[Adopted 6-13-2006 by Ord. No. 169; amended in its entirety 2-25-2021 by Ord. No. 234]
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Bethel Township Parks and Playground Property Ordinance."
This article is created to cover the use, operation and conduct of persons using the public parks and playgrounds of the Township.
The following regulations shall govern the use of parks and playgrounds:
A. 
No use shall be made of a Bethel Township park or playground except between the hours of dawn and dusk unless a permit for such use has been obtained from the Township in accordance with this article.
B. 
No vehicle shall enter or leave a park except by designated entrances or exits as provided for such purpose.
C. 
The possession or consumption of alcohol on Township parklands or playgrounds is prohibited.
D. 
No gambling or any obscene or indecent act or any abusive, threatening, indecent or profane language or any conduct that may annoy others shall be allowed in a park.
E. 
No person shall park any vehicle in any portion of a park except in spaces defined and marked for parking purposes. No person shall occupy a parked vehicle in a park after dark.
F. 
No person shall scatter, drop or leave any paper, rag, garbage or other rubbish anywhere in a park, except in receptacles provided for such purpose.
G. 
No person shall injure, damage or deface any buildings, structures, fences, playground equipment or other property in a park.
H. 
No person shall injure, deface or destroy any public signs or notices posted in a park.
I. 
No advertisement, placard or notice, except public notices, shall be posted in a park.
J. 
No person shall light or permit a fire to burn in a park except in fireplaces or other devices provided for such purposes by the Township.
K. 
No person shall allow a dog or other domesticated animal or pet to occupy a park unless under leash. All owners or other persons in control are responsible for cleaning up after their animal and properly disposing of the waste.
L. 
No person shall operate minibikes, dirt cycles and/or other motor-driven vehicles on park property except for the purpose of park maintenance and upon written permission of the Township.
M. 
Use of skateboards is prohibited on park property. Roller-blading is restricted to park walking trails. Roller-blading must be done in a manner that respects the use of the walking trail by others.
N. 
No person shall throw stones or other missiles on park property.
O. 
No person shall solicit alms or subscriptions in a park.
P. 
No horses shall be permitted in a park area.
A. 
The use of a park or playground, except for Township governmental use, for any of the following purposes is prohibited unless a special permit is first obtained from the Township:
(1) 
Sale of merchandise or commercial activities.
(2) 
Use of fireworks or other dangerous activity.
(3) 
Musical or theatrical entertainment or events.
(4) 
Overnight camping.
(5) 
Parties or gathering in excess of 25 persons for any purpose whatsoever.
(6) 
Use by an organization or group other than a Township governmental function.
B. 
Application for permits for the use of the park or playground shall be issued by Township. Applications must be submitted using forms prepared by the Township. A unique permit shall be issued for each proposed use.
C. 
The Board of Supervisors shall set a permit fee schedule at its annual reorganization meeting. In the event the Board does not set a permit fee schedule at its annual reorganization meeting, the prior year's fee schedule shall carry forward.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current fees are on file in the Township offices.
D. 
The deadline for applications for league use of any fields shall be February 15 for spring/summer sports and July 1 for fall/winter sports. Any application for any other use of any park shall be submitted no fewer than seven days in advance of the time the applicant intends to use the same, and any application submitted thereafter may be summarily denied by the Township. The Township, in its discretion, may choose to review and approve applications submitted fewer than seven days in advance of the time the applicant intends to use the same.
E. 
Any person, group or organization to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any person or persons or to park property by reason of negligence, conduct or fault of the applicant or his/her servants, agents or employees.
F. 
Any person, group or organization requesting a permit, upon request by the Township, shall be required to demonstrate by appropriate documentation evidence of property damage and personal liability insurance or other approved evidence in case of self-insurance. The amount of insurance shall be determined by the Township and shall be commensurate with the activity for which the permit is requested.
A. 
Any person, group, organization or corporation who shall violate any provisions of this article, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each item of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
Members of the Township Police Department and State Police Department are authorized to enforce any and all segments of this article.