[Amended in entirety 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661. Prior history includes Ord. No. 3619; Ord. No. 3659.]
[Amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings given herein:
DIRECTOR
The Director of the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
PARK
A park, reservation, playground, recreation center, field, or any other area in the Township of Belleville owned or used by the Township and devoted to active or passive recreation.
PARK PREMISES
Any parkway, driveway, parking lot or other area in the Township of Belleville owned or used by the Township and incidental to the use or operation of any park.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
[Amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
All publicly owned playgrounds and fields shall open at sunrise (unless otherwise posted) and shall close 1/2 hour after sunset throughout the entire year. No person shall be permitted upon the premises after closing hours, as set forth above, except with the specific permission of the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Any person who shall be found on said premises, except as permitted herein, shall be considered a trespasser, and will be punished pursuant to the provisions of this section.
[Amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
a. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, in a park or upon park premises, to:
1. 
Willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, or displace or remove any building, tables, benches, fireplaces, fences, railings, paving or paving materials, water lines or other public utilities or parts or appurtenances thereof, signs, notices, or placards, whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts or other boundary markers or other structures or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenance whatsoever, either real or personal.
2. 
Fail to cooperate in maintaining rest rooms, washrooms, and locker rooms in a neat and sanitary condition.
3. 
Dig or remove any soil, rock, stones, trees, shrubs, or plants.
4. 
Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary in character.
5. 
Damage, cut, carve, transplant, or remove any tree or plant, or injure the bark or pick the flowers or seeds of any tree or plant; nor dig in or otherwise disturb grass areas or in any other way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.
6. 
Climb any tree, stand on any bench, or sit upon monuments, vases, fountains, rail fences or upon any other property not designated or customarily used for such purposes.
7. 
Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile, or bird; nor remove or have in possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs or nest of any young of any reptile or bird.
8. 
Throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the water of any fountain, pond, lake, stream, or other body of water in or adjacent to any park, or tributary, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into such waters, any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of said waters.
9. 
Have brought in or shall dump, deposit, or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse or other trash. No such refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters in or contiguous to any park, or left anywhere on the grounds thereof, but shall be placed in the proper receptacles where the same are provided; where receptacles are not so provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and property disposed of elsewhere.
10. 
Any wheeled vehicle or wheeled apparatus of any kind, including bicycles, tricycles, roller skates, skateboards, roller blades, carts, shopping carts, or any kind of wheeled or motorized transportation unless the rider:
(a) 
Operates the wheeled vehicle on the vehicular road or path designated for that purpose.
(b) 
Operates the wheeled vehicle with reasonable regard for the safety of others.
(c) 
Signals at all turns.
(d) 
Passes to the left of all vehicles being overtaken.
(e) 
Passes to the right of all vehicles which are approaching.
This prohibition shall not apply to authorized use of such wheeled vehicles or things by the Township, Board of Education, or school employees, infant strollers, and assistance wheelchairs used by disabled persons.
11. 
Leave bicycles lying on the ground or pavement or set against trees or in any other place or position where other persons may trip over or be injured by them.
12. 
Build or attempt to build a barbecue or fire except in such areas and under such regulations as may be designated by the Director. No person shall drop, throw, or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes, or cigars, tobacco paper, or other flammable material within any park area or on any highway, road, or street abutting or contiguous thereto. Barbecues and fires are defined as any pits, containers, grills, or other devices used with or without combustibles, for lighting and maintaining a fire or open flame, which fire or open flame is used for heating, cooking, or any other purpose.
13. 
Paste, glue, tack, or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement, or inscription whatsoever, nor erect or cause to be erected any sign whatsoever on any public lands or highways or roads adjacent to a park.
14. 
Expose or offer for sale any article or thing, nor station or place any stand, cart, or vehicle for the transportation, sale, or display of any such article or thing except when specifically authorized.
15. 
Coast or sleigh ride except in places specifically designated by the Director.
16. 
Loiter or congregate between the hours of 1/2 hour after sunset and continuing through 1/2 hour before sunrise. An exception to the aforementioned provision would be an activity authorized by the Recreation Department and approved by the Director who shall establish reasonable rules governing the conduct of such activities, including the hours of commencement and termination of those events.
17. 
Play or practice the game of golf in any manner whatsoever.
18. 
Curb his or her dog on park property at any time.
19. 
Roller skate, ice skate, fish, or use any boat or canoe, raft, or similar device except in such places as may be designated by the Director or his duly appointed representative.
20. 
Polish, wash, or service any motor vehicle, except in the case of an emergency.
21. 
Use of any court, track, ballfield, or other recreational facility except as provided for in § 35-5.
22. 
Smoking, as such activity is defined in § 3-39A.1.
[Amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
a. 
No motor vehicles shall:
1. 
Be parked overnight in parks or upon park premises under the jurisdiction of Parks and Public Property.
2. 
Be in parks or upon park premises at any time that the parks or premises are not open.
3. 
Be parked in parks or upon park premises except in such locations or areas as may be designated by the Director or his duly designated representative.
4. 
Be parked in parks or upon park premises at any time except incidental to and in connection with a permitted recreational or social use of the parks or park premises, or in connection with an event sponsored by the Township of Belleville.
b. 
Any person who violates this section may be issued a summons or the vehicle may be towed, or both, at the expense of the operator.
[Amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
a. 
No athletic games or other group activity may be engaged in except in such areas and at such times as shall be designated by the Director.
b. 
Permits. A permit shall be obtained from the Township Manager or his duly authorized representative for all organized sporting events or other group recreational activity.
1. 
Application. A person seeking issuance of a permit hereunder shall file an application with the Township Manager or his duly authorized representative. The application shall state:
(a) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(b) 
The name and address of the person, persons, corporation, or association sponsoring the activity, if any.
(c) 
The day and hours for which the permit is desired.
(d) 
The park or portion thereof for which such permit is desired.
(e) 
An estimate of the anticipated attendance.
(f) 
Any other information which the Township Manager shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should issue hereunder.
2. 
Standards for issuance. The Township Manager or his duly appointed representative shall issue a permit when he finds that:
(a) 
The proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park.
(b) 
The proposed activity and use will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of public health, welfare, safety, and recreation.
(c) 
The proposed activity or use is not unreasonably anticipated to incite violence, crime, or disorderly conduct.
(d) 
The proposed activity will not entail unusual, extraordinary, or burdensome expense or police operation by the Township.
(e) 
The facilities desired have not been reserved for other use at the day and hour required in the application.
3. 
Priority for permit issuance. All programs run by the Recreation Department shall have the first option for obtaining permits for use of any park or park premises. Any other persons, groups, or entities may obtain a permit or permits for use of recreation facilities provided that the Recreation Department has determined that granting of said permit or permits will not interfere with programs run by the Department of Recreation which will be using the facilities for games or practices, or for general maintenance of the facilities. Township residents and businesses located within the Township shall have priority over non-residents and businesses located outside of the Township should applications be received for the same park at the same date and time.
4. 
Effect of permit. A permittee shall be bound by all park rules and regulations fully as though the same were inserted in said permits.
5. 
Liability of permittee. The organization, person or persons to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for any loss, damage, or injury sustained by any person whatever by reason of the negligence of the person or persons to whom such permit shall have been issued.
6. 
Revocation. The Township Manager or his duly authorized representative shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon a finding of violation of any rule or ordinance or upon good cause.
[Amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
The fees to be charged for permits, sponsored programs and the use of facilities, including custodial care and lights, are set forth in § 2-9.4d.
[Amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
Any person violating any provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit and pay a penalty of not more than $500 or be confined to the county jail for a period not exceeding 90 days, or both.
[Ord. No. 3017; amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
The name of the playground located on 10-44 Riverdale Avenue in the Township of Belleville, County of Essex, State of New Jersey is hereby named "Township Clerk Mary Lou Hood Memorial Park." The appropriate maps of the Township of Belleville, shall be amended to reflect said change.
[Ord. No. 3132; amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
The name of the Belleville Recreation House located at 407 Joralemon Street in the Township of Belleville, County of Essex, State of New Jersey be and is hereby named "Robert Haug Memorial Recreation House."
The appropriate maps of the Township of Belleville, shall be amended to reflect said change.
[Ord. No. 3135; amended 9-13-2022 by Ord. No. 3661]
The name of the Belleville Varsity Baseball Field located at 100 Passaic Avenue in the Township of Belleville, County of Essex, State of New Jersey be and is hereby named "George Zanfini Varsity Baseball Field."
The appropriate maps of the Township of Belleville, shall be amended to reflect said change.