This chapter shall be known as the "Park Rules and Regulations
Ordinance."
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the Second Class Township
Code.
The parks and playgrounds of the Township are for the benefit
and pleasure of the whole public, and the rules and regulations governing
their use are established for the express purpose of providing for
the general welfare of persons using the parks and the public as a
whole. They shall apply to all persons who use the parks and playgrounds.
The following rules and regulations are hereby adopted for the
management and protection of public parks and playgrounds of the Township.
No person shall be in any park or on any trail during the hours
the Township facility is closed except as pre-approved in writing
by the Parks and Recreation Manager or designee of the Parks and Recreation
Manager. All parks are open from sunrise to sunset, except areas lighted
for evening use, which shall close at 11:00 p.m., prevailing time.
Park hours will be posted at all parks.
The park rules and regulations shall be posted in public view
at the points of entrance to the recreational facilities operated
by the Township.
The Township Board of Supervisors, from time to time, may adopt
additional rules and regulations governing the operation and conduct
of the recreational facilities operated by the Township.
The Board may, at its discretion, levy charges on nonresidents
or residents, or both, for use of park or playground facilities. Charges
shall be determined by the Board through resolution. Permits for events
in or on any Township facility shall be obtained by application to
the approving Township Manager or authorized designee. The Township
shall have the authority to charge a fee for any damage done either
willfully or accidentally by person(s) using any Township facility.
Area facilities which become hazardous for public use due to
weather, water, fire or unforeseeable conditions may be closed at
the discretion of the Township Manager, Chief of Police or designee.
Park lands are public lands and shall not be put to personal
garden, nursery or storage uses, except as pre-approved in writing
by the Parks and Recreation Manager or designee of the Parks and Recreation
Manager.
The following acts and conduct are prohibited in the parks unless
pre-approved in writing by the Parks and Recreation Manager or designee
of the Parks and Recreation Manager, where not otherwise prohibited
by law:
A. Acts in violation of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.
B. Smoking or use of tobacco products, including vaping, in any Township
park.
C. No alcoholic beverage shall be brought into, possessed or consumed
in any park.
D. Litter, dump or deposit any garbage or other offensive substance
or article. Where receptacles are not provided, all such rubbish or
waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible
for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.
E. Throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the
waters, wetlands, any fountains, pond, lake, stream or other body
of water in or adjacent to any Township facility, or any tributary,
stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into same, any substance, matter
or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution
of said waters.
F. Mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with or displace or remove
any buildings, bridges, tables, benches, grills, railings, paving
or paving materials, waterlines or other public utilities (or parts
or appurtenances thereof), signs, notices or placards, whether temporary
or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts or other boundary markers,
or other structures or equipment, facilities or park property, or
appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.
G. Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, including
those for amusement, whether permanent or temporary, or run or string
any public service utility into, upon or across such lands, except
on special written permit issued hereunder.
H. Hunting or trapping of live animals or wildlife; capturing, harassing,
injuring of wildlife.
I. All laws, rules and regulations pertaining to fishing in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania shall apply to fishing in recreation areas, and the
provisions thereof are hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto.
J. Possession, discharge or transportation of weapons or paintball guns,
airsoft guns, BB guns, fireworks, firecrackers or similar propelling
explosives, bows and arrows and sling shots. The prohibitions under
this subsection do not apply to otherwise lawful possession, discharge
or transportation of firearms as protected by state and federal law.
K. Operate or ride wheeled device without reasonable regard to the safety
of others and property.
L. Drive or place any vehicle on any area except the paved park roads
or parking areas or such areas as may on occasion be specifically
designated as temporary areas. Any damage that is caused by unauthorized
activity shall be the responsibility of the driver and/or owner of
the vehicle, who shall be subject to the fines, penalties, liability
and indemnification hereinafter set forth. As herein stated, "damage"
shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of restoration of all
damaged areas.
M. Any fire or other burning except for grilling in designated locations.
N. Camping, sleeping overnight on the ground or somewhere else within
the park.
O. Motorized model airplanes, boats, go-carts, mini bikes or mopeds
or other vehicles or crafts shall not be operated on site or remotely
except in areas designated for such use and subject to all rules and
regulations contained in such written permission.
P. No person shall post, paint, affix, distribute, deliver, place, cast
or leave about any billboard, placard, ticket, handbill, circular
or advertisement.
Q. No person shall expose or offer for sale any article in any Township
facility unless permitted by the Township.
R. Play, engage or take part in any game or competitive sport for money
or other valuable thing without a written permit.
S. Walk a dog or other domestic animal without a leash, said leash to
be no longer than six feet in length. All dogs must be under control
and must not be allowed to run at large. Further, any person(s) who
is accompanied by a dog or other domestic animal while on or in a
Township facility shall, in addition to any fine or penalty as hereinafter
set forth, be liable for any injury to people or other domestic animal
caused by the dog or animal and further shall indemnify the Township
as hereinafter set forth. Dogs are permitted only in designated areas
and specifically not allowed in buildings, on playgrounds or athletic
fields. Owners must provide for and clean up after their dogs accordingly.
This provision shall not apply to service animals when accompanying
individuals with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA).
T. There shall be no hitting of golf balls or playing of golf in the
parks.
U. No person shall damage, cut, carve, uproot or injure any tree, or
injure the bark or pick the flowers or seeds of any plant in any park;
nor shall any person attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to
any tree or plant in any park; nor shall any person dig in or otherwise
disturb grass areas or in any other way injure or impair the beauty
or usefulness of any park.
The rules and regulations established by resolution of the Silver
Spring Township Board of Supervisors may be enforced by any law enforcement
agency and any duly authorized representative of Silver Spring Township
who is charged with the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
If any provision, sentence, clause, phrase or section of this
chapter is for any reason found to be illegal or invalid, such illegality
or invalidity shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions,
sentences, clauses, phrases or sections of this chapter or of the
agreement. It is hereby declared as the intention of the Board of
Supervisors of Silver Spring Township that this chapter and the agreement
would have been adopted or approved, as the case may be, had the illegal
or invalid provision, sentence, clause, phrase or section thereof
not been included therein.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances or resolutions conflicting
or inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed.
This chapter shall take effect five days after the date of its
enactment.