[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough of Hanover as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
General penalty — See Ch. 1, Art. I.
Recreation Board — See Ch. 84.
Animals — See Ch. 126.
Curfew — See Ch. 175.
Disorderly conduct — See Ch. 186.
Firearms — See Ch. 200.
[Adopted by 9-18-1940 by Ord. No. 575]
[Amended 10-31-1968 by Ord. No. 1411; 4-28-2010 by Ord. No. 2160]
All public parks maintained and/or owned by the Borough shall hereafter be used and enjoyed by the general public under and subject to such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed for such uses in the interest of the health, safety, morals, and convenience of the general public by Borough Council, which body may provide for specific rule exceptions from time to time by resolution of Council for specific public events.
Copies of the rules and regulations adopted in conformity with the provisions of § 259-1 of this article, labeled "Park Rules," shall be posted in a prominent place in each public park, the user of which is affected thereby.
[Amended 10-31-1968 by Ord. No. 1411; 9-7-1977 by Ord. No. 1688]
The following shall be posted in each public park:
WELCOME
Enjoy your visit. Please be considerate of those who will use this park or recreation area after you. To help ensure your safety and pleasure, please observe the following rules and regulations:
A. 
All recreation and park areas are open to the public between dawn and dusk throughout the year. Lighted courts may be used until 11:00 p.m. where provided with lighting specifically for court use, not just security or walkway lights.
[Amended 12-23-2008 by Ord. No. 2144]
B. 
In the event of hazardous conditions endangering life or property, any park, recreation area or facility may be closed to public use at the discretion of the Borough Manager.
C. 
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
D. 
Consider other users. Boisterous, immoral or indecent conduct will not be tolerated.
E. 
Trash, garbage and all other litter must be placed in containers provided for this purpose and shall be limited to materials accumulated during use of park or recreation areas.
F. 
Do not remove, molest, injure or damage anything natural or physical within any park or recreation area.
G. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection G, regarding open fires and the disposal of hot coals, was repealed 10-25-2023 by Ord. No. 2344.
H. 
The soliciting for any purpose or posting of signs is not permitted. The distribution, sales, servicing or rental of any supplies, equipment, material or commodity is restricted to authorized concessionaires.
I. 
The use or discharge of any type of air gun, slingshot or explosive is prohibited.
J. 
Outdoor recreational activity in park or recreation areas shall be restricted to locations for which physical improvement or posting designates the appropriate purpose and use.
K. 
Unorganized or organized instruction, exhibition, competition demonstration or special camping events first require written application and approval from Hanover Borough Council before such event may be conducted.
L. 
No bicycles, minibikes, or motorized vehicles are to be used in or on the recreation areas and parks. The only exception is for scheduled events by the proper authorities and the use of bicycles on trail paths provided for nonmotorized cycles.
[Amended 12-23-2008 by Ord. No. 2144]
M. 
No dogs, horses or other animals are allowed in or on recreation areas or parks owned by the Borough of Hanover unless a specific scheduled event in which such animals are permitted is approved by the proper Borough authorities. The only exceptions to this restriction are leashed dogs and horses, which shall be allowed on the Hanover Rail Trail, subject to the conditions set forth below. The following acts shall be considered unlawful in or on recreation areas and parks in the Borough of Hanover:
[Amended 12-23-2008 by Ord. No. 2144; 12-23-2014 by Ord. No. 2213]
(1) 
Causing or allowing any animal which one owns or otherwise has control over to run at large.
(2) 
Bringing, driving, riding or leading any horse onto Borough recreational property, with the exception that horses may be ridden or brought onto the Hanover Rail Trail.
(3) 
Bringing, driving, leading or carrying onto Borough recreation property any dog or other animal or pet which is unleashed.
(4) 
Torturing, ill-treating or neglecting any animal.
(5) 
Causing or allowing a pet or animal which one owns or otherwise has under one's control, including dogs and horses, to relieve themselves without cleaning up afterwards.
(6) 
Feeding wild animals, including but not limited to geese, ducks, deer, birds and squirrels.
(7) 
Storing or leaving food on Borough recreation property in a manner that is reasonably likely to attract wild animals.
(8) 
Releasing or abandoning any animal on Borough recreation property.
(9) 
Staging any animal fights for any reason.
N. 
Violations are punishable by a fine not exceeding $100 for each offense or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both, under Chapter 1, Article I, General Penalty, of the Code of the Borough of Hanover.
O. 
The use of firearms and fireworks in this park is forbidden. The restriction as to use of fireworks encompasses all types of fireworks, including sparklers.
[Added 6-20-1979 by Ord. No. 1706]
P. 
Smoking is prohibited in all public parks and recreation areas maintained and/or owned by the Borough of Hanover, including in the Borough-owned parking areas adjacent thereto and used in conjunction therewith. For purposes of this subsection, the word “smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, or pipe, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, including hookahs and marijuana, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. “Smoking” also includes the use of an electronic smoking device which creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking set forth above.
[Added 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 2252]
[Amended 6-2-1982 by Ord. No. 1743]
In order to safeguard public use and enjoyment of this lighted ball field, Hanover Borough Council has established the following rules of conduct:
A. 
All Borough park rules apply to this area.
B. 
League presidents will be responsible for scheduling the field with the Director of Recreation.
C. 
Lights will turn off promptly at 11:00 p.m. Spectators and players shall leave the area promptly at 11:00 p.m.
D. 
No games may start before 12:00 noon on Sundays.
E. 
The home team is responsible for seeing that the area is properly cleaned after each use.
F. 
Payment for use of the lights will be made monthly by the various leagues using the field. Checks should be made at the hourly reimbursement rate as established from time to time by Hanover Borough Council and made payable to the Borough of Hanover.
G. 
Neither the Hanover Recreation Board nor the Borough of Hanover are responsible for injuries incurred in the use of the field.
[Adopted 9-18-1991 by Res. No. 574]
The following is a listing of the conditions and policies used by the Borough of Hanover in granting or denying permission to use public areas within the Borough of Hanover:
A. 
Requests should be made to the Borough Manager, in writing, for submission to the Hanover Borough Council.
B. 
Prior to submission for any parades or walks along public rights-of-way, the group should obtain the advice of the Police Department as to route safety and potential traffic control needs.
C. 
Any group wishing to use public facilities or rights-of-way shall provide a certificate of insurance to cover the activity, naming the Borough of Hanover as co-insured, said coverage to be in the amount of $1,000,000.
D. 
Private groups without 501(c)(3) certification as a nonprofit public corporation will pay reasonable costs related to police, refuse and cleanup and utility costs incurred in the event. Council may waive said costs for 501(c)(3) organizations or in instances where a public service is being provided by the event.
E. 
Groups wishing to occupy or use state highways will be responsible to obtain all permits.
F. 
No amplification is allowed on Center Square. No parade groups other than representatives of state, county or local law enforcement services or veterans organizations or entities involved in the national defense may display or carry weapons.
G. 
Amplification used at parks or parades will be limited to hours acceptable to the Council in the neighborhood of the park or playground. Playground use will allow involvement of children in the neighborhood in public use so far as practical.
H. 
The proposal will clarify the cleanup provisions of the group, the amount anticipated, what cleanup will be provided by the group and what must be done by the Borough. Will leaflets be distributed? Costs of leaflet cleanup will be assessed all groups.
I. 
Supervision provisions. Who will supervise the activity? Will police be needed to protect public safety? What coverage will be needed? Will first aid be supplied? By whom? (Ref. EMS Act of 1985.)
J. 
Sales of any items will require a peddler's license and possibly a tax number from the state. Have the same been obtained if needed?
K. 
The Council will consider all ramifications to the public prior to permitting or denying requests or placing added conditions as it deems necessary.