[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Lower Paxton as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 17-11]
It is the intent, purpose and scope of this article to ensure
the preservation of public park lands, recreation facilities and conservation
areas for the residents of the Township, to regulate activities within
these areas consistent with the enjoyment of unspoiled natural settings
or park facilities and to prevent any nuisances to the residents of
the Township in the use of such public park lands, recreation facilities
and conservation areas or in the enjoyment of private property adjacent
to such areas.
For purposes of this article, the following words/terms shall
have the meanings herein indicated.
Offering an article, thing, or service for sale or hire.
To play a game for money or property.
An organization whose service or purpose is not conducted
or maintained for the purpose of making a profit.
An individual, partnership, business, company, group of individuals,
or other entity that has a product, information or service for sale
or distribution to others.
No persons except those authorized by the Township and conducting
Township business shall, in recreation, park or conservation areas:
A.
Injure, deface, disturb, befoul nor in any manner destroy or cause
to be destroyed any part of any recreation, park or conservancy site
owned by the Township, nor any building, sign structure, equipment,
utility or other property found therein.
B.
Remove, injure or destroy any tree, flower, shrub, plant or growing
thing or any rock or other mineral.
C.
Kill, trap, hunt, pursue or in any manner deliberately disturb or cause to be disturbed any wild bird or animal within the recreation, park and conservancy sites owned by the Township, except as permitted in § 132-7C.
D.
Throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the
waters of any fountain, pond, lake or other body of water or adjacent
to any park or any tributary, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing
into such waters any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid,
which may result in the pollution of such waters, nor dump, deposit
or leave any bottles, broken glass, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, pet
waste, garbage, refuse or trash anywhere within the park and conservancy
sites owned by the Township, but rather make use of proper receptacles
where these are provided; and where receptacles are not so provided,
all such materials shall be carried away from the park by the person
or persons responsible for its presence, and properly disposed of
elsewhere.
A.
Hours of operation. Recreation, park and conservation areas shall
be open daily to the public from official sunrise to official sunset,
except for lighted courts and fields which shall be open from official
sunrise until 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and Daylight Saving
Time; and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons, other than
Township personnel conducting Township business therein, to occupy
or to be present in such park during any hours in which the park is
not open to the public. Permits must be obtained for use after official
sunset or 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time
closing times for specific activities. Any section or part of the
recreation, park and conservation areas may be declared closed to
the public any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily
or at regular or stated intervals. During such periods of time, it
shall be unlawful to enter upon or occupy such areas or portions thereof
contrary to posted regulations.
B.
All individuals or groups who desire to reserve Township owned park
facilities are required to obtain a permit for such use and to carry
the permit at the facility during the effective dates and times. The
following Application Procedure shall be followed to obtain a permit.
(1)
An appropriate application along with the rental fee and deposit
required shall be submitted to the Parks and Recreation Department
in order to obtain a permit for such use in the designated park area.
Appropriate permit applications are:
(2)
All applications shall be reviewed by Township staff and upon approval,
a permit shall be issued as confirmation of the reservation. Use of
the facility shall be restricted to the terms specified on the permit
issued to the individual or group.
(3)
Refundable cancellations are those requested more than two weeks
in advance of the reserved time; cancellations within two weeks of
the reserved time are non-refundable. In case of inclement weather,
a reservation may be rescheduled based upon availability by contacting
the Parks and Recreation Department. A rain date may be scheduled
in advance along with the appropriate fee.
C.
All individuals or groups who receive a permit to reserve Township
owned park facilities are required to adhere to the following general
guidelines.
(1)
All posted rules and regulations of the park facility shall be applicable to the permittee. All Township ordinances within the Lower Paxton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 132, Parks and Recreation, along with all amendments and resolutions shall be applicable to the permittee.
(2)
A security deposit may be required for the use of Township park facilities,
as determined by Manager of Parks and Recreation.
(3)
All persons using Township park facilities shall be responsible for
cleaning the facility before leaving. Tables shall be wiped off and
placed in the locations in which they were found. If necessary, floors
shall be swept. All refuse shall be gathered and placed in the proper
containers.
(4)
Any additional equipment (such as entertainment systems, animals,
carnival and water activities, etc.) to be brought onto park property
in conjunction with a reservation shall be pre-approved, in writing,
by the Parks and Recreation Department and noted on the permit. A
signed certificate of liability insurance, naming Lower Paxton Township
as an additionally insured and carrying a minimum of $1,000,000 per
occurrence, may be required for reservation approval and permit issuance.
D.
Facilities and areas in Township recreation, park or conservancy
sites shall be used only for the purposes designated or implicit in
their character. Special activities including flying model airplanes
and drones, games, picnics, the operation of motor scooters, motorcycles,
minibikes, go-carts, snowmobiles and similar vehicles shall be permitted
only at locations or trails specifically designated for such use and
at times established.
E.
Licensed motor vehicles shall be permitted only on designated roadways.
The speed limit for such vehicles on such roadways shall be 15 miles
per hour. Motor scooters, motorcycles, minibikes, go-carts and snowmobiles
shall not be permitted on roadways designated for licensed vehicular
traffic, unless licensed for travel on the public roads of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. All vehicles shall be parked in areas or places so
provided and designated. Parking in places contrary to posted regulations
and times is prohibited, and such vehicles may be removed by the Township
at the owner's expense. All parking is prohibited after regular
closing time. It shall be unlawful to clean, wash, repair or do any
work whatsoever on private vehicles within recreation, park and conservation
areas, except for emergency repairs.
F.
Fees shall be set by separate resolution, from time to time, of the
Park and Recreation Board.
The sale of articles, items, or things by the Township or nonprofit
organizations, including private vendors working as a subcontractor
to/working with the Township or nonprofit organizations to further
the mission of said organizations, shall be permitted if approved
through a park vending permit. Nonprofit athletic organizations shall,
with the approval of the Parks and Recreation Manager, be permitted
to utilize municipally owned concession stands for the sale of articles
or things.
B.
One freestanding scoreboard is permitted per playing field, provided
that it shall not exceed 200 square feet in area and 20 feet in height
at the top. Commercial messages shall only be permitted in accordance
with the Township's policy on advertising, sponsorship, and naming
rights. The face of a scoreboard, including any attached commercial
signs and panels, shall be permanently oriented toward the recreation
and spectator area.
A.
Fires shall not be built or allowed anywhere in recreation, park
or conservation areas, except in stoves, fireplaces or designated
areas provided for that purpose.
B.
Fireworks shall be prohibited on recreation, park and conservation
lands. Fireworks displays may be permitted with the approval of the
Board of Supervisors after receiving recommendations from the Manager
of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
C.
It shall be unlawful for owners of domesticated animals to allow
same within recreation, park or conservation areas without being controlled
by a leash not more than six feet long, except within a designated
dog park. A permit shall be obtained for the training and/or exhibition
of animals in designated areas. It shall be unlawful to bring any
dangerous animal into any recreation, park or conservation area.
D.
Gambling is prohibited on recreation, park and conservation lands.
E.
Private, for-profit business activities, separate from an approved
fundraising event of the Township or a nonprofit organization, and
signs, banners, and other forms of business recognition that are not
conducted in accordance with the Township's policy on advertising,
sponsorship, and naming rights are prohibited.
F.
Private, for-profit business activities shall not be announced, advertised
or called to the public attention in any way except in accordance
with the Township's policy on advertising, sponsorship, and naming
rights.
G.
It shall be unlawful to post, fasten, paint, write, carve, or affix
any notice, sign, advertisement or any inscription whatever upon any
structure, tree, stone, fence, thing or enclosure within any recreation,
park or conservation area or on any public lands or highways or roads
adjacent to any recreation, park or conservation area, except in accordance
with the Township's policy on advertising, sponsorship, and naming
rights.
H.
It shall be unlawful to land a private or commercial airplane or
helicopter on recreation, park and conservation lands.
I.
Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, etc. are not permitted on the
park's ballfields, ball courts, pavilions, benches and tables,
or Heroes Grove Amphitheater.
J.
Smoking, vaping, juuling and the use of any other form of e-cigarettes
is prohibited on any recreation, park and conservation lands, including,
but not limited to the Friendship Center.
[Amended 3-5-2019 by Ord. No.
19-02]
K.
It shall be unlawful for any person in any recreation, park or conservation
area to:
(1)
Disturb the peace or use profane or obscene language.
(2)
Endanger the safety of any person by any conduct or act.
(3)
Commit any assault, battery or engage in fighting.
(4)
Carry, possess or drink any alcoholic beverages.
(5)
Violate any rule for the use of the park made or approved by the
Department of Parks and Recreation.
(6)
Prevent any person from using any park or any facilities, or interfere
with such use in compliance with this article and the rules applicable
to such use.
(7)
Act in an unlawful, disorderly or disruptive manner or against the
best interest of the areas or other people.
The Township Manager and agents designated by him, primarily
the Manager of Parks and Recreation, shall administer the provisions
of this article, including the establishment and collecting of fees,
preparation of application forms, issuance and revocation of permits,
promulgation of rules and regulations to implement the provisions
of this article and all other decisions relative thereto. When acts
or conduct of individuals or groups is determined to be in violation
of this article or rules and regulations promulgated by the authority
of this article or not to be in the best interests of the recreation,
park and conservancy area, or when such acts of conduct endanger other
people, private or public property, or when such acts are deemed to
be disruptive to the surrounding neighborhood, the Township Police,
Manager of Parks and Recreation or his agent assigned to such area
or program shall have the authority to cause such acts to be terminated
or to expel the perpetrators of such acts from the area or to call
the Township Police to arrest and detain such individual or individuals
or to file a complaint for the violation of this article with a District
Magisterial Judge.
This article shall be enforced by action brought before a District
Justice in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary
offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Any person,
firm or corporation who or which violates or permits the violation
of this section shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be
punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for
a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such
violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a
separate offense.
[Adopted 6-20-2017 by Res. No. 17-26]
A.
Lower Paxton Township may seek to establish revenue streams that
will enhance its ability to deliver services and facilities to the
community beyond the core levels funded from the Township's General
Fund. This support shall further the Township's mission by providing
monetary or in-kind support of the Parks and Recreation Department
and its facilities in a manner that respects the noncommercial nature
of Township properties and services.
B.
In appreciation of such support, it is the policy of Lower Paxton
Township to provide sponsors with suitable acknowledgement of their
contributions. However, such recognition shall adhere to the aesthetic
values and purposes of the Department's parks, facilities, and
services. In addition, acknowledgement does not constitute an endorsement
by the Township or its Parks and Recreation Department of the sponsor,
its organization, products, or services.
C.
This policy is not applicable to gifts, grants, or unsolicited donations
in which no benefits are granted to the donor and where no business
relationship exists between the donor and the Township.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The activity of attracting the public's attention to
a particular product or service.
Programs, activities, or functions that are held in facilities
or on properties owned or leased by Lower Paxton Township for parks
and recreation.
The provision of in-kind goods and/or money for which no
benefits are sought.
A symbol or name that is used to brand an organization.
A type of sponsorship in which an individual, corporation,
or other entity purchases the exclusive right to name an asset or
venue (i.e., athletic field, sports complex, parks and recreation
amenity, or community facility) for a fixed period of time. Usually,
naming rights are considered in a commercial context, in which the
naming right is sold or exchanged for significant cash and/or other
considerations under a long-term agreement.
Financial or in-kind support from an individual, corporation,
or other entity for a specific Township service, program, facility,
park, or event in return for certain benefits.
The legal instrument that sets forth the terms and conditions
the parties have agreed to.
Lower Paxton Township.
A.
Sponsorship agreements may be negotiated for community events.
B.
All proposed sponsorship agreements shall be considered on a case-by-case
basis, and shall be consistent with the Township's vision, mission,
and strategic plan.
C.
Ineligible sponsorships include, but are not limited to, any potential
sponsor whose primary products or services are the sale of alcohol,
tobacco, firearms, sexually explicit materials, or inappropriate materials.
D.
A sponsorship agreement shall not obligate the Township to any single
entity, product or service nor imply the Township's endorsement
of same.
E.
Sponsorship shall not confer or transfer any right of control, decisionmaking,
or influence over the Township or its facilities.
F.
All funds accepted shall by the Township be administered in accordance
with the Township's financial management policies and procedures.
G.
Sponsorship agreements shall not limit the Township's ability
to seek other sponsors.
H.
Recognition benefits to be offered shall not compromise the design
standards and visual integrity of Township property, as determined
by the Parks and Recreation Board or the Friendship Center Operating
Board.
A.
In recognition of a sponsor's contribution, preference shall
be given to providing an off-site form of recognition that may include
one or more of the following:
(1)
A thank you letter.
(2)
Publicity through the Township's website, newsletters, media
releases and/or other promotional materials.
(3)
Events, such as a press conference, photo opportunity, ground breaking
or ribbon cutting ceremony.
(4)
Acknowledgement at a televised Board of Supervisors public meeting.
(5)
Commemorative items, such as a framed picture or plaque.
(6)
Inclusion on a sponsorship recognition board/wall at municipal offices.
(7)
Inclusion on a register of sponsors that is accessible to the public
online.
B.
Where on-site recognition is to be provided, types of recognition
may include:
(1)
Temporary signs, which may include logos, acknowledging a sponsor
during the construction or restoration of a particular park facility
or during an event.
(2)
Permanent (permanency is limited to the life of the asset) plaque
or paver, if applicable.
(3)
Signs or banners used for nonprofit, youth sports organizations'
fundraising at recreation and sporting facilities may be permitted
provided that the following criteria are met:
(a)
Signs shall be on the interior walls or fence of an open stadium
or field and shall be designed to be viewed from the inside of the
stadium only. They shall be removed at the end of each sports'
season.
(b)
Signs shall not be greater than 32 square feet in size.
(c)
Signs shall not be illuminated.
(d)
Signs shall have a green background with white lettering.
(4)
Scoreboards within Township parks shall adhere to the following criteria:
(a)
Scoreboards shall not exceed 200 square feet in area, and the
top of the scoreboard shall be not more than 20 feet above ground
level.
(b)
Commercial messages, including logos, shall not exceed 30% of
the front face of the scoreboard.
(c)
The face of all scoreboards, including any attached commercial
signs and panels, shall be permanently oriented toward the recreation
and spectator area.
(d)
Any digital display shall not exceed 30% of the total scoreboard
area.
(5)
The on-site recognition referenced in this section shall not possess
logos or verbiage that reference or promote the sale of alcohol, tobacco,
firearms, sexually explicit materials, or inappropriate materials.
Potential sponsorship opportunities that are more interactive
than those described above may also be permissible for certain facilities
or services under this policy. These sponsorship opportunities shall
be subject to the approval of Township management staff, provided
that a higher level of approval is not required by this policy. Other
potentially acceptable sponsorship opportunities include, but are
not limited to:
A.
Attributing naming rights to a community facility shall be undertaken
in a well-thought-out manner to ensure that the name, facility function,
and reputation of all complement each other and do not detract from
the public perception and use of the facility.
B.
Naming rights agreements shall be approved by resolution of the Board
of Supervisors.
C.
Naming rights for a community property or facility shall only be
considered where a "significant" contribution has been offered toward
the procurement or construction of a property or facility, or ongoing
operating expense of same.
D.
All naming rights shall be approved for a specific term as determined
by the Township.
E.
Naming rights term renewals, extensions, and incumbency rights shall
be subject to the mutual agreement of all parties, as established
in the original agreement.
F.
The naming rights entity shall have ongoing responsibilities to adhere
to the standards set forth herein and in the naming rights agreement,
which shall have termination provisions in the event of the failure
to comply therewith.
G.
Naming rights opportunities shall be solicited using an open and
competitive process. If a request for proposal (RFP) or competitive
bid is issued, it shall be subject to the normal approval processes
of the Board of Supervisors.
