To promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, the Township of Upper Providence Board of Supervisors finds that it is in the best interest of the Township to enact rules and regulations governing its parks located within the Township of Upper Providence.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Providence 6-18-2007 by Ord. No. 473 (Ch. 120 of the 1990 Code); amended in its entirety 2-18-2025 by Ord. No. 610. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 10-28-2025 by Ord. No. 615]
A pedalcycle not more than 100 pounds with two or three wheels more than 11 inches in diameter, manufactured or assembled with an electric motor system rated at not more than 750 watts (one horsepower) and equipped with operable pedals and capable of a speed not more than 20 miles per hour on a level surface when powered by the motor source only. The term does not include wheelchairs or other power-driven mobility devices operated for or by individuals with mobility disabilities.
A passenger car, truck, motorcycle, or other vehicle that is allowed to travel on Pennsylvania highways and which is regulated by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.
Any park, playground, tot lot, bicycle and/or walking trail, nature preserve or sanctuary, picnic area, pavilion, skate park, athletic field, undeveloped public property and open space, and the grounds surrounding any public building owned, leased, maintained by or dedicated to Upper Providence Township. This term shall also include any trails or public amenities which have been dedicated to the Township or are open for use by the public.
Any person traveling on foot, including those using mobility aids such as wheelchairs or other power-driven mobility devices operated for or by individuals with mobility disabilities.
Any wheeled device having a gasoline, electric, or similar motor capable of carrying one or more persons for recreational purposes. This definition includes but is not limited to the following specific devices: dirt bikes; e-bikes; one-wheels (self-balancing electric skateboard with a single tire); motorized scooters and skateboards; minibikes; all-terrain vehicles ("ATV"); go-carts; and snowmobiles. This term shall not include motor vehicles or motorized devices utilized for business, maintenance, or governmental and law enforcement purposes operating with the approval of the Township. The term shall also be exclusive of wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility devices operated for or by individuals with mobility disabilities.
The Parks and Recreation Director shall have immediate charge of the use of all parks, park equipment and facilities; shall develop recreational programs under Township sponsorship; and shall regulate and issue permits for the use of parks by community groups. The Parks and Recreation Director may promulgate general regulations for the use of parks subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors and may act independently to cause the closure of any Township park when conditions warrant.
A.
It shall be unlawful to wash or make other than emergency repairs to any motor or other vehicle in any Township park.
B.
Except for those holding group permits, it shall be unlawful to engage in any organized group game, activity or instruction in any Township park, except in such places specifically provided and set apart for such use.
C.
It shall be unlawful to engage in fundraising, profitmaking or commercial activities in any Township park without a permit, which permits will only be issued to community-based organizations for an activity cosponsored by the Township and subject to restrictions and conditions which may be imposed by the Parks and Recreation Director.
D.
It shall be unlawful to trespass on adjacent lands of residents or to harass the owners thereof.
E.
No person shall be present in any Township park while under the influence of intoxicating beverages, drugs or any other controlled substances.
A.
Permits for the use of parks by groups of five persons or more desiring to engage in organized games, for the use of picnic tables or for any other special purpose may be issued by the Parks and Recreation Department upon application therefor, which application and payment shall be submitted to the Recreation Department at least 14 days before the applicant intends to use the park.
B.
Permits for the use of the Community Center may be issued by the Parks and Recreation Department upon application therefor, which application and payment shall be submitted to the Recreation Department at least 14 days before the applicant intends to use the Community Center.
C.
The Township may allow certain park facilities to be used by permit and may provide that a fee be charged for making such reservations. Reservation fees shall be as set forth in the Township schedule of fees, as adopted from time to time by the Board of Supervisors.
D.
Time slots for using parks and open space can be reserved by permit and will take precedence over other public uses of the area.
E.
Additional regulations governing group permits may be promulgated by the Parks and Recreation Director.
A.
No person in a park shall willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, displace or remove any building, table, bench, railing, paving, water line or other public utility or any part thereof, sign, notice or placard, whether temporary or permanent, monument, stake, post or other boundary marker or other structure or equipment, facility or appurtenance, whether real or personal.
B.
With the exception of cooking fires in permanently installed grills, no person shall light or permit a fire to burn in a park.
C.
When the Township institutes a ban on all burning within Upper Providence Township, then lighting or permitting all fires in parks shall be prohibited.
D.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit Upper Providence Township from conducting any burning in a Township park.
No person shall annoy, injure or kill any animal or bird in a park; disturb any fish or waterfowl in streams, pools or ponds; or remove or carry away any bird's nest or egg, nor shall any person injure or damage any tree, plant, shrub, fern, blossom, flower or turf.
No person in a park shall fail to cooperate in maintaining restrooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary condition.
A.
No person shall throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters of any pond, lake or stream in any park, or in any tributary, storm sewer or drain flowing into a park, any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which may result in the pollution of said waters. Refuse and trash shall be placed in proper receptacles, where they are provided.
B.
Where receptacles are not so provided, all such refuse and trash shall be removed from the park by the person responsible for its presence and shall be properly disposed of elsewhere.
C.
Dumpsters in parks are for Township use only. Public use of dumpsters is prohibited.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in any Township park, unless such person is a park patron who is using such park for park purposes during such time as such patron's motor vehicle is parked in such park.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in any Township park at any time other than during park hours.
C.
No person shall park any motor vehicle in any portion of a park except in spaces set aside and marked for parking purposes, and no person shall occupy a parked motor vehicle after dark except with the interior lights turned on.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive recklessly in a park, and no person shall drive in a park in excess of the posted speed limit.
E.
No person shall enter or leave a park except by entrances and exits provided for such purposes, and no person shall drive a motor vehicle in a park except on a road or driveway. No motorized vehicles shall be operated upon seeded or natural areas of any Township park, except emergency vehicles and park maintenance vehicles.
F.
The use of motor vehicles, as defined in this article, including e-bikes and e-scooters, in the skate park is prohibited.
G.
In no way shall this section operate to prohibit electronic aid devices such as motorized wheelchairs used by persons with disabilities.
[Added 10-28-2025 by Ord. No. 615]
A.
All persons operating a recreational motorized device shall be subject to all duties applicable to the operator of such devices under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75), except as to special provisions contained in Chapter 35 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and except as to those provisions of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code that by their nature can have no application. This includes but is not limited to appropriate titling and registration requirements set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
B.
A person operating a recreational motorized device shall operate the device in a safe and appropriate manner and shall not be used to carry more persons than the number for which the device is designed and equipped.
C.
All operators of recreational motorized devices under the age of 21 must wear a helmet at all times while operating the device.
D.
Recreational motorized devices shall not produce noise in excess of 80 decibels as measured on the A-weighting scale at a distance of 25 feet from the source of such noise emission.
E.
All recreational motorized devices must remain on asphalted or concreted pathways at all times while operating in Township parks. These devices are prohibited from being used on grass, fields, or open spaces within the parks, including but not limited to shelters, courts, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
F.
All operators of recreational motorized devices must be at least 16 years of age.
G.
The maximum speed limit for recreational motorized devices on pathways in public parks is 15 miles per hour.
H.
All operators of recreational motorized devices must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and non-motorized devices at all times while in Township parks. This includes:
I.
Recreational motorized devices may only be operated in Township parks from dawn to dusk.
J.
Upper Providence Township will install appropriate signage and markings to inform park users that regulations related to recreational motorized devices exist.
K.
The parent or guardian of any child or ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit a child/ward to violate any of the provisions of this section relating to the operation of recreational motorized devices.
L.
Police officers and other code enforcement officials of the Township are authorized to enforce the provisions of this section.
It shall be unlawful for any person to bring any animal into a park, except as set forth in Article II of this chapter.
No gambling; obscene, or indecent act; abusive, threatening, indecent, or profane language shall be allowed in any Township park.
The use of fireworks is prohibited in a park, except for displays organized by the Township or any of its instrumentalities.
The use of bicycles, skateboards, vehicles powered by motor or motor-powered model airplanes and drones in a park is prohibited except at locations specifically designated for such purposes.
All Township parks shall be open from dawn to dusk. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Parks and Recreation Director may establish alternate park hours for Township events.
The rules and regulations set forth in this chapter shall not be applicable to Upper Providence Township or to its employees or agents acting within the scope of their official duties.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this Chapter 209 or any section thereof shall, upon conviction 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 punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
To promote public health, safety, and general welfare, the Township of Upper Providence Board of Supervisors finds that it is in the best interest of the Township to establish certain rules and regulations pertaining to the use of the Reynolds Dog Park.
A.
For purposes of this Article II only, all references to "park" shall mean the Reynolds Dog Park. Owners and handlers of dogs within the park must remain within the fenced area at all times and must clean up any dog waste immediately. Owners and handlers of dogs must remain within visual sight and voice control of their dogs at all times. Each owner and handler may have a maximum of three dogs in the park at any given time. All dogs in the park must be healthy, properly licensed and have current inoculations. All dogs in the park must wear collars with license, rabies tags and rescue information.
B.
Prohibited items. All food, whether for consumption by humans or dogs, is prohibited in the park. All prong, pinch or spiked collars are prohibited in the park. Dogs in heat and dogs under the age of six months are prohibited in the park. All vehicles and all children's toys are prohibited in the park.
C.
Children. Children under age six years must remain within arm's reach of a responsible adult at all times. Children ages six to 13 years must remain under the strict supervision of a responsible adult at all times.
D.
Assumption of risk. All persons using the park, and all owners and handlers of dogs within the park, assume all risks related to the use of the Reynolds Dog Park.