[1972 Code § 98-1]
The following rules and regulations are hereby adopted for the protection, regulation and control of parks owned and operated by the Borough, including driveways, sidewalks, paths, parking lots, buildings and all facilities.
[1972 Code § 98-2]
All parks in the Borough shall be operated and maintained under the supervision of the Borough Council. The Borough Council may, by resolution from time to time, delegate all or any aspects of such supervision to the Recreation Commission or any other designated agency of the municipality.
[1972 Code § 98-3]
Public parks shall be open during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to sunset each day, except that the closing time of a public park may be changed by prior permission and authorization issued by the Borough Council. No person shall, without permission, enter into or remain in a public park except during the hours the park is open to the general public.
[1972 Code § 98-4; Ord. No. OR:04/01; amended 12-18-2025 by Ord. No. 25/22]
a.
The use of drugs or narcotics in any public park is strictly prohibited. No person shall be permitted within a public park while under the influence of drugs or narcotics.
b.
No person shall transport into or consume on Borough-owned property any intoxicating beverages, unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Borough Council. The Borough Council may, by resolution, permit the possession and consumption of intoxicating beverages on Borough-owned property at designated times related to special events held by the Borough or bona fide nonprofit organizations as authorized by and in accordance with the terms set forth in any such resolution. All applications seeking such permission from the Borough Council shall be made to the Borough Clerk. The Borough Clerk and/or Council may request additional information regarding the special event and the consumption of intoxicating beverages thereat.
[1972 Code § 98-5]
No person shall leave or throw bottles, broken glass, ashes, wastepaper or other rubbish or litter in any public park, except in a properly provided receptacle designated for that purpose. No person shall throw or place any dirt, stone, rock, debris or foreign or waste substance in any portion of a public park, and no person shall cause any portion of a public park to become polluted or otherwise unfit or unsafe for use by the public.
[1972 Code § 98-6; amended 9-18-2025 by Ord. No. 25/14]
No group or organization of 20 or more persons shall use or occupy a public park without first having obtained a Field and Facility permit. Such permit shall be obtained from the municipality not later than 30 days before the proposed date of use. The granting or denial of such permit shall be based upon rules, regulations and standards promulgated by the Governing Body. Field and Facility permit requests shall be limited to designated areas. Adult supervision of children's groups shall be required at all times.
[1972 Code § 98-7; Ord. No. 99/17 § 1]
No person shall build, light or maintain a fire or cooking grill within a public park without the written permission of the Mayor and Borough Council. All fires shall be extinguished immediately upon completion of food preparation.
[1972 Code § 98-8]
No person shall discharge or set off any fireworks, firecrackers, torpedoes, rockets or noisemakers of any kind in a public park.
[Former § 16-1.9, Commercial Enterprises, Restricted, was repealed 9-18-2025 by Ord. No. 25/14. History includes: 1972 Code § 98-9; Ord. No. OR:04/01.]
[Former § 16-1.10, Gambling Prohibited, was repealed 9-18-2025 by Ord. No. 25/14. History includes: 1972 Code § 98-10.]
[1972 Code § 98-11; amended 9-18-2025 by Ord. No. 25/14]
No person shall use any portion of a public park, except those areas designated for that purpose, for the purpose of travel within or parking of vehicles, including mopeds. Footpaths and walks established for pedestrian use shall not be used for vehicle travel. The use of any motor vehicle, snowmobile, trail bike, minibike, e-bike or e-scooter is prohibited in any public park. This provision does not apply to vehicles operating in any official governmental capacity.
[1972 Code § 98-12]
No person shall harass, obstruct, molest, assault or interfere with any person lawfully within a public park, nor shall any person resist, obstruct, molest, assault or interfere with any law enforcement officer or public official in any public park.
[1972 Code § 98-13]
No person shall use abusive, threatening, insulting or indecent language in a public park, nor shall any action constituting a nuisance be allowed by any person.
[1972 Code § 98-14]
The Borough Council authorizes the installation of appropriate signs, to be located within public parks, giving notice of the various rules and regulations or portions thereof set forth in this section. No person shall damage or deface any such sign.
[1972 Code § 98-15; Ord. No. 98/09 § 1; Ord. No. 99/17 § 2; Ord. No. 2016-13; amended 9-18-2025 by Ord. No. 25/14]
a.
Ice Skating Prohibited. No person shall ice skate on either Best Lake or Watchung Lake at any time.
b.
Swimming and Water Sports Prohibited. No swimming, wading or boating is permitted on Best Lake or Watchung Lake.
c.
Fishing Restrictions. Fishing is prohibited along and on all areas of Watchung Lake, except along the retaining wall on the side of the lake adjacent to Stirling Road. Any fish caught from the retaining wall on the northeast side of the lake are to be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
d.
Skateboarding, Roller Skating, Bicycling Prohibited in Certain Areas. No skateboarding, roller skating, bicycling, e-bikes, e-scooters, motorcycles, golf carts, or ATVs are permitted on the concrete portion of the Watchung Lake Dam or Spillway or on any walkway, sporting courts (i.e., tennis, pickle ball, basketball, etc.), playground areas, and picnic and pavilion areas within all Watchung parks.
e.
Pedestrian Traffic Prohibited in Certain Areas. Pedestrian traffic will not be permitted on the concrete portion of the Watchung Lake Dam or Spillway.
f.
Remote-Control Model Motor Boats Prohibited. All remote control model motor boats are prohibited on Best Lake or Watchung Lake.
g.
Fishing Restriction at Best Lake. Fishing is permitted along and on all areas of Best Lake. However, any fish caught from Best Lake shall be immediately returned to Best Lake unharmed.
[Ord. No. 2016-13]