[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Schuylkill 7-1-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-04. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the "Park Ordinance."
As used in this chapter, the following term shall have the meaning indicated:
PARK
Includes and refers to all Township-owned parks and open space.
A. 
Hours. Parks shall be open daily between sunrise and sunset. No person, other than authorized employees of the Township, shall be in the park at any time between sunset and sunrise, unless approval has been issued under § 242-5.
B. 
Township property. No person shall damage, deface, destroy, remove, or move any park property, including, but not limited to, signs, structures, or equipment. No person shall vandalize, cut, remove, damage, or destroy any tree, plant, shrub, turf, rock or disturb any wildlife. No person shall enter any building or structure that is not open to and regularly used by the public. Climbing on any structure, unless specifically designed for such, is prohibited.
C. 
Pets/animals.
(1) 
Properly licensed pets are permitted only when restrained by a leash.
(2) 
Persons shall be responsible for cleaning up and immediately disposing of animal waste.
(3) 
Pet owners are responsible for all injuries inflicted by their pet to any person or other pet.
(4) 
The provisions of § 242-3C(1) and (2) shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person, or to a service dog used to assist any other physically handicapped person.
D. 
Disposal of waste. No person shall dispose of waste or garbage in parks except in trash receptacles.
E. 
Fires. No person shall set or maintain any fire in parks. No charcoal or gas grills are permitted unless approval has been issued under § 242-5.
F. 
Motor vehicles and parking. Parking within parks is prohibited, except in authorized areas during normal park hours. Overnight parking is prohibited. Motor vehicles are prohibited, except those vehicles used for park maintenance, emergency service vehicles used during an emergency, or motorized wheelchairs for the disabled.
G. 
Historic artifacts. No person shall remove, damage, or destroy any historical artifacts. No person shall use a device to search for or excavate artifacts, such as, but not limited to, metal detectors.
H. 
Firearms. No person shall discharge any firearm or weapon within any park.
I. 
Disorderly conduct, including the use of indecent language, excessive noise or sound amplification equipment, is prohibited.
J. 
Smoking, vaping products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or other controlled substances are prohibited.
K. 
Swimming, wading, or ice skating is prohibited in or on any body of water.
L. 
Golfing is prohibited.
M. 
Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates and scooters are prohibited.
N. 
Overnight camping, hunting, shooting, archery, special events, horseback riding are prohibited unless approval has been issued under § 242-5.
Police, Code Enforcement Officers or the Township Manager are hereby authorized to enforce all rules and regulations established by the Board of Supervisors of Schuylkill Township.
Permits for special use of Township parks shall be issued by the Township. The Township may enact a Fee Schedule for such permits.[1] All monies received from these fees will be entered into the Township's general fund and be designated for Township park maintenance and improvements, appropriate Township-sponsored recreation programs within the confines of its parks, or at other sites and facilities approved by the Township, and for the general fund of the Township. The Township may also require a deposit to insure proper cleanup of facilities as a condition of the issuance of a permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is on file in the Township offices.
A. 
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter, upon being found liable therefor in civil enforcement proceedings, shall pay a fine of not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the Township in enforcement of this chapter. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of the determination of the violation by the Magisterial District Judge and/or court. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of the civil procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
Parents and/or legal guardians of person(s) less than 18 years of age will be held liable for any/all fines assessed, and/or damages incurred by those persons to Township park properties.
This chapter shall become effective within five days of its adoption.