The purpose of this chapter is to establish rules and regulations
governing the use of Township-owned park and recreation areas.
The following rules and regulations are hereby established for
the management and protection of the Township's parks and recreation
areas (collectively referred to herein as the "park" or "parks").
These regulations apply to all real property, including land, waters,
structures, buildings and all other facilities, owned by West Nantmeal
Township and used, operated and maintained by it for park and recreation
purposes.
A. Hours of operation. The parks shall be open daily to the public from
sunrise to sundown. At sundown, all activities in the parks, with
the exception of those activities under the direct supervision of
the Township or police, or by those persons issued validly existing
permits or other written authorization by the Township as hereinafter
provided, shall cease; and all unauthorized persons in the parks shall
promptly leave. Except as above provided, no person, other than authorized
Township employees, shall be in the parks between the hours of sundown
and sunrise.
B. Protection of park property. No person shall injure, deface, remove,
cut, dig or damage any of the trees, plants, shrubs, turf, earth,
sand, buildings, structures, fixtures or other facilities located
within the parks.
C. Removal of park equipment. No person shall remove any bench, seat
or table or other recreational equipment or facility from the parks
or change the location thereof without the written permission of the
Township.
D. Disorderly conduct prohibited. No person shall conduct himself/herself
within the parks by making or causing to be made any loud, boisterous
or unseemly noise or disturbance which annoys or has the consequence
of annoying any other person lawfully in the parks. Any person violating
this provision or who violates any provision of the Pennsylvania Crimes
Code or any Township ordinance proscribing disorderly conduct,
harassment, disturbance of the peace or other crime against persons
or property may be immediately expelled from the parks by Township
staff or a police officer.
E. Park use application and approvals required.
(1) Any group or organization composed of 25 or more persons are required
to meet with a Township representative no less than one week prior
to holding an organized function within the parks, and also complete
the park use application and comply with the additional requirements
(including fees and deposits) for reservations as set forth in the
park use application, which may be updated from time to time by the
Township.
(2) Park use applications shall be used to reserve certain facilities
within the parks, and in order to better manage and accommodate larger
gatherings at the parks. Park use applications shall specify location
or locations within the park where such gathering, meeting or activity
will be held. Use of any park facilities or areas not authorized shall
constitute sufficient grounds for expulsion of the activity from the
parks. In the event that refuse containers have been provided by the
Township within the parks, they may be utilized for disposal of such
refuse by larger groups if they are sufficiently empty to accommodate
the amount of refuse produced by the activity. In no event shall refuse
be allowed to spill from Township-provided containers or left in and
around the containers or at other locations in the parks.
F. Vehicular restrictions. Except in designated parking areas, with
the exception of motorized wheelchairs, motor vehicles and motorized
equipment of any kind shall not be allowed on park grounds without
prior written permission of the Township, provided that this preclusion
shall not apply to Township vehicles used for park maintenance or
other necessary activity approved by the Township.
G. Aircraft prohibited. No person shall operate, take off, fly, or land
any manned or unmanned aircraft, including, but not limited to, ultralight
vehicles/aircrafts, drones, model airplanes, or hot-air balloons,
within, on or over any parks or other Township-owned lands.
H. Sound equipment. Sound-amplification equipment shall be permitted
in the parks only by prior written permission of the Township.
I. Sales and structures prohibited. No person shall set up any booth,
table, stand, vehicle or other structure whatsoever within the parks
without the prior written consent of the Township, which shall have
authority and discretion to refuse such consent in any instance. No
person shall sell or offer for sale any object or merchandise or any
other object of value, whether corporeal or incorporeal, in the parks,
unless so specified by a permit which is first obtained for such purpose
from the Township.
J. Disposal of waste materials. No person shall dispose of any organic
or inorganic waste, garbage, hazardous substances or other refuse
(hereafter "waste materials") in the parks, except in the Township-supplied
receptacles designated for that purpose, provided that no such waste
materials shall be disposed of in such receptacles unless resulting
from activities by persons lawfully using the parks for their intended
purpose. All persons using the parks shall dispose of all such waste
materials left by them in such Township-supplied receptacles. No person
shall bring into, leave in or throw, cast, lay, drop or cause to be
discharged into or on the parks or their waters any waste materials
or sick, diseased or dead animals.
K. Restriction of animals. No person shall allow any animal owned by
him, in his custody or under his control to run at large in the parks.
All dogs in the parks must be restrained by a leash. All persons exercising
control of animals in the parks shall be responsible for immediately
cleaning up and disposing of any animal waste resulting from their
presence in the parks. Horses are strictly prohibited from the parks
unless otherwise approved, in writing, by the Township.
L. Posted rules and regulations. All persons shall adhere to the rules
and regulations established by the Board of Supervisors, which are
posted by the Township in the parks and which govern and restrict
conduct therein. No person shall injure, deface or destroy any notice,
rule or regulation posted at any place within the parks. Any person
violating this subsection shall be subject to expulsion from the parks
and to prosecution, if warranted, under the law.
M. Distributing or displaying advertising materials prohibited. No person
shall distribute advertising materials in the parks or post, place
or distribute any handbill, sign, notice, placard or other device
on any tree, fountain, post, railing, fence, building or any other
structure in or surrounding the parks nor display any advertising
material of any kind on any vehicle within the parks.
N. Setting of fires prohibited. No person shall ignite, start, set or
maintain any fire or perform or conduct any cooking activities in
the parks except in stoves, grills or fireplaces provided and maintained
by the Township for that purpose.
O. Certain fireworks prohibited. No person shall fire, discharge or
set off any fireworks or firecrackers of any nature whatsoever in
the parks. Special fireworks displays may take place under the auspices
and direction of the Township or upon issuance of a special permit
by the Township to a person authorized by state law to conduct such
display.
P. Intoxicating beverages prohibited. Intoxicating beverages are prohibited
in the parks. No person shall bring any intoxicating beverages into
the parks, either for his own use or for the use of any other person.
Violation of this provision shall subject the violator to expulsion
from the parks.
Q. Recreational activities. Activities, such as baseball, football,
soccer, tennis, volleyball and other games and recreational activities,
may be played in the parks in locations designated by the Township
and posted for such purposes. Such activities may be required to adhere
to rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Board of Supervisors
from time to time. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, golf and
golfing activities are strictly prohibited.
R. Smoking shall be prohibited in the parks. No smoking is permitted
with the parks. Violation of this provision shall subject the violator
to expulsion from the parks.
S. Hunting. No hunting or hunting activities, including but not limited
to bow hunting, black powder, and other firearms, shall be permitted
in the parks.
T. Additional regulations. The Board of Supervisors shall have the authority
to establish such additional rules and regulations from time to time
as are necessary, in its opinion, for the proper governance of the
parks. Such regulations shall become effective when approved by resolution
duly adopted by the Supervisors, without the necessity of inclusion
in this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits the violation of any provision
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding
brought before a Magisterial District Judge under the Pennsylvania
Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall
be subject to the payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, plus
the costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant
may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county prison for a term of
not more than 90 days. Each section of this chapter violated shall
constitute a separate offense, and each day or portion thereof in
which a violation of this chapter is found to exist shall constitute
a separate offense, each of which violations shall be punishable by
a separate fine imposed by the Magisterial District Judge of not more
than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution, or, upon default of payment
thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county
prison for a term of not more than 90 days. All fines and penalties
collected for the violation of this chapter shall be paid to the Township
Treasurer.