms as used in this Part shall have the following meanings:
The Township Board of Recreation.
Any vehicle powered by one or more people or by gravity including, but not limited to, recumbent cycle, non-motorized car or wagon, or unicycle (but a wheelchair shall not be included in the definition of "coaster".)
All employees of the Township.
The portion of the trail designated or improved by the Township for regular travel by the public.
The Township of Plainfield, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
Any lands or facilities owned or leased by Plainfield Township and so designated by the Township which shall include, but not be limited to, property recorded in Deed Book Volume 719 at Page 775 and Deed Book Volume 726 at Page 265, from Conrail.
[Ord. 236, 4/8/1992, § 3; as amended by Ord. 345, 5/11/2011]
1.
No person shall do, cause to be done or permit to be done any of the acts specified in this Section:
A.
Hours. No person shall enter or use the trail between sunset of any day and sunrise of the following day except upon the issuance of a permit pursuant to § 16-104 or except where allowed by special park regulations.
B.
Trespass.
(1)
No person shall enter upon any grounds that have been posted by the Township or by an employee with "No Trespass" or "Special Wildlife" signs, or any sign that would indicate that the area is not open to the general public without first obtaining a permit pursuant to § 16-104.
(2)
No person shall enter any building that is not open to and regularly used by the public.
(3)
No person shall enter or use the trail with a skateboard or coaster.
C.
Unlawful Obstruction. No person shall force, threat, intimidate, fence, enclose, or by any other means, prevent or obstruct any person from entering, leaving or making full use of the trail unless under the jurisdiction of the Township consistent with the terms of this Part and other applicable statutes, rules and regulations, and then only by persons authorized to do so by the Township.
D.
Hinder Employees and Enforcement Officers.
(1)
No person shall interfere with, use profanity towards, or in any manner hinder any employees or agents of the Township, or law enforcement officers who are performing their official duties.
(2)
No person shall enter upon or disturb any construction or equipment on the trail except for authorized Township personnel.
(3)
No person shall interfere with or use profanity toward any employee or law enforcement officer in the performance of his duties, or fail to refuse to obey any lawful command or refuse to assist any employee during an emergency in the performance of his duties within the trail.
E.
Impersonation of an Employee or Enforcement Officer. No person shall impersonate any employee or law enforcement officer for any reason whatsoever within the trail.
F.
Destruction of Structures, Buildings, Plant Life, Wildlife or Natural Surroundings. No person shall, within the trail:
(1)
Destroy, deface, alter, change or remove any monument, stone marker, bench mark, stake, post, trail, blaze or marking.
(2)
Cut, break, mark upon or otherwise injure or remove any buildings, equipment, bridge, drain, wall, foundation, lamp post, fence, gate, hedge or other structure or installation.
(3)
Deface, destroy or remove any placard, notices or sign, whether permanent or temporary, posted or exhibited within the trail.
(4)
Cut, remove, or destroy any trees, sapling, seedling, bush or shrub, whether alive or dead, or chip, blaze, box girdle, trim or otherwise deface or injure any tree or shrub, or break or remove any branch, foliage, tree or shrub, or pick, gather, uproot, remove or destroy any flower, plant or grass except with a permit pursuant to § 16-104.
(5)
Remove, or cause to be removed, or to dig any sod, earth, humus, peat, boulder, rock, gravel or sand except with a permit pursuant to § 16-104.
(6)
Pursue, catch, trap, hunt, attempt to catch, strike, molest, wound or kill any bird, animal or reptile or any nest, lair, den, burrow, or the like of any animal.
(7)
Hunt, fish or tramp, except in those areas specifically designated by the Township and only in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(8)
Permit his dog or other pet to pursue, catch, wound or kill any bird, animal or reptile or to disturb the nests, dens, home or place of refuge of any other animal or bird.
(9)
Drive or pursue any wild bird or animal from the confines of the trail.
G.
Pets.
(1)
No person shall bring, drive, lead or carry any dog, animal or pet which is unleashed or on a leash more than six feet in length. Animals must be under the immediate control of a competent person.
(2)
No person shall bring any pet or animal into any park area unless said pet or animal has been properly inoculated and has a current license, if so required.
H.
Horseback Riding.
I.
Operation of Bicycles, and Roller Skates. No person shall:
(1)
Operate a bicycle or use roller skates upon the trail before sunrise or after sunset.
(2)
Operate a bicycle or roller skates in manner which negligently or recklessly endangers the health, safety or welfare of trail users.
(3)
Leave, park or stand a bicycle or roller skates on the pathway of the trail.
(4)
Fail to yield the right-of-way to approaching pathway users by moving to the extreme right side of the pathway.
(5)
Fail to yield the right-of-way to pathway users who are being overtaken.
(6)
Fail to obey posted regulations regarding the operation of bicycles or skates at road right-of-way crossings, bridges or elsewhere on the trail.
J.
Motorized Vehicles. No person shall enter or operate on the trail any motorized vehicle, including automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, minibike or snowmobile, except for:
K.
Fires. No person shall, on the trail:
(1)
Set or cause to be set on fire any tree, woodland, brush land, grassland or meadow.
(2)
Build any fire except within the fireplaces, grills, receptacles or open spaces approved and designated by the Township for such purpose.
(3)
Drop, dump, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, ashes, burning cigars, cigarettes, tobacco paper or other flammable material.
(4)
Leave fires unattended at any time or not fully extinguished before being abandoned.
L.
Personal Conduct.
(1)
No person shall engage in any violent abusive, loud, vulgar, lewd, wanton, obscene or otherwise disorderly conduct tending to create a breach of the place, or to disturb or annoy others, or commit any indecent or immoral act tending to debauch the morals or manners of the public while in or on the trail.
(2)
No person shall possess or be under the influence of any illegal drug or narcotic while in or upon the trail. Any illegal drugs or narcotics in the possession of anyone shall be confiscated by an employee or enforcement officer.
(3)
No person shall possess or be under the influence of any alcoholic beverage while in or upon the trail. Any alcoholic beverage in any person's possession shall be confiscated by an employee or enforcement officer.
(4)
No person shall use a loudspeaker, public address system or amplifier, or play or cause to play any radio, phonograph, tape recorder, television, stereo tape, etc., in a loud manner which tends to disturb or annoy any trail user.
(5)
No person shall fire, discharge or have in their possession any rocket, firecracker or other fireworks or any substance of any explosive nature. Any rocket, firecracker or fireworks in any person's possession shall be confiscated by any employee or enforcement officer.
(6)
No person shall bring into or upon the trail, nor have in his possession, nor discharge, or set off anywhere upon said properties, a revolver, pistol, shotgun, rifle, air rifle, air gun or any gun, rifle firearm or bow or other weapon that discharges projectiles either by air, explosive substance or by any other force. Except that this Section shall not apply to any employee or enforcement officer while carrying out the duties and responsibilities of his position.
(7)
No person shall peddle or solicit business of any nature whatever or collect any funds for any service or charity, or distribute handbills or other advertising matter, or post unauthorized signs on the trail.
(8)
No person shall discard, deposit, dump, litter or allow to blow away any refuse of any kind or nature except by placing said refuse in containers provided for such purpose. Nor shall any person bring or dispose of any type of trash, refuse or debris in the trail whether disposing of it in receptacles or not, if such refuse did not result from trail usage.
(9)
No person shall bother, harass or disturb livestock or animals on any adjoining lands of the trail.
(10)
No person shall trespass or leave to go onto adjoining lands to the trail without the express permission of the adjoining landowner.
M.
Parks and Playgrounds Tobacco Free.
(1)
The areas of parks and playgrounds where children are present, such as picnic areas, sports and playing fields, parking lots, etc., at both the Plainfield Township Municipal Building and the Plainfield Township Community Park in the Township of Plainfield are designated tobacco-free.
(2)
Appropriate signage will be posted designating tobacco-free areas. Violators will be immediately ejected from the park or recreational facility.
[Ord. 236, 4/8/1992, § 4]
1.
A person may reserve the use of a facility (including all or part of the pathway) by obtaining a permit from the Township.
2.
Application for a trail permit shall be made upon the official forms of the Board and shall be accompanied by the required fee.
3.
Application for a trail permit may be made at the Township Building. Applications and the fee must be received by the Township well in advance of the requested trail permit or as specified.
4.
In the event more applications for reservations are received than space is available, such applications shall be considered in the order received by the Township.
5.
No person under the age of 18 years shall be issued a permit.
6.
The holder of a permit issued by the Township shall be held responsible for the actions and conduct of the persons in his Party.
7.
The Township shall have the authority to issue a fee schedule for permits, set the amount of deposits and prescribe conditions. Such revenue shall be used for recreation, park and conservation purposes. No person shall use any facility, land or area for which a fee or charge has been established by the Township without payment of such fee or charge.
[Ord. 236, 4/8/1992, § 5; as amended by A.O.]
1.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a district justice in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
2.
Where such violator has removed, destroyed, damaged, defaced or befouled the trail or the contents thereof, the cost of maintenance, repair or replacement shall be charged to such person or group in addition to any fine.
3.
Further use of the trail may be denied to violators of this Part in addition to the imposition of fines.
4.
All prosecutions shall be brought in the name of the Township of Plainfield and all fines shall be paid to the Township of Plainfield.
[Ord. 366, 5/14/2014, § 1]
1.
The Board of Supervisors of Plainfield Township hereby establishes the following rules and regulations for the enjoyment by the public for the recreation areas, fields, grounds and facilities, owned and maintained by the Plainfield Township, as follows:
A.
Absolutely no illegal drugs will be permitted on the premises.
B.
Use of alcohol shall not be permitted without the written approval of the Board of Supervisors, unless a waiver has been obtained.
C.
No littering.
D.
No vandalism.
E.
No fighting.
F.
No pets shall be permitted on playing fields or ball fields-owner is responsible.
G.
No golf shall be permitted on ball fields or playing fields.
H.
No abusive language shall be permitted anywhere on the recreational facilities.
I.
No climbing of fences.
J.
No loitering.
K.
Use of motor vehicles shall be restricted to designated areas, and shall be governed pursuant to provisions of applicable Township ordinances, and the provisions of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, as amended.
L.
No recreation vehicles shall be permitted anywhere in the facilities.
M.
No go-carts, mini bikes, four wheelers, snowmobiles or unlicensed motor bikes shall be permitted on the premises.
N.
All emergencies arising on or in the premises shall be reported to the Northampton County Communications Center by dialing 911.
O.
Any child under the age of 12 years old on the premises must be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent, coach, supervisor or guardian.
P.
Recreation facilities, including all fields, shall be open from dawn to dusk only. The facilities shall be closed at dusk.
[Ord. 366, 5/14/2014, § 2]
The above noted regulations shall be conspicuously posted at the entrance to the recreational facility, and at points on the facility deemed, by the Board of Supervisors, to be sufficient to notify the public of the existence of said regulations.
[Ord. 366, 5/14/2014, § 3; as amended by A.O.]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. 366, 5/14/2014, § 4]
This Part shall be enacted by the Board of Supervisors of Plainfield Township pursuant to the provisions of § 67203(b) of the Second Class Township Code, as amended.