[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
Title.
This chapter shall hereafter be known and cited as "Park and Public
Property Rules and Regulations."
b.
This
chapter is enacted to establish rules and regulations for the protection,
care and control of all public facilities including open space, Township
buildings, parks, playgrounds and athletic fields in the Township
and to regulate the conduct of persons on or within such public facilities.
c.
Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
1.
Township facility or facilities:
Facilities include but not limited to:
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EverGreen Park:
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Main Soccer Field
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Practice Soccer Field
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Westra Field
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Orr Field
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Baseball Field
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Basketball Court
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Pavilion (w/o kitchen)
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Pavilion (w/ kitchen)
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Parking Lot
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EverGreen Trail Park (field)
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Wesley Field
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Baseball Field (Little League)
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Papa Park
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Pittenger Park
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Fireman's Field
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Town Hall - Including Downstairs Meeting Room and parking lot
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Greendell PO parking lot
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Tranquility PO parking lot
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Trinca Airport
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2.
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
GROUP 3
GROUP 4
GROUP 5
Facilities user groups are defined as follows:
Youth programs associated with GTSC or Green Township based
non-profit youth organizations whose participants include 75% Green
residents, have open registration (regardless of skill level), provide
an "everyone participates" philosophy.
Adult programs associated with GTSC or Green Township based
non-profit adult programs whose participants include 75% Green Residents.
Youth non-profit organizations who are unable to meet the
Group 1 criteria.
Adult non-profit organizations who are unable to meet the
Group 2 criteria.
Youth or adult programs/events that are not non-profit.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
Parks
shall be open daily to the public from sunrise to sunset. No person
shall enter or remain in any park before sunrise or after sunset.
Vehicles shall not be left in facility parking areas overnight unless
a permit is obtained from the Township Committee or their designated
agent.
b.
Permits are required for the use of any and all Township facilities, including parks or recreation areas or portions of these, by any persons and/or organizations wishing to use the facilities or parks for parties, assemblages, business or entertainment, or athletic events. Interested parties may apply to the Township Committee or its designated agent on a form supplied by the Township Clerk and, as further outlined in § 9-13 of this chapter.
c.
Any
section or part of a park or facility may be declared closed to the
public at any time for any interval of time, either temporarily or
at regular intervals as deemed appropriate by the Township Committee
or its designated agent.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
No person shall bring alcoholic beverages into or onto any Township
facilities or possess or consume alcoholic beverages in or at any
facility at any time.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1;
amended 8-19-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-14; 6-22-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-08]
a.
Except for
certified guide or service dogs assisting their owner, no person shall
bring, possess or harbor any pet or domestic animal of any nature
on or into any Township facility, unless specifically set forth in
this section.
b.
Dog owners
are required to remove all dog waste, and shall not deposit dog waste
into Township and/or park garbage receptacles.
c.
Unless otherwise
authorized by the Township Committee during designated events, leashed
dogs shall be permitted only along Evergreen Trail, County Connector
Rail to Trail, and within Evergreen Park and Papa Park, but not on
any of the athletic fields, as long as such dog has a current dog
license and all required vaccinations, is accompanied by a person
over the age of 12 years that has the ability to control the dog,
and is controlled by an adequate fixed length (non-retractable) leash
of no more than six feet in length.
By bringing a dog onto Township property, the dog owner, as
well as the person handling the dog, are responsible for all actions
and behavior of their dog(s) at all times while on Township property.
In the event that a dog causes any injury or death to any person,
animal or any property, the owner and dog handler shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Township of Green, the Township Committee
members, administrator, officers, employees, agents and each of their
heirs, executors, successors and assigns, from and against any and
all claims, actions, suits, damages, cost and expenses, involving
their dog, including reasonable attorney fees, that are caused by,
arise out of or result from the dog’s activities or actions
on or at Township property.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
No person shall construct or erect any building or structure
of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary, on any facility
or run or string any public service utility into or across any facility
or property, except on special written permit issued by the Township
Committee or their designated agent.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
No
person shall throw or deposit litter or waste anywhere at any facility
other than in public litter receptacles; this will include, but not
be limited to, bodies of water in or adjacent to any facility or any
tributary stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into such waters.
b.
Where
public litter receptacles are not provided, all such rubbish and waste
shall be carried away from the facility by the persons responsible
for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.
c.
No
person shall possess glass containers or other glass objects at or
around any facility or cause glass containers or glass objects to
be brought into any facility.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
No
person shall willfully mark, deface, disfigure, tamper with, displace
or remove any trees, shrubs, plants, buildings, materials, public
utility equipment, monuments, markers or other structures or equipment
at any facility or facility's property or appurtenances whatsoever,
either real or personal.
b.
No
person shall fail to cooperate in maintaining rest rooms and washrooms
designated for public use at any facility.
c.
No
person shall climb any tree or stand or sit on any monument, vases,
planters, fountains, railings, fences or other property not designated
or customarily used for such purpose at any facility.
d.
The Township
Committee shall have the authority to promulgate and publish rules
and regulations governing use of all Township facilities for the safety
and well-being of the general public.
[Added 5-17-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-12]
e.
No motorized or battery-powered flying objects, including but not limited to drones, remote control objects, ultralight vehicles and/or paragliders, are permitted at any Township facility, unless prior Township approval has been obtained, through application and approval of the Township Use of Facilities Form, per Code § 9-15.
It shall not be unlawful for any law enforcement agency or emergency
services organization of or servicing the Township of Green, the County
of Sussex, the State of New Jersey, or the United States government
to operate any motorized or battery-powered flying objects from or
on or upon any Township facility, provided the flight is conducted
in a lawful manner and for lawful purposes. This section shall not
prohibit any federal, state, county or municipal agency from the use
of motorized or battery-powered flying objects for any lawful and
authorized purpose pursuant to applicable regulation.
[Added 6-5-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-07]
See also Chapter 19, Drones.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
The use of all motorized vehicles, including mopeds and all-terrain
vehicles, is restricted to designated roadways and parking areas.
Operation of such motorized vehicles in any other facility area is
prohibited.
b.
The speed limit on all park roadways and in all parking areas shall
be 15 miles per hour.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
No person shall operate a non-motor powered vehicle without reasonable
regard to the safety of others; this will include, but not be limited
to, bicycles, skateboards and roller skates.
b.
No person shall leave a non-motor powered vehicle at any facility
or apparatus on the ground or paving or set against trees or in any
place or position where others may trip over or be injured by it.
Where available, all bicycles shall be placed in bike racks.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
Solicitation of alms or contributions for any purpose, whether public
or private, shall be prohibited at any facility.
b.
Vending or exposing for offering for sale any article, thing or service
shall be prohibited. Exception shall be made for any nonprofit organization
who has obtained approval for this activity from the Township Committee
or their designated agent.
c.
No person shall paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard,
advertisement or inscription whatsoever on any public lands or highways
or roads adjacent to any facility except as permitted by the Township
Committee or their designated agent.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
While in or at a facility: all persons shall conduct themselves in
a proper and orderly manner.
b.
No person shall dress or undress at any facility or any portion or
area of any facility.
c.
While in or at a facility, no person shall allow himself or herself
to be so covered with a bathing suit so as to indecently expose his
or her person.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
No person shall swim, bathe or wade in any waters or waterways
in or adjacent to any facility except in such waters and at such times
and places designated by the Township Committee or its designated
agent.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
a.
Persons and/or organizations wishing to use Township owned facilities
including park areas (including picnic areas, playground areas, athletic
field areas, parking areas, etc.) and indoor areas (meeting rooms,
kitchen, etc.) for parties, assemblages, business engagements, or
entertainment are required to apply to the Township Committee or its
designated agent for permission to use in writing on a form supplied
by the Township Clerk.
b.
Application for the use of a Township owned facility shall be submitted
no later than 30 days prior to the first date of requested use nor
any earlier than 45 days prior to the first date of requested use.
c.
Permission to use a facility shall not be granted unless and until
a fully completed Hold Harmless Agreement, in a form acceptable to
the Township Attorney and Risk Manager, is submitted to the Township.
In addition, any organization or entity that wishes to use a facility
shall submit an insurance certificate naming Green Township, Green
Township officers, employees and volunteers as additional insured
on a primary and non-contributory basis with a minimum of $1,000,000.
Comprehensive General Liability.
d.
Fees for use of facilities shall be set by the Township Committee in Chapter 8. Fees shall be submitted no later than seven days prior to use. An application is not considered approved until all fees are submitted.
e.
Submission of an application does not constitute approval of the
application.
f.
In the event more than one request for use of facilities is received for the same time/day, facilities will be allocated to applicants based on the Facilities User Groups defined in § 9-1c. Group 1 shall have first priority followed by Group 2 and so on. If two (or more) organizations of the same group conflict, then the organization with the higher percentage of Green Township participants will prevail, OR the use of the facility will be divided based on the percentage of Green Township residents. The Township Committee or its designated agent will determine the use on a case-by-case basis.
h.
The Township reserves the right to require Township personnel at the applicant's expense to be present at any event to protect the Township's interest. Such determination shall be made on a case by case basis by the Township Committee or its designated agent and the applicant will pay an hourly fee in accordance with the fee schedule in Chapter 8. This shall be in addition to any other applicable fees.
i.
Effective August 1, 2015 prior to any youth club or organization
receiving a permit to use a Township owned property, the club or organization
must complete an affidavit on a form approved by the Township Attorney
certifying that all coaches, assistant coaches and adults who are
in positions of authority or control of youth participants under the
age of 18 have completed and passed a background check within the
last four years, meaning that the individual has not been convicted
of any of the disqualifying offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 15A:3A-3.
The affidavit shall also state that the affiant is not aware of any
relevant convictions subsequent to the background check.
j.
Effective August 1, 2015 prior to any youth club or organization
receiving a permit to use a Township owned property, the club or organization
must complete an affidavit on a form approved by the Township Attorney
certifying that an Athletic Code of Conduct has been adopted by the
club substantially similar to the model policies promulgated by the
New Jersey Attorney General pursuant to N.J.S.A. 5:17-1 et seq. and
certify that each participant - coaches, assistant coaches, parent
and youth participant - has reviewed the Code of Conduct and attested
to his review.
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1]
[Ord. No. 2015-04 § 1;
amended 6-22-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-08]
The Township Committee members, its designees, the Recreation
Advisory Committee Chairperson or their designee, the Department of
Public Works employees and the State Police shall have the authority
to enforce the provisions of this chapter.