As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION AREAS
Any property which is located in Raritan Township and dedicated
to or owned by the Township and which is dedicated, used or held out
for open space and active or passive recreation purposes and which
is open to the public either without charge or on a fee basis. The
term includes, but is not limited to, playgrounds, parks, ballfields,
nature education facilities, and any paths, roadways, sidewalks and
parking areas therein or adjacent thereto.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Raritan, county of Hunterdon, state of New
Jersey.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2016-16]
Except as otherwise posted, all open space and recreation areas
shall open at 7:00 a.m. in the forenoon and shall close in the evening.
Closing times will vary with the seasons and will be posted in the
particular open space/recreation area, but in no event shall closing
be later than 10:00 p.m. No person shall enter upon or remain within
an open space or recreation area except during its hours of operation,
except that any person who is authorized pursuant to the Raritan Township
Wildlife Management Program may have access to his or her designated
property according to the Wildlife Management Program in effect at
the time.
[Amended by Ord. No. 00-31; Ord. No. 06-37; Ord. No. 2016-16]
The following rules and regulations are established and shall
apply to all open space and recreation areas in the Township:
A. No person shall damage, deface,
cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark,
pick the flowers, fruits, berries or seeds, of any tree or plant,
nor shall any person attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to
any tree or plant, except that a treestand may be permitted on certain
properties as designated and authorized by the Township Committee
in connection with the Township of Raritan Wildlife Management Program
to be adopted by resolution of the Raritan Township Committee, as
such resolution may be amended from time to time.
B. No person shall mark, deface,
disfigure, injure, tamper with, or displace or remove any building,
bridge, table, bench, fireplace, railing, paving or paving material,
water line or other public utilities or parts or appurtenances thereof,
sign, notice or placard, whether temporary or permanent, monument,
stake, post or other boundary marker, or other structure or equipment,
facilities or property or appurtenances whatsoever.
C. No person shall throw, discharge,
or otherwise place or caused to be placed in the waters or streams
any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may
result in the pollution of said waters.
D. No person shall bring in or shall
dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes,
cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse or other trash. All
such items shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these are
provided; where receptacles are not provided, all such rubbish or
waste shall be carried away from the open space and recreation area
by the person responsible for its presence, and properly disposed
of elsewhere.
E. No person shall possess, use or
consume any alcoholic beverage or controlled dangerous substance or
related paraphernalia, as such terms are defined in New Jersey Statutes.
F. Animals.
(1)Â No
person shall allow a dog, cat or other animal to run at large. All
such animals shall be restrained at all times on adequate leashes
not greater than six feet in length. All persons bringing such animals
to the open space and recreation areas shall have in their possession
at all times, appropriate sanitary means, including but not limited
to shovels or other implements and containers, or disposal bags, and
such person shall immediately remove and dispose of all feces or droppings
deposited by the dog or other animal. This requirement shall not apply
to blind persons using dogs as guides.
[Amended 11-18-2020 by Ord. No. 20-30]
(2)Â Horses
shall be allowed only on trails or other areas specifically designated
for horseback riding.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-27]
(3)Â No
animals are permitted on any designated playing field at any time.
G. No person shall bring into, carry
or have in his or her possession, use or discharge any firearm or
weapon, as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(r), or as may be amended, unless
the firearm or weapon is being used in accordance with the Township
of Raritan wildlife management program to be adopted by a resolution
of the Raritan Township Committee, as such resolution may be amended
from time to time.
H. No person shall bring into, carry
or have in his or her possession, use, set off or otherwise cause
to explode or discharge or burn, any firecracker, torpedo, rocket
or other firework or explosive or inflammable material, except as
previously authorized by resolution of the Township Committee.
I. No person shall ignite or attempt
to ignite a fire except in such areas and under such regulations as
may be designated. No such fires shall be ignited or attempted to
be ignited except in a camp stove or fireplace provided for that purpose
at that time.
J. No person shall engage in loud,
boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language,
or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to cause a
breach of the public peace.
K. No person shall ride a bicycle,
scooter or roller blades without reasonable regard for the safety
of others, nor shall any person ride a bicycle, scooter or roller
blades on any playing field or playing surface.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-27]
L. No owner or driver of a motor
vehicle shall cause the vehicle to stand or park anywhere outside
designated parking spaces.
M. No person shall operate or use
within the open space or recreational areas, any all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs), four-wheelers/three-wheelers, skateboards, minibikes, dirt
bikes, snowmobiles or other such-type vehicles, except for Township
authorized vehicles.
N. No person shall enter or leave
any open space or recreational area except through established entrance
or exit ways, or as directed by the Superintendent of the Raritan
Township Department of Public Works.
O. No person shall interfere with
or fail to obey any police officer, Park Ranger, Animal Control Officer
or open space and recreational area personnel in the proper performance
of their duties.
P. Persons and organizations may
reserve a facility within an open space or recreation area for limited
specific use on forms available through the Township. Such reservation
and permission to use the facility shall be in the sole discretion
and continuing jurisdiction of the Township, and subject to the rules
and regulations imposed herein and such other conditions related to
public health, safety and well-being imposed by the Township. Fees
paid to reserve an area are nonrefundable unless the Township deems
the cancellation of activities on any field or facility is necessary
due to weather conditions or otherwise, or to protect the public health,
safety and welfare, and to prevent harm to life or property. The reserving
party assumes all risk arising from inclement weather or cancellations
of any kind. If the Township does not cancel a reservation, the reserving
party shall use its best judgment concerning cancellations due to
inclement weather. Under no circumstances may any person or persons
operate a business from an open space or recreational facility without
the express, written approval of the Township Committee.
Q. All groups using fields shall
remove their personal property, including, but not limited to, bases
and other equipment. The Township shall not be responsible for personal
property left unattended.
R. Any trash generated by members
of a group or an organization must be removed and/or deposited in
the trash receptacles at the site.
S. Proper use of fields and/or facilities
is required. Any damage or alteration of the same, other than from
normal use, shall be considered a violation of these rules and regulations
and shall be prosecuted as such, in addition to reimbursing the Township
for repairs of all damage and related costs.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-27]
T. Parking of motor vehicles shall
only be in parking lots at each facility specifically designated for
such use. No vehicles are to be parked or driven on any turf area
or areas designated for other specific activities, except for Township-authorized
vehicles and as allowed by the Superintendent of the Raritan Township
Department of Public Works.
U. Facility reservation and permitting:
(1) A permit issued by the Township is required for all organized use and reservation of facilities as defined in §Â
334-4. All groups and organizations must obtain a permit prior to using the facility. The permit must be on hand and available for inspection by appropriate Township personnel while the facility is in use. Failure to follow these procedures will be cause for removal from the facility.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-27]
(2)Â Organized use includes, but
is not limited to, facilities that will be used by teams or organizations
for practices, games, social gatherings and other passive or active
recreational use.
(4)Â Any and all use of facilities for events intended to entertain persons, including, but not limited to, carnivals, races, festivals, concerts and the like which are open to the general public and where the attendance will exceed the number of persons normally permitted at the recreational facility will be required to apply for a public assembly license in accordance with Chapter
193, Assemblies, Public.
(5)Â A certificate of insurance
as proof of current liability coverage must be provided, except in
the case of individuals or family users who shall execute a waiver
of liability to the Township in lieu of providing a certificate. Said
insurance certificate must include:
(a)Â Liability limits of $1,000,000
for each occurrence for personal injury and bodily injury/property
damage.
(b)Â It must indicate that athletic
participation liability coverage is included for use of the Township
facilities.
(c)Â Raritan Township must be
specifically named as an additional insured.
(d)Â It must indicate that the
user's policies will be primary for the additional insured.
(6)Â All adults associated with
youth club or sports organizations, whether employees or volunteers,
must complete criminal background checks and be found to have no disqualifying
events prior to reserving and receiving permits to use Township facilities.
It is the responsibility of the club or organization to obtain the
criminal background checks and to provide proof of no disqualifying
events if required by the Township.
[Added 12-21-2021 by Ord.
No. 21-27]
V. Failure to comply with these rules
and regulations, in addition to any other penalties provided herein,
will deny the person or group the right to reserve or use facilities
in the future.
W. No person making use of any open
space or recreational area shall do, perform or engage in or encourage
others to do, perform or engage in any act or activity that is prohibited
by the laws of the State of New Jersey or ordinances of the Township.
X. No person or persons shall at
any time engage in any type of golf activity, such as but not limited
to driving golf balls, ice hockey, roller hockey, or operate remote-controlled
model airplanes in any open space or municipal parks in the Township.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-27]
Y. Smoking of tobacco or cannabis
or the use of tobacco or cannabis products is prohibited in all open
space, recreation areas and municipal parks in the Township.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-27]
[Amended by Ord. No. 06-37; Ord. No. 07-5; 11-18-2020 by Ord. No. 20-30; 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-27]
A. Reservations and the associated fees are required to use all athletic
fields, sport courts and pavilions located in Township recreation
areas and parks. A Facility Use Form must be completed and submitted
to the Raritan Township Department of Public Works to request the
use of all fields, courts, and pavilions.
B. Resident, nonresident reservation fees. In order to qualify for the
resident reservation fee, teams or leagues, as the case may be, must
provide a certified roster that consists of a minimum of 75% residents
from Raritan Township and/or Flemington Borough. Organized teams from
Hunterdon Central Regional High School and the Flemington-Raritan
Regional School District are considered Township organizations when
determining fees for field use.
C. Nonprofit, for-profit entities reservation fees.
(1)Â Reservation fees for for-profit entities will be $50 per hour, regardless
of whether the individual requesting the reservation is a resident
or a nonresident.
(2)Â Nonprofit organizations must present their 501c3.
D. Per game time limits.
(1)Â Baseball, softball and soccer fields: two-and-one-half-hour maximum
time limit per game.
(2)Â Basketball courts: two-hour maximum time limit per game.
E. Seasonal reservations. All fields and courts can be reserved for
the season:
(1)Â Spring (April 1 to June 15).
(2)Â Summer (June 16 to August 31).
(3)Â Fall (September 1 to November 15).
F. Pavilion rentals. Pavilions are available for partial day (four-hour
maximum) or full day (eight-hour maximum) rentals.
G. Reservation fee schedule.
Facility
|
Resident
|
Nonresident
|
For-Profit Entities
|
---|
Baseball field
|
$15 game/$25 day/$300 season
|
$30 game/$50 day/$600 season
|
$50 hour
|
Softball field
|
$15 game/$25 day/$300 season
|
$30 game/$50 day/$600 season
|
$50 hour
|
Soccer field
|
$15 game/$25 day/$300 season
|
$30 game/$50 day/$600 season
|
$50 hour
|
Basketball court
|
$5 game/$100 season
|
$10 game/$200 season
|
$50 hour
|
Pavilion
|
$35 partial day/$50 full day
|
$70 partial day/$100 full day
|
$50 hour
|
The following speed limit is established for all vehicles within
all open space and recreational areas of the Township: 15 miles per
hour.
[Amended by Ord. No. 06-37]
The Township Police Department, Park Ranger and/or any open
space or recreational area personnel shall have the authority to eject
from the open space or recreational area, any person acting in violation
of this chapter and shall have the authority to seize or confiscate
and impound any item or device prohibited under this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 06-37]
Any person or group who violates or neglects to comply with any provision of this chapter or any regulation promulgated hereunder shall be subject to the penalties set forth in §Â
1-5, General penalty. Each and every day that such a violation continues shall be considered a separate and specific violation of this chapter.