As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context:
DONATED LAND
Land owned by Hilltown Township that was donated to the Township
by developers during the subdivision and land development process.
HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
Groups such as youth or adult sporting or athletic organizations,
religious or church CYO programs or civic, nonprofit, or volunteer
organizations whose legal corporation address is located within the
boundaries of Hilltown Township.
OTHER FACILITIES
Blooming Glen Scout Cabin & School House, Hilltown Township
Municipal Building public meeting room, or other public meeting places
owned by Hilltown Township.
PARK AMENITIES
Athletic fields, athletic courts, pavilions, open grass/lawn
areas within a park.
PARK, PARKS or PARK SYSTEM
Unless specifically limited, "park, parks or park system"
shall be deemed to include all parks, playgrounds, recreation areas,
athletic fields, tennis courts, beaches, recreation structures and
facilities, and also entrances and approaches thereto, and all other
land or property or structures under the jurisdiction of the Board
of Supervisors, now or hereafter owned or acquired by Hilltown Township
for park or recreational purposes.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, organization of persons, company,
association or partnership.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Any rules and regulations hereby or hereafter promulgated
by the Board of Supervisors under the authority herein conferred.
No person in attendance at a park shall:
A. Injure, deface, remove, cut or damage any of the trees, plants, shrubs,
turf, buildings, structures, athletic fields or equipment, signs or
fixtures, or any other property of Hilltown Township located within
the park and approaches thereto.
B. Litter any area of the park with trash, garbage, paper, bottles,
cans or other waste material, including animal waste; nor dispose
of the same in any way except in receptacles designated for such purpose.
Additionally, no bringing into the parks or dumping of domestic trash,
lawn debris, grass clippings, tree stumps, or other vegetation is
permitted.
C. Light or maintain any fire in the park except in fireplaces or areas
specially designated for that purpose and located by authority of
the Board of Supervisors.
D. Remove any structures, benches, seats, tables or other appliances
from the park system.
E. Injure, deface, or destroy or remove any signs, notice, bulletin,
card, poster or rule or regulation posted at any place within the
park by authority of the Board of Supervisors; nor shall any notice
or placard be posted within the park other than by authority of said
Board.
F. Set up any booth, table or stand for the sale of any article or service
that provides a personal financial gain whatsoever within the limits
of the park without permission of the Board of Supervisors; distribute,
sell, service or rent any services or commodity or solicit for any
purpose without permission of the Board of Supervisors.
G. Operate, stop or park any vehicle, except in areas where permitted
or designated by proper authority of the Board of Supervisors, or
operate the same in a reckless or negligent manner or in excess of
any posted speed limit or in such a manner as to become a nuisance
or safety hazard to other area users.
H. Operate commercial vehicles, unless providing authorized services.
I. Bring onto the premises, possess or consume any alcoholic beverage,
illegal drug or narcotic of any kind: no person shall enter the park
in an intoxicated state or otherwise be under the influence of alcohol,
illegal drugs and/or narcotics.
J. Carry or discharge a shotgun, rifle, pistol or firearms of any make
or kind, slingshots, firecrackers, fireworks or other missile propelling
instruments or explosives or arrows, or other dangerous weapons which
have such properties as to cause annoyance or injury to any person
or property, unless permission has been granted by the Board of Supervisors
in designated areas; police officers in the performance of their duties
will be exempt from these provisions.
K. Operate a snowmobile, mini-bike, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle
(ATV) or any motorized vehicle designed to move people, recreational
or otherwise, except on designated roads, trails, or parking areas
set aside for their use. Equipment used by individuals with physical
disabilities or ailments are permitted.
L. Ride horses in any park, except on designated riding trails or areas
set aside for such use.
M. Hold any public meeting or rally with more than five persons or engage
in any marching as members of a military, political or other organization
without permission of the Board of Supervisors, which requires a statement
of information, including the name of the organization, its purpose,
number of persons expected to be invited, expected duration and name(s)
of person(s) in charge.
N. Build, erect, plant, dump or cultivate upon lands within the park
system or otherwise use lands within the park system, donated lands
or other land owned by the Township. This includes any structures
(sheds, playgrounds or play equipment, play houses, swing sets, storage
bins, etc.), gardens, compost heaps, yard waste and tree limbs or
any other personal usage of Township parks or donated lands.
O. No person shall camp or picnic except in such areas as are provided
and/or designated for such purposes within the park system.
P. Disobey a proper order of a police officer, a Board of Supervisors
member, or the Township Manager/designee, Public Works Director, or
disobey or disregard or fail to comply with any rule or regulation,
warning, prohibition, instruction or direction given by an authorized
person and posted or displayed by sign, notice, bulletin, card, poster,
or when notified or informed as to its existence by the Board of Supervisors
or an authorized person.
Q. Hunt for, capture, kill or attempt to capture or kill, or aid or assist in the capturing or killing of, in any manner, any wild bird or wild animal of any description, either game or otherwise. See Subsection
J.
R. Hit golf balls, play horseshoes except where so designated, or conduct
any other activity upon athletic fields which would tend to injure,
deface, remove, cut or damage any of the field turf.
S. No person shall bring any domestic animal or fowl into Township parks
unless the property is clearly designated for such a purpose and then
only when the domestic animal or fowl is tethered on a six foot or
shorter leash. No person shall use any fenced area or enclosure such
as a baseball field or tennis court to release or run their animal
off leash. Individuals are responsible for all waste left by any animal
under their control/ownership. "Doggie Bags" or "Mutt Mitts" are provided
by the Township therefor; persons shall clean up and dispose of animal
waste in trash receptacles designated for such purpose.
T. Conduct themselves in a manner that is a nuisance and disturbs the peace and good order in the park system. Regulations provided in Chapters
103 and
110 of Hilltown Township Code of Ordinances apply to all visitors in the Township Park System.
U. Noise. No person shall:
(1) Use a loudspeaker, public address system or amplifier within the
park system without first obtaining written permission from the Township.
(2) No person shall play or cause to play any radio, phonograph, tape recorder, television, stereo, or any future undefined electronic device, etc., in a loud or boisterous manner as defined in Hilltown Township Code, Chapter
103, Nuisances, and Chapter
110, Peace and Good Order.
V. Use threatening, abusive, insulting, profane or obscene language
or words.
W. Commit any disorderly or immoral act.
X. Smoking. "Smoking" is defined as the carrying by a person of a lighted
cigar, cigarette, pipe or other lighted smoking device. Smoking is
prohibited within, on, or throughout all properties managed, maintained
and regulated by the Township, including, but not limited to, parks,
playgrounds, athletic courts, athletic fields and donated lands and
all buildings and structures within the park system.
All laws pertaining to fishing in the commonwealth shall apply
to fishing parks and recreation areas, and provisions thereof are
hereby incorporated by reference.
The Board of Supervisors is authorized to establish additional
rules and regulations as deemed necessary.
Recreation facilities which become hazardous for public use
due to vandalism, weather, water, fire, repair/maintenance or athletic
turf rejuvenation or any unforeseeable conditions may be closed only
at the discretion of Hilltown Township. Any individual is advised
to notify the Township if a hazard exists.
The police officers of Hilltown Township are charged with enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter and any rules and regulations promulgated
by the Board of Supervisors.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter
shall, upon conviction in a proceeding brought before a District Justice
under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a
summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of $200 plus costs
of prosecution. In the default of payment thereof, the defendant may
be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days.
If any sentence, clause, section, or part of this chapter for
any reasons is found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such
unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect or
impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, sections
or parts of this chapter. It is hereby declared as the intent of the
Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors that this chapter would have
been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal or invalid sentence,
clause, section or part thereof not been included herein.