[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Van Buren 5-25-1977. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to secure the quiet, orderly and suitable use and enjoyment of the public park properties administered by the Department of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Van Buren.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DIRECTOR
The person immediately in charge of any park area and its activities to whom all park attendants of such area are responsible.
DRIVER
Any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
PARK
Any open or enclosed space or facility which is designated Parkland by the Town Board and operated by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
PARK POLICEMEN
Any person employed for the purpose of enforcing law, order, and the observance of the ordinances, rules and regulations adopted by the Commission.
PERMIT
Any written authorization for the exercise of a specified park privilege issued by or under the authority of the Commissioner permitting the performance of a specified act or acts.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon or which any person or property is or maybe transported.
All parks are normally open from 9:00 a.m. to sunset daily year round. After-hours use shall be allowed only with special use permits or for special recreation programs conducted by the Van Buren Parks and Recreation Commission.
All permits issued by the Parks and Recreation Commission shall be subject to the park rules and regulations. Permits for individuals, group or team usages will be issued to a responsible official or representative of the team or group. The permittee will be held responsible for the conduct of the group. Users must leave the facilities in as good a condition of repair and cleanliness as found. The permittee shall be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by reasons of the negligence of the person to whom such permit shall be issued, as well as for any breach of such rules, regulations or ordinances to the person or persons so suffering damage or injury.
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, New York State Police and designated employees of the Town of Van Buren are authorized to enforce these rules and regulations and to prosecute violators thereof.
No person shall, without written permission of the Department of Parks and Recreation, erect, paint, paste or otherwise affix or distribute any signs, advertisements or circulars on park property.
No campsite or camping shall be maintained in any park, except under permit, and at such particular places and for such specified periods as may be designated.
Dogs and cats are permitted in a park only if restrained by a leash not exceeding six feet in length. Horses, cattle, livestock or all other animals or pets of any kind are prohibited in any park unless under special permit or for a specific program conducted by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Swimming is prohibited in all parks, except on facilities expressly designed for that purpose.
Boating is only by special permit or within special recreational programs being conducted by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
A person shall not litter or pollute any town park. All trash is to be deposited in trash containers where available. Where containers are not available, trash is to be removed from the park by those who brought the material in.
Gambling in the town parks is prohibited.
No person shall bring into or have in any park any explosives or explosive substances.
No person shall injure, deface, disturb, befoul nor in any manner destroy or cause to be destroyed any part of any park or any facility building, sign, structure, equipment, utility or other property found therein. No person shall dig for, remove, injure or destroy any tree, flower, shrub, plant or growing thing or any rock, mineral, artifact or other material within the boundaries of any park. No person shall trap, kill, hunt, pursue or in any manner disturb or cause to be disturbed any wild bird, snake or animal within the boundaries of any park. There shall be no unauthorized moving of any property by any person from the place in the park or recreational area in which such park or recreation area property is situate.
Practicing, playing or using park areas for golf, archery or other group sports activities is prohibited, except on facilities expressly designated or provided for such purposes.
No person or group shall utilize any park area or facility for entertainment, demonstration, exhibition or tournaments for the purpose of teaching any individual or group any recreational skill for personal profit or financial gain without special permits from the Town of Van Buren Parks and Recreation Commission.
No person shall coast with sleds, toboggans, carts, tubes, plastic sheets or other means, except at such places and at such times as are designated by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
No person shall use skates, except at such places and such times as may be designated by the Parks and Recreation Commission, or skate, sled, walk or go upon any ice, except at such places and times as may be designated by the Parks and Recreation Commission, and until such ice is declared by or under the authority of the said Commission to be in a safe condition therefore.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former unnumbered section entitled "Conduct and exposure," which immediately followed this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
No person shall ride in or drive any vehicle which is self-propelled upon any parkland except upon the roads or designated areas. It is prohibited for any person to commit any act, by use or operation, of any vehicle on any parkland, which if committed upon a public highway or street, would be prohibited and unlawful. Speed limits within all parks shall be 15 mph unless otherwise posted. No one shall test or repair any vehicle or mechanical device in any park. There shall be no parking at any time except in areas designated for such purposes. No person shall enter or leave any park or recreational area or building therein contained except by the established entrance ways or exit ways.
No person, except employees of the Parks and Recreation Commission, shall be allowed within the park during closing hours except under permit. No person shall loiter or remain within the park or any part thereof in a vehicle or otherwise after the posted closing hours at such park without general or special permission.
No person shall sell or offer for sale any object or merchandise or any other thing whether corporeal or incorporeal, perform any personal service for hire, except under a written permit by the Park Commission, and then only at the place or places designated in the permit.
No person shall have or carry, whether or not concealed upon his person, or bring into the park any rifle, knife, shotgun, airgun, spring gun, slingshot or other instrument or weapon by which the propelling force is a spring or air; or any bow and arrow (bows and arrows are allowed in designated archery areas or in Recreation Commission programs).
No person shall voluntarily bring or alight within or upon any parkland any airplane, flying machine, balloon, parachute, hang gliders, kites or other apparatus, except under permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Picnics or spreading or preparation of picnic meals at other than areas designated for picnicking is prohibited. Fires may be ignited only in grills or permanent fireplaces, in designated picnic areas. Picnickers must remove all of their own trash and garbage and leave the area used in a litter-free condition. No person shall throw, cast, catch, kick or strike any baseball, golf ball, football, bean bag, discus or shot-put or other object, except in places designated therefor.
[Amended 11-30-1994]
The Parks and Recreation Commission Director or Town Board may temporarily close or curtail activities upon any lands or waters, or any portions thereof, when it has been deemed necessary to be in the best interest of public safety, conduct, health or order. The Parks and Recreation Commission Director shall, in his or her discretion, close the park on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the winter months.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
No persons shall kindle, build or maintain or use any fire, except in places provided for such purposes. Any fire for which a permit has been issued by the Parks and Recreation Commission, or in such places as has been designated, shall be continuously under the care and direction of a competent person from the time it is kindled until it is extinguished. No person shall throw away or discard any lighted match, cigar or cigarette within the parks unless it is to be deposited in a suitable container provided for the reception thereof.
Gasoline, alcohol or other fuel powered model aircraft, autos, boats, rockets or other small scale vehicles are prohibited from all parks except by permit or in areas and at times specifically designated for same.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former unnumbered sections Alcohol and Drugs, which immediately followed this section, were deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Lost articles or money which are found shall be turned over to the park personnel. A record will be kept of the receipt of and disposition of such articles. If the lawful owner of an article or money does not claim the same within a period of 60 days, it shall be returned to the finder and appropriate receipt obtained.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both. Each day of continuance of an offense shall be considered a separate offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).