[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Butler as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 5-15-2017 by Res. No. 17-13]
This policy provides the opportunity for residents to dedicate
a tree or park bench within the Butler Township park system to memorialize
an individual or to commemorate a special occasion including the memory
of someone who has passed, in honor of a dedicated service member,
to celebrate a birthday, a graduation, retirement or any other occasion.
Additionally, the dedication of trees and benches helps enhance and
beautify Butler Township's parks while helping to meet our vision
of developing a premiere park, recreation and open space system. The
Township and the community have an interest in ensuring the best appearance
and aesthetic quality of their public facilities. Park elements and
their associated donation acknowledgements should reflect the character
of the park. All park elements will be installed in such a manner
that will not substantially change the character of the park or its
intended use.
All donations or dedications shall be in compliance with the
following:
A.
An application, in writing, is required and is limited to residents
of Butler Township only (either donor or honoree). An application
can be obtained at the Township office or at the Township website.
The Township has the responsibility to review donation applications
and the authority to deny those that it determines would be inappropriate
and/or that would predictably attract vandalism.
B.
Donors may request a location in any Township park in which benches
and trees have been identified as needed; however placement of park
amenities in the park system must meet the master plan and requirements
of the particular park. Some locations may become unavailable for
donated elements. Complete funding for the donation must be processed
before commencement of any work and reservation of a location.
C.
The current donation pricing is listed on the application forms.
These amounts will be subject to semiannual review and adjustment
as needed. The Township will determine the level of maintenance required
for the donated property and the type of care needed to reasonably
maintain the donation or until such time the Township determines that
it must be removed and/or relocated. The Township has an interest
in ensuring that ongoing maintenance costs do not negatively impact
the resources available for maintenance of other Township park facilities.
The costs to cover the planting/delivery, maintenance and care will
be in addition to the base cost of the donated item and factored into
the pricing of the donation. Accordingly, the Township has the duty
to maintain the donation only for the expected life cycle of the donation.
Due to the timing of park planning processes, annual review of park
amenity requests, and planting schedules, the total donation process
may take six months to one year or more. All donated park elements
become Township property. Donations made previous to the adoption
of this policy are to be maintained by the Township during the useful
life spans. Butler Township reserves the right to relocate or remove
the tree or bench if unforeseen circumstances arise due to its location
or setting or to accommodate future park development or changes in
site or element conditions at any time. The Township will make the
final determination on new location or useful life.
D.
Recognition plaques may be placed on benches, but not on "green"
donations (trees or plantings). The Township will not be held responsible
for damaged plaques resulting from vandalism or any other condition
or act that would require replacement. The Township will attempt to
maintain plaques in good appearance. Some plaques may become damaged
or deteriorated beyond repair and require removal. Plaque replacement
or repair will be at the expense of the donor.
E.
A ceremony or gathering at the time of dedication is permitted but
must be arranged in advance with the Township and must be done in
accordance with Township ordinances. To ensure public use and safety,
memorial wreaths, flowers or any other items placed for a private
gathering or ceremony must be removed immediately following the dedication
by the donor. In order to maintain the integrity of our parks, decorating
the trees, benches or the area around them is prohibited as these
materials can become hazardous to the people or wildlife utilizing
our parks.
Bench donations are as follows:
A.
Memorial bench with a small plaque identifying an individual honoree
or anonymously as "Friend of Butler Township." The Township will procure
from a Township-approved vendor, and install, a small metal plaque
on a memorial bench. The plaque size, font, and design, as well as
approval of the message, will be in accordance with Township specifications.
The size of a bench plaque will be up to 10 inches by five inches
(metal bench) or eight inches by two inches (table/trailside bench)
and the standard text on the plaque may read:
|
In Memory of (or in Honor of) NAME
|
|
DATE
|
|
ONE SENTENCE OF TEXT
|
B.
A ten-inch-by-five-inch bench plaque may have four lines with a total
character maximum of 50. An eight-inch-by-two-inch plaque may contain
three lines with a per-line maximum of 18 characters. The plaque will
be securely inset on the bench in the most suitable location.
C.
Once the application with payment for the donation has been received
and approved, the Township will purchase and install the bench, which
will be of a style appropriate to its site, as determined by staff
and in accordance with the park master plan. All benches will meet
the standards of the Township design, durability, and construction.
The Township will determine annually the availability of bench donations.
D.
Park benches in outdoor settings have a reasonable life span of about
10 years. The Township will provide for normal maintenance and repair
of the bench during its useful life. The cost of this maintenance
is included in the price of the donation and this cost will be reviewed
periodically. If bench removal is required, due to deterioration or
severe vandalism, the Township is not responsible for replacement
of the bench. Memorial plaques from removed elements may be kept by
the Township but are not guaranteed. Donors may request return of
a plaque if available.
A.
Donors may choose any Township park with planting availability. Planting
availability will be determined annually. Tree species can be selected
from an approved list and tree caliper must be a minimum of two inches
for deciduous trees and tree height of five feet to six feet for evergreen/coniferous
trees. Tree donations will be limited to the list of selected plant
material, amenities, and locations consistent with Township landscape
plans and standards.
B.
Dedication requests may be made at any time of year, but planting
time (in the spring and/or fall) will be determined by the Township
based upon the best time to plant the particular species chosen as
determined by the nursery.
C.
The Township will take reasonable care to preserve newly planted
trees and make all diligent efforts for the tree's growth, but
donors must realize that there may be conditions beyond Butler Township's
control that threaten plantings and the Township cannot be held responsible
should the tree die or become diseased, causing its removal. Trees
have limited life spans and are subject to natural disasters, vandalism,
disease, and abuse, and expectations are that it may at some point
need to be removed.
D.
Each tree donation will be recognized by the issuance of a certificate
of acknowledgment and a map of the tree location presented to both
the applicant and the honoree or the honoree's family when the
tree is planted.
Donors can also remember or honor a loved one by assisting the
Township with future improvements and maintenance of the parks. These
general donations in any denomination will be used on an as-needed
basis, to replace and plant trees/shrubs, improve trails, replace
signage, replace trash receptacles and other needs that will beautify
the Butler Township Park system. General donations to the park development
program will be recognized with a letter of acknowledgement and appreciation.
This policy does not supersede any regulations or ordinances
of Butler Township.
