[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 38-71, adopted 4-17-1979, as amended 1-4-2000 by Ord. No. 40-1999, which contained provisions on purpose, was repealed 1-2-2013.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 2; Ord. No. 40-1999, § 2, 1-4-2000; Ord. No. 36-2005, 4-5-2005; Amd. of 11-15-2011; Amd. of 1-2-2013; 11-6-2024(1)]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
The areas of the City specifically set aside for the common use of its citizens for the purpose of recreation and enjoyment. They shall include the Belfast City Park, Belfast Common, Belfast Harbor Walk, Park on Main, Steamboat Landing Park, Heritage Park, Overlock Skate Park, Wales Park, Walsh Field Recreation Area, Pendleton Park, Sportsman Park, Kirby Lake and its environs, Eleanor Crawford Park, Walter Ash Jr. Recreational Area, the Little River Trail, Belfast Rail Trail, and the City of Belfast Rangeways and/or Recreation Right of Ways (ROW).
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 12; Ord. No. 21-1996, 2-6-1996; Amd. of 1-2-2013; 11-6-2024(1)]
Any person violating any of the provisions of Section 38-76 up to and including Section 38-89 of this article shall be fined up to $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $250 for repeat offenses thereafter. In addition to any fine, the court may order restitution to the City for any damages to City property resulting either directly or indirectly from such violation.
Any violation of the Belfast Common parking lot hours and the restriction of skateboards anywhere in the Belfast Common, noted in Section 38-76 and as posted on-site, shall be enforced by the Belfast City Policy Department or the Waldo County Sheriff's Department, and shall be subject to a $500 fine for each violation.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 11; 11-6-2024(1)]
This article shall be enforced by the City Police Department, or by the Waldo County Sheriff's Department and the Maine State Police when requested by the City Police Department or the City Manager.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 13; Amd. of 1-2-2013; 11-6-2024(1)]
Upon written application, the City Council may by order vary or suspend the operation of any section of this article for a specified period of time if the applicant establishes that:
(1)
The proposed activity or use of the park(s) will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public's enjoyment of the park(s), and the proposed activity will not preclude the use of the park by the general public.
(2)
The proposed activity or use will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of public health, welfare, safety and recreation.
(3)
The proposed activity will not entail unusual, extraordinary or burdensome expenses for the City or place an undue burden onto the City Police Department's operations.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 3; Ord. No. 21-1996, 2-6-1996; Ord. No. 40-1999, § 3, 1-4-2000; Ord. No. 19-2005, 12-6-2005; Amd. of 5-18-2011; Amd. of 1-2-2013; 11-6-2024(1)]
It is hereby established that the hours during which the various individual park areas are open for public use shall be set from time to time by the City Council and shall be enforceable when posted by signs set in a reasonable location at or near the primary entrances to such parks.
Other than Belfast City Park and Belfast Common, all other parks and park areas are open from dawn to dusk throughout the year.
(a)
The Belfast City Park will be closed from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., during the regular operating season. The basketball/pickleball and tennis lights must be off by 9:45 p.m. The park's playground will be closed from dusk until dawn. Vehicles and pedestrians are prohibited from entering the park from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., during the regular operating season. The operating season shall be May 1 through November 15, unless weather conditions make it unfeasible for the park to be open these days, or unless weather conditions and the condition of the park would permit the park to be opened earlier than May 1 or be closed later than November 15. Weather-determined changes to the operating season may be determined by the Parks and Recreation Director and the City Manager.
The Belfast City Park's gate will be closed in the non-operating season, and all vehicles, other than City maintenance vehicles, are prohibited from entering the park from any access point.
(b)
The upper parking lot of Belfast Common Park, Union Street, except to those given City-issued permits or in the event of authorized events, shall be closed to all use, parking, and activity of any kind each evening after 9:00 p.m., and shall re-open at 6:00 a.m. each morning. In addition, there shall be no use of skateboards anywhere at any time in Belfast Common.
(c)
For all parks and park areas that have pedestrian access paths (Heritage Park, Steamboat Landing Park, Belfast Common, and Wales Park), those transportation corridors will remain open and available 24 hours per day for access from point-to-point, allowing pedestrians or cyclists to pass through the facilities The parks and park areas, however, remain closed from dusk to dawn for any gatherings, activities, or events, unless an event has a City-approved special event permit.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 4; Ord. No. 21-1996, 2-6-1996]
The vehicular speed limit in all City parks shall be 10 miles per hour.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 5; Amd. of 1-2-2013]
No person shall operate or park a motor vehicle in a park other than on a public roadway or a designated parking area.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 6; 11-6-2024(1)]
No camping, tenting, or parking of motor vehicles, RVs, and small campers shall be allowed in a park after closing hours. Vehicles/trailers such as food trucks, as part of a permitted special event in the facilities noted as special event parks, may be allowed to remain overnight during the permitted activity.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 7; 11-6-2024(1)]
No soliciting or peddling shall be allowed in any park areas, unless this activity is associated with a special event or activity organized or permitted by the City of Belfast.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 8; amended 11-6-2024(1)]
Dogs must be on-leash in all City parks. The regulations regarding dogs and the leash law in Chapter 10 shall apply to all of the City parks, to include Walsh Field Recreational Area and the Belfast Dog Park. Dogs are only allowed to be off-leash within the fenced boundaries of the Belfast Dog Park and at Sportsman Park. Special animal exhibits or animal demonstrations will be allowed with prior approval at permitted special events.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 9; Amd. of 1-2-2013]
Horseback riding shall be prohibited in City parks, except Sportsman Park.
[Ord. of 4-17-1979, § 10; 11-6-2024(1)]
[Ord. of 8-5-1997, § 9515; Amd. of 1-2-2013; 11-6-2024(1)]
(a)
Speed limit. No person shall drive or operate a vehicle of any type within the limits of any City parks or within any park areas, in excess of the speed of 10 miles per hour.
(b)
Operation off of designated areas. No person shall operate a vehicle of any type outside of the roadways or parking lots except when in conjunction with a duly issued special use permit. Any person who shall violate or assist in the violation of this subsection shall be subject to a fine of $50, and will pay additional restitution for damage to public property.
(c)
Leaving vehicle in park at night. No vehicle of any type shall be left, either attended or unattended, in the Belfast City Park during the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
No vehicle of any type shall be left, attended or unattended, in any City parks or park areas between dusk and dawn. Any vehicle found in the City parks or park areas during these hours will be subject to removal at the registered owner's expense
(d)
Direction of travel. No person shall operate any vehicle of any type within the limits of the Belfast City Park except in one direction traveling around the roadway in the park. When entering the Belfast City Park all vehicles shall turn to the right and follow the roadway counter-clockwise around the park in one direction, following the directional signage; where the upper and lower loops intersect, all vehicles must follow all posted directional signage. Any person who shall violate or assist in the violation of this subsection shall be subject to a fine of $50.
[Amd. of 9-6-2011(2); 11-6-2024(1)]
(a)
All City parks and park areas will be clearly marked as smoke free areas.
(b)
There shall be no smoking or tobacco use in any of the City's parks and park areas, to include open spaces, pavilions, playgrounds, pools, trails, courts, parking lots, roadways, benches, tables, gazebos, etc.
(c)
Smoking is defined as the inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted device, including cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and e-cigarettes (vaping), to include nicotine or cannabis products or any other incendiary or heated tobacco or plant product, including marijuana, intended for inhalation, whether natural or synthetic in any manner or in any form.
[11-6-2024(1)]
(a)
Open fires are not permitted in any Belfast City park, parking lot, rangeway or right-of-way; this includes open fires from a campfire, a camp stove, a propane grill, a hibachi-style grill, or other similar devices.
(b)
The are ONLY two exceptions to this section. The first exception is within Belfast City Park and within Heritage Park, where park users may utilize the pre-installed single charcoal grills in the parks' picnic areas; only charcoal briquettes can be used in these grills. Burning of firewood, paper, cardboard, or other debris is not permitted. Grill users should ensure that all briquettes have been broken and spread apart and that all flames are extinguished with water before departing the facility. The second exception is for City-sponsored or permitted special events that desire to host a bonfire/campfire; these events must have the appropriate special event permit from the City Council, and the appropriate fire permit from the Belfast Fire Department, along with the appropriate fire-fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers or water tanks.
[11-6-2024(1)]
(a)
The Belfast City Park is an alcohol-free area, to include all individual areas within the park: pavilion, pool, playground, courts, trails, parking lots and roadside parking, beach, sports fields, arboretum, meadows, etc.
(b)
All other City parks and park areas are alcohol-free except those parks near the waterfront which are designated as large special event locations: Steamboat Landing Park, Heritage Park, and Belfast Common. Appropriate State of Maine and City of Belfast permits are required to host a special event that will have an alcohol component (i.e., full-service catering permit, Incorporated Civic Organization License, etc.), along with the appropriate $1,000,000 general liability insurance requirements, to include the liquor liability policy endorsement, and an additional insured notation for the City of Belfast. For any special events, the Belfast Police Department will be the agency to enforce public intoxication.
(c)
In these special event situations, all alcohol must be served in plastic or paper cups and within designated and bounded areas; glasses or glass bottles are not permitted as part of these events.
[11-6-2024(1)]
(a)
The Belfast Boathouse is the only rentable indoor/outdoor facility that allows alcohol as part of a rental program; this facility, owned by the City of Belfast, is managed by Belfast Parks and Recreation.
(b)
The Belfast Boathouse and its immediate grounds (inside the boundary fence) allow alcohol to be served during events and activities. Appropriate State of Maine and City of Belfast permits are required to host a special event at the Boathouse if it will have an alcohol component (i.e., full-service catering permit, Incorporated Civic Organization License, etc.). Small family and friend events may also serve alcohol for their private events. Renting the Belfast Boathouse requires the appropriate $1,000,000 general liability insurance requirements, to include the liquor liability policy endorsement (for large or small events), and an additional insured notation for the City of Belfast.
(c)
At the Belfast Boathouse, all alcohol served must remain within the designated and bounded area.
(d)
The Belfast Boathouse is a smoke free facility.
[11-6-2024(1)]
(a)
The City of Belfast defers to the Maine State Law designated for open and concealed carry of firearms; those people who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm can carry a concealed handgun in the State of Maine without a permit. Those people who meet that criteria must be 21 years old except anyone who is 18 years old and who is on active duty in the Armed Forces or the National Guard, and who is not otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm. A person who is 18 to 20 years old and without the referenced military qualifications must have a permit to carry concealed. This law applies to both Maine residents and non-residents.
(b)
The most important exception to this law relates to special events within the City's parks; it is illegal to carry, openly or concealed, at establishments licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor. Special event designated areas where alcohol is sold/served would prevent an individual from carrying a firearm when inside those areas.
[11-6-2024(1)]
It's important to note that within the City of Belfast's Ordinances, Chapter 50 (Streets, Sidewalks, and Other Public Places) has relatable and established ordinances that relate to parks and recreational activities. Please review Chapter 50, Article V (Skateboards), Article VI (Belfast Rail Trail), and Article VIII (Regulations That Apply to All City Property).