[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Ewing 11-24-1998 by Ord. No. 98-13 as Ch. 154 of the 1998 Code; amended in its entirety 11-11-2025 by Ord. No. 25-33. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BLOCK PARTY
A neighborhood gathering, or organized party, of persons who reside on the portion of a residential street sought to be closed for said gathering or party.
PARADE
Any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant or procession of any kind, or any similar display, in or upon any street, park or other public place in the Township of Ewing.
A. 
No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any parade unless a parade permit has been obtained from the Municipal Clerk's Office. This section shall not apply to funeral processions or school activities, provided that such are under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities and are on school property, or a governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions.
B. 
No organization shall use any public street, sidewalk or public right-of-way for a block party in the Township without a permit and a support resolution from the Township Council. Block party permits may only be sought by and issued to a recognized community organization such as a non-profit or civic organization. Block party permits will not be issued to individuals seeking to host a personal event such as a birthday party or a resident seeking to host a for-profit event.
A person seeking issuance of a parade or block party permit shall file an application with the Municipal Clerk's Office on forms provided by the Township. A person seeking a parade or block party permit must also receive a resolution of support from the Township Council.
A. 
Filing period.
(1) 
Parade. An application for a parade permit shall be filed with the Chief of Police not less than 10 days nor more than 45 days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct the parade.
(2) 
Block party. An application shall be filed with the Municipal Clerk not less than 20 days before the date of the Town Council meeting wherein the support resolution for the permit shall be considered. The application shall also be reviewed by the Ewing Township Police Department, Traffic Division, as well as the Fire Marshal and any other appropriate department.
B. 
Contents.
(1) 
Parade. The application for a parade permit shall set forth the following information:
(a) 
The name, address, e-mail, and telephone number of the person seeking to conduct the parade.
(b) 
If the parade is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of or by an organization, the name, address and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization and of the authorized and responsible heads thereof.
(c) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be the Parade Chairman and who will be responsible for its conduct.
(d) 
The date when the parade is to be conducted.
(e) 
The route to be traveled, the starting point and the termination point.
(f) 
The approximate number of persons who, and animals and vehicles which, will constitute such parade; the type of animals and description of the vehicles.
(g) 
The hours when such parade will start and terminate.
(h) 
A statement as to whether the parade will occupy all or only a portion of the width of the streets proposed to be traversed.
(i) 
The location by streets of any assembly areas for the parade.
(j) 
The time at which units of the parade will begin to assemble at any such assembly area or areas.
(k) 
The interval of space to be maintained between units of the parade.
(l) 
If the parade is designed to be held by, on behalf of or for any person other than the applicant, the applicant for such permit shall file with the Chief of Police or an authorized agent a communication, in writing, from the person proposing to hold the parade, authorizing the applicant to apply for the permit on that person's behalf.
(m) 
Any additional information which the Chief of Police or an authorized agent finds reasonably necessary for a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued.
(2) 
Block parties. The application for a parade permit shall set forth the following information:
(a) 
The name, address and telephone number of the community organization seeking to host the block party and of the authorized and responsible representatives of the organization.
(b) 
The name, address, e-mail, and telephone number of a contact person for the non-profit or civic organization hosting the block party.
(c) 
The date of the event and hours when the block party will start and terminate, including any set-up or clean-up period. No block party shall start earlier than 9:00 a.m. and shall not terminate later than 9:00 p.m. No block party shall be longer than six hours.
(d) 
A depiction of the location of the event, including the Township street where the block party is proposed, along with any cross streets.
(e) 
A description of the activities planned for said block party, the estimated number of persons participating and/or attending, and any large items, including but not limited to, dunk tanks, inflatable jumps, stages, and vehicles/trailers which will be parked or placed in the street.
(f) 
Whether any music will be provided at the block party, either live or recorded, and/or whether microphones will be used.
(g) 
The number, types and locations of all loudspeakers and amplifying devices to be used.
(h) 
No animals other than licensed pets are permitted at a block party. No petting zoos, pony rides, exotic animals or other non-domesticated animals are permitted.
(i) 
Any additional information which the Chief of Police or an authorized agent finds reasonably necessary for a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued.
(j) 
No block party may be conducted as a for-profit event or charge an entry fee or require the purchase of a ticket to participate in the block party.
(k) 
Food trucks are permitted to be present at a block party. Yard sales by individual residents in the area of the block party are permitted during the block party. No other commercial activity shall be permitted at a block party.
C. 
Late applications.
(1) 
Parades. The Chief of Police or an authorized agent, where good cause is shown, shall have the authority to consider an application which is filed less than 10 days before the date such parade is proposed to be conducted.
(2) 
Block parties. The Chief of Police or an authorized agent, where good cause is shown, shall have the authority to consider an application which is filed less than 20 days before the date of the Town Council meeting wherein the support resolution for the block party shall be considered.
D. 
Fee. At the time of filing an application for a parade or block party permit, an application fee shall be paid as required in Chapter 172, Fees.
The Chief of Police or an authorized agent shall issue a parade or block party permit when, from a consideration of the application and such other information as may otherwise be obtained, it is found that:
A. 
The conduct of the parade or the block party will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route.
B. 
The conduct of the parade will not require the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the Township to properly police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to prevent normal police protection to the Township.
C. 
The conduct of such parade or the block party will not require the diversion of so great a number of ambulances as to prevent normal ambulance service to portions of the Township other than that to be occupied by the proposed line of march and areas contiguous thereto.
D. 
The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at assembly points of the parade or the block party will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such assembly areas.
E. 
The conduct of such parade or the block party will not interfere with the movement of fire-fighting equipment en route to a fire.
F. 
The conduct of the parade or the block party is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property, provoke disorderly conduct or create a disturbance.
G. 
The parade is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays en route.
H. 
The parade or block party is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising any product and is not designed to be held for private profit.
The Chief of Police or an authorized agent shall act upon the application for a parade or block party permit within five days after its filing. If the Chief of Police or an authorized agent disapproves the application, a notice of the action, stating the reasons for denial of the permit, shall be mailed or e-mailed to the applicant within five days after the date upon which the application was filed.
Any person aggrieved shall have the right to appeal the denial of a parade or block party permit to the Township Council. The appeal shall be taken within five days after notice, and the Township Council shall act upon the appeal within 10 days after its receipt or its next scheduled meeting.
In denying an application for a parade permit, the Chief of Police or an authorized agent shall be empowered to authorize the conduct of the parade on a date, at a time or over a route different from that named by the applicant. An applicant desiring to accept an alternate permit shall, within five days after notice of the action of the Chief of Police or an authorized agent, file a written notice of acceptance with the Chief of Police or an authorized agent. An alternate parade permit shall conform to the requirements and have the effect of a parade permit under this chapter.
A. 
A parade permit shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Starting time.
(2) 
Minimum speed.
(3) 
Maximum speed.
(4) 
Maximum interval of space to be maintained between units of the parade.
(5) 
The portions of the streets to be traversed that may be occupied by the parade.
(6) 
The maximum length of the parade in miles or fractions thereof.
(7) 
Such other information as the Chief of Police or an authorized agent finds necessary to the enforcement of this chapter.
B. 
A block party permit shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Starting and ending time of the block party.
(2) 
The Township street where the block party is being held, along with any cross streets.
(3) 
Such other information as the Chief of Police or an authorized agent finds necessary to the enforcement of this chapter.
A. 
A permittee hereunder shall comply with all permit directions and conditions and with all applicable laws and ordinances. The Parade Chairperson or other person heading or leading such activity shall carry the parade permit during the conduct of the parade. The Block Party Chairperson or other person responsible for such activity shall carry the block party permit during the conduct of the block party.
B. 
The permittee shall assure that any food vendors utilized during the block party are properly licensed as required under any other ordinance or law.
C. 
The permittee shall provide for the collection and removal of all garbage and litter arising out of the temporary street closing in accordance with the specifications of the Department of Public Works.
A. 
Parades.
(1) 
Interference. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct, impede or interfere with any parade or parade assembly or with any person, vehicle or animal participating or used in a parade.
(2) 
Driving through parades. No operator of any vehicle shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when such vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as a parade.
(3) 
Parking on parade route. The Chief of Police or an authorized agent shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles along a highway or portion thereof constituting a part of the route of a parade. The Chief of Police or an authorized agent shall post signs to such effect, and it shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation thereof. No person shall be liable for parking on a street unposted in violation of this subsection.
B. 
Block parties.
(1) 
Comply with all applicable laws and ordinances.
(2) 
Driving through block parties No operator of any vehicle shall drive on the closed street(s) which have been closed for the block party.
(3) 
Parking in the block party boundaries. The Chief of Police or the Mayor, an authorized agent of either, shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles along a street or portion thereof constituting the boundaries or place where the block party is to occur. The Chief of Police or the Mayor, an authorized agent of either, shall post signs to such effect, and it shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation thereof. No person shall be liable for parking on a street unposted in violation of this subsection.
A. 
The Chief of Police or their authorized agent shall forward a block party application to the Mayor or their designee for a determination as to the closing of streets. A block party permit shall be subject to the provisions and procedures provided within this Code for the closing of municipal streets. Any permit issuance shall be contingent upon the Mayor or their designee providing for the closing of the street or streets which are the subject of the block party application, to be determined in accordance with this section.
B. 
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:67-16.9, for the purpose of carrying out the preceding sections of this chapter, the governing body authorizes the Mayor or their designee to provide for the closing of any Township-owned street, or portion thereof, to motor vehicle traffic on any day or days, or during specified hours on any day or days, whenever he/she finds that such closing is necessary for the preservation of the public safety, health or welfare, in accordance with the requirements provided for herein:
(1) 
The portion of the street proposed to be closed is a half mile or less in length and intersected by no more than two other streets.
(2) 
The speed limit on the section of the street is 25 mph or less.
(3) 
The street has no more than two lanes.
(4) 
The street does not have an active bus stop.
(5) 
The street must be reopened by 10:00 p.m.
(6) 
Proper warning signs of such closing of any street, or portion thereof, must be posted during the time it is closed.
C. 
The Director of Public Works shall provide and remove such barricades as are necessary to close the designated street(s) or portions thereof.
The Chief of Police or an authorized agent shall have the authority to revoke a parade or block party permit if the applicant fails to comply with the standards for issuance of a permit.