Township of West Pike Run, PA Chapter 240 Parks and Recreation

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Pike Run 1-3-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-1. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 240-1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

PARK or PARKS

Unless specifically limited, shall be deemed to include all parks, playgrounds, recreation areas, 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 the Township for park or recreational purposes.

PERSON

Any natural person, 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.

§ 240-2 Park hours.

All parks shall be opened daily to the public at such hours as the Board of Supervisors may, from time to time, designate, but in no event shall any person be permitted to be in attendance in any park from September 1 to May 15 from the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and from May 1 to September 15 from the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., unless specific permission is granted by the Board of Supervisors.

§ 240-3 Prohibited conduct.

No person in attendance at a park shall:

A. Injure, deface, remove, cut or damage any of the trees, plants, shrubs, turf, buildings, structures, signs or fixtures or any other property of the Township located within the park.

B. Litter any area of the park with garbage, paper, bottles, cans or other waste material; nor dispose of the same in any way except in receptacles designated for such purpose.

C. Kindle or maintain any fire in the park except in fireplaces or areas specifically designated for that purpose and located by authority of the Board of Supervisors.

D. Remove any bench, seat, table or other appliance without permission of the Board of Supervisors.

E. Injure, deface, destroy or remove any notice, 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 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, bicycle or other means of conveyance 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 to other area users.

H. Operate commercial vehicles, unless providing authorized services.

I. Bring onto the premises, possess or consume any alcoholic beverage or illegal drugs as defined by the Pennsylvania Crimes Code;[1] no person shall enter the park in an intoxicated state or otherwise be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

[1] Editor's Note: See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.

J. Carry or discharge any firearms, 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. Play ball, climb trees, use skateboards, swim, golf, pitch horseshoes, engage in archery, camp or launch, dock or land any boat, engage in finding buried objects with special detectors, or participate in any other form of recreation, sporting endeavor or pastime, except in those areas which may be designated from time to time for that purpose by the Board of Supervisors.

L. Disrobe or change clothing except in buildings or facilities made available for that purpose.

M. Disturb the peace by any conduct so as to annoy any other person using the park for recreational purposes.

N. Operate a snowmobile, minibike, motorcycle, or any vehicle recreational or otherwise, except on designated roads, trails, or areas set aside for their use.

O. Use threatening, abusive, insulting, profane or obscene language or words.

P. Commit any disorderly conduct or immoral acts.

Q. Hold any public meeting or rally with more than five persons or engage in any marching or driving 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.

R. Disobey a proper order of a police officer or Board of Supervisors member, 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.

S. Hunt for, capture or 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, and to that end, it is unlawful for any person to carry onto or possess in any park, a shotgun or rifle or pistol or firearm of any make or kind unless specific permission is granted for a designated area by authority of the Board of Supervisors.

T. Allow pets to run at large. (Regulate for other animals, such as horses.)

§ 240-4 Fishing.

All laws pertaining to fishing in the commonwealth shall apply to fishing in parks and recreation areas, and provisions thereof are hereby incorporated by reference.

§ 240-5 Reservation for specific uses.

The use of all parks shall be on a first-come, first-served basis unless otherwise reserved:

A. By annual permission granted by the Board of Supervisors for the scheduling of various league games, etc.;

B. For school or college athletic games, practice, contests, or exhibitions;

C. For regularly scheduled school district or municipal recreation programs;

D. By permission granted by the Board of Supervisors for a specific requested use.

§ 240-6 Authority to close areas.

Recreation facilities which become hazardous for public use due to weather, water, fire or unforeseeable conditions may be closed only at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.

§ 240-7 Enforcement.

The police officers of the Township are charged with enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and of rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Supervisors.

§ 240-8 Violations and penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not more than $300, and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days.

§ 240-9 Severability.

The provisions of this chapter shall be severable and if any of its provisions or other parts shall be held to be unconstitutional, illegal, unenforceable or otherwise invalid, such shall not effect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts of this chapter. The Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Pike Run hereby declares its legislative intent to be that this chapter would have been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal, unenforceable, or otherwise invalid provisions or parts not been included herein.