[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Chester as Art. 921 of the 1978 Codified Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 10-17-1979 by Ord. No. 22-1979; 12-12-2007 by Ord. No. 18-2007; 6-13-2012 by Ord. No. 8-2012]
The following regulations governing the use of parks, playgrounds and recreation centers within the City are hereby adopted:
A. 
No person shall sell, use, possess or transport any intoxicating liquor within the limits of any park, playground or recreation place.
B. 
No person shall gamble in any form.
C. 
No person shall wash, clean, polish or repair any vehicle or any other article or item of personal property.
D. 
No person shall ignite any fire of any kind except where authorized.
E. 
No person shall operate any truck, bus or commercial vehicle of any kind except by permission.
F. 
No person shall operate or park any vehicle of any kind including motorcycles or mini bikes except on paved roads or designated parking areas.
G. 
No person shall indulge in any threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language or commit any obscene, indecent or disorderly act, or commit any nuisance.
H. 
No person shall operate any vehicle including motorcycles and minibikes to exceed the posted speed limit.
I. 
All vehicles including motorcycles and minibikes shall comply with all local and State regulations.
J. 
No person shall conduct or participate in any games, athletic activities, sports, etc., except in designated areas and such activities are subject to such rules and regulations prescribed by the Department of Parks and Public Property.
K. 
No person shall ride or lead any horse or pony except by permission. No person shall allow any dog for which he is the owner or possessor to be at large.
L. 
No person shall disturb, annoy, strike, injure or kill any animal or bird.
M. 
No person shall cut, break, injure or deface the trees, shrubs, plants, turf, buildings, structures, fowl, signs, streams, fountains, springs or any other park, playground or recreation center property.
N. 
No person shall possess any firearms, knives, air guns, B-B guns, slingshots or other weapons.
O. 
No person shall erect or maintain or distribute any signs, advertisements, circulars or other printed matter.
P. 
No person shall collect or solicit any funds or distribute any literature.
Q. 
No person shall sell or offer for sale any articles of any kind or any food except by permit.
R. 
No person shall participate in group activities other than normal park activity.
S. 
No person shall conduct or participate in any parade, procession or funeral except by permit.
T. 
No person shall bring into or deposit any trash, refuse, earth, building material or similar material into any park, playground or recreation center.
U. 
No person shall deposit any refuse incidental to the proper and authorized use of the parks, playgrounds and recreation centers except in containers provided for that purpose.
V. 
No person shall park any vehicle anywhere after dark in any public park or recreation place.
W. 
No person shall golf at any time.
X. 
No person shall be in any park after curfew time.
Y. 
No person shall conduct or participate in park activities from Edgmont Avenue to Houston Street.
Z. 
No person shall conduct or participate in any baseball or softball game or use the picnic areas unless a permit is obtained from the Bureau of Recreation.
AA. 
No person shall use or participate in any activity using skateboards or roller blades, or any other similar recreational device, except in designated areas of the parks or playgrounds for such activity.
BB. 
No person shall use any tobacco product in any form within 50 feet of a playground, swimming pool, or any court used for basketball or tennis, or any field used for baseball, football, or soccer.
[Amended 8-9-1899; 7-11-1984]
The following tracts or pieces of land donated to the City, which description by reference will more fully appear at large in the several deeds therefor, shall be laid out, improved and maintained forever as public parks for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the inhabitants of the City.
A. 
Crozer Park and Chester Park. Those several parcels of land located on Concord Road, and extending to Chester Creek, as described in three several deeds from John P. Crozer and wife to the City, shall be known and designated as "Crozer Park," and those several parcels of land donated to the City by several other persons, located partly in the first ward, and partly in the Township of Nether Providence, shall be known and designated as "Chester Park."
B. 
William Penn Landing Park. A public park is hereby made and established, consisting of the land lying within the block or square bounded on the west by Penn Street, on the south by Front Street, on the north by Second Street and on the east by the Chester River in accordance with a plan or plot on file with the City Engineer and placed upon the official plan of the City and designated as the official plan of the "William Penn Landing Park," particularly bounded and described according to the plot or plan thereof prepared by F. G. Hartvigson, City Engineer, dated July 10, 1945, as more fully appears in Ordinance No. 27-1945.
C. 
Veterans Memorial Park. A public park is hereby made and established consisting of the land lying within the area bounded by Engle Street on the east; Ward Street on the west; Ninth Street on the north; and Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way on the south, in accordance with the official plan of the "Veterans Memorial Park," particularly bounded and described according to the plot or plan prepared by F. G. Hartvigson, City Engineer, dated August 15, 1947, which plan is on file with the City Engineer and placed upon the official plan of the City, all as more fully appears from Ordinance No. 39-1947.
D. 
Thurlow Park. All that certain lot of ground belonging to the City, bounded on the north by Fourth Street, on the west by Jeffery Street, on the east by Morton Street and on the south by lands of the school district of the City shall be held and used as a public park of the City, to be known as "Thurlow Park" and the same is hereby placed in the care, charge and control of the Department of Parks and Public Property of the City for the purpose of improving the same, and providing the necessary rules and regulations for its care and use. Buildings now erected thereon shall not be altered or destroyed without the prior consent of Council.
The Director of Parks and Public Property is hereby authorized to appoint and dismiss, subject to the approval of Council, park guards and employees at and for the several City parks.
Permission is hereby granted for the erection of a suitable monument with appropriate inscription to designate and perpetuate the landing place of William Penn in Pennsylvania, on the north side of Front Street, about 50 feet east of Penn Street, on and within the curbline.
A. 
Maintenance. The Old City hall shall be perpetually maintained in good condition without alterations or additions, and shall in all respects be cared for and preserved by the City at its own cost and expense. The City shall also heat and light such building.
B. 
Use. The Old City Hall shall not be rented or be permitted to be used for any business or private purpose but shall be used only to exhibit articles and things of historic interest and for meetings of a purely historical nature, for which no charge shall be made. Council shall grant permission to hold such meetings, and to use any part of such building for the exhibition of historic articles, things and relics. The City shall have supervision and control of such building, and shall arrange for the character, time and manner of its use.
C. 
Care. The Old City Hall shall be under the jurisdiction and care of the Director of Parks and Public Property, as other public property is under his jurisdiction and care.
[Amended 6-13-1996 by Ord. No. 21-1996]
A. 
Permit required. All persons or teams that want to reserve the use of any ball field for an established schedule of use shall obtain a permit from the Director of the Department of Streets, Parks, and Public Improvements, or his/her designee.
B. 
Permit issuance. A permit shall only be issued for any four-month period that is requested by the applicant and determined to be available by the Director.
C. 
Permit fee. A fee of $300 shall be paid prior to the issuance of the permit.
D. 
Permit criteria.
(1) 
The application for the permit shall specify what field is being requested, during what time periods, and the applicant must provide proof of insurance in an amount to be designated by the Director sufficient to cover any injuries or harm sustained by anyone using the field as a result of the permit being issued.
(2) 
The holder of a permit shall ensure that all persons using the facility pursuant to the permit abide by all ordinances, rules and regulations regarding the use of City parks and recreation centers.
E. 
Enforcement. The Director or his/her designee, shall enforce this section.
[Amended 6-6-1990 by Ord. No. 4-1990]
Whoever violates any provision or regulation set forth in this chapter, or any provision of any rule or regulation adopted by the Director of Parks and Public Property pursuant to the authority granted by law, shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be fined not more than $600 and costs, and in default of payment thereof, shall be imprisoned not more than 90 days.