[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Springettsbury as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of parks and recreation — See Ch. 52.
[Adopted 5-23-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-10 (Ch. 16, Part 2, of the 2003 Code)]
A. 
Section 503(11) of the Municipalities Planning Code[1] authorizes and § 289-40 of Chapter 289, Subdivision and Land Development, provides that in lieu of the dedication of land for public recreation, the Township may in appropriate cases, require the developer to pay a fee in lieu of such dedication for park and recreation purposes. The fee in lieu of payments are to be used only for the purpose of providing park or recreation facilities accessible to the development from which payments were made.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10503(11).
B. 
The Springettsbury Township 1990 Comprehensive Plan divides the Township park and recreation facilities into two categories, community parks and neighborhood parks. The Township has two community parks, the 43 acre park to the rear of the municipal building and the 37.4 acres undeveloped park west of North Hills Road. Both of these parks are within two miles of every Township resident. The Township has 12 neighborhood parks and there are eight school or church neighborhood parks aggregating approximately 128.45 acres scattered throughout the Township and which are accessible by foot to residents within their service areas. The ratio is approximately 60% to 40%.
C. 
The Board of Supervisors finds that the two community park areas are centralized and readily accessible to all Township residents. The facilities provided by the recreation complex to the rear of the municipal building are of the type that can only be provided in a large area park. The North Hills area lends itself to passive type recreation and may be developed. Consequently, the Board of Supervisors has determined that a portion of the fee in lieu of payments received from developers should be used for the capital improvement of the community parks regardless of the location of the development for which said payments were made. The portion of the funds presently held from such payments and the portion of all future payments for the use of the community parks should be established at 40%, unless the Board of Supervisors determine through the annual budgetary process that a greater percentage is warranted.
[Amended 5-26-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-06]
[Amended 5-26-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-06]
All fees heretofore collected from developers in lieu of dedication of land for public park and recreation purposes and now held by the Township, together with the income earned thereon and all such fees hereafter collected, are hereby allocated and shall be spent and applied 60% to the neighborhood park or parks immediately accessible to the development for which such fees were paid and 40% shall be spent and applied for the capital improvement of the community parks as designated by the Board of Supervisors identified in § 213-1, unless the Board of Supervisors determines through the annual budgetary process that a greater percentage is warranted.
[Adopted 2-26-2004 by Sections 6, 7, 9 and 10 of Ord. No. 2004-02]
A. 
It is expected that all users of Township facilities will conduct themselves and their activities in such a way as will not obstruct or interfere with the use and enjoyment of the facilities by others. Respect for, courtesy to, and cooperation with other users is expected, and any failure to demonstrate these qualities may result in denial of use of the facilities.
B. 
Springettsbury Township Parks will be subject to the following rules and regulations:
(1) 
Springettsbury Township Park will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 11:00 p.m. All other parks will operate from dawn to dusk. There shall be no trespassing on park property during nonoperating hours.
(2) 
The amphitheater at the Springettsbury Township Park shall be a smoke-free environment at all times.
(3) 
The Township Manager, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief of Police or the Director of Parks and Recreation may close the park(s) if hazardous conditions exist that endanger life or property. There shall be no trespassing on park property during such times.
(4) 
Littering is prohibited.
(5) 
Vandalism and negligent or deliberate destruction or removal of natural or physical property is prohibited. Possession or use of a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar, other metal-detecting device or subbottom profiler is prohibited. All natural, cultural, and archaeological resources are protected and may not be removed or disturbed without prior approval and authorization by Springettsbury Township.
[Amended 2-26-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-04]
(6) 
Open fires or hot charcoals shall only be permitted in Township park grills. Grills are not to be left unattended and shall be thoroughly extinguished upon departure, except for Township-sponsored events.
(7) 
Picnic tables are not to be removed from the picnic shelters.
(8) 
The solicitation, selling, or the distribution of any items or services unrelated to Township sponsored activities is prohibited.
(9) 
Posting of signs of any kind is prohibited without prior approval of the Director.
(10) 
Possession, use or distribution of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances are prohibited.
(11) 
Use of explosives or explosive devices, fireworks, sparklers, hot-air balloons, rockets, remote control airplanes or vehicles, air guns, bows, slingshots or any similar items for non-Parks-and-Recreation-sponsored events is prohibited. It shall be lawful for any person to discharge a firearm within the Township, except if discharged in violation of any local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the Air Rifles Law, Game Commission Rules and Regulations and the Game Law.
[Amended 2-26-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-04]
(12) 
Injury or killing of wild or domestic animals are prohibited.
(13) 
All dogs must be currently licensed and vaccinated. Dogs shall not be permitted on any playground or sports field or in the amphitheater area. Dogs must be leashed at all times and the leash must not be longer than six feet. There is a limit of two dogs per adult. Waste must be collected immediately. Dog owners are responsible for injuries inflicted by their dog to others. Aggressive dogs are not permitted.
[Amended 5-22-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-05]
(14) 
No hitting of golf balls.
(15) 
Use of any amplification devices and microphones is prohibited, unless the activity is sponsored by the Township.
(16) 
Motorized vehicles are prohibited other than in designated parking areas, and except those expressly authorized by the Township.
(17) 
Facilities and equipment shall be used only for the purpose intended.
(18) 
Use of electrical outlets is restricted only for Township equipment or Township-sponsored events.
(19) 
Skateboarding, in-line skating and bicycling are prohibited in all picnic shelters, on the tennis courts, and in the amphitheater area, including the stage, terrace seating area and designated access points.
[Amended 7-27-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-06]
(20) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any abusive, loud, vulgar or otherwise disorderly conduct.
(21) 
Parking areas are for park users only. All vehicles shall be parked within the designated spaces provided.
(22) 
Tents, canopies or any other similar structures are prohibited, unless used for a Township-sponsored event
(23) 
Smoking shall be prohibited at all times on any park property.
[Added 7-27-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-06]
C. 
A violation of any park rules and regulations shall be a summary offense subject to the penalties set forth in § 213-6 of this article.
A. 
General policies. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares the following policies applicable to all park and recreation areas and facilities:
(1) 
There shall be no discrimination in use of any facilities because of a person's race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin or handicap; provided, however, that where a handicap or disability of any person would jeopardize the health or safety of such person or others participating in the specific activity or program, then a reasonable accommodation shall be sought for such person within the program or activity consistent with such person's limitations.
(2) 
All recreation programs and activities shall be conducted and operated in such manner as will assure the health and safety of the participants, spectators, staff, all other persons who may be present within the area where such program or activity is taking place and the general public.
(3) 
All recreation programs and activities shall be conducted and operated in such manner as will prevent damage, ordinary wear and tear excepted, to the areas or facilities being used.
(4) 
Use of all park and recreation areas shall be subject to a first priority allocation process for those organizations, groups, clubs, leagues and other entities that meet the requirement that at least 50% of the participants in the program or activity are residents of the Township.
(5) 
The Director shall have the authority to establish a first priority allocation process for Township residents for any program or activity.
(6) 
Before authorizing the use of active group use facilities or the concession stand by an organization, group, club, league or other entity, the Director shall require the user to provide to the Township a certificate of insurance issued by an insurance company acceptable to the Township evidencing general liability coverage for the protection of persons and property with single limits of not less than $1,000,000. Such user shall further enter into an agreement with the Township agreeing to indemnify and hold the Township harmless from and against any claims, demands, suits, actions or causes of action arising out of the activity of the user.
B. 
Facility-specific policies. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares certain facility-specific policies as follows:
(1) 
Active/group use facilities will be made available for use by organizations, groups, clubs, leagues or other entities operating independently of the Department under and pursuant to an allocation and scheduling policy established by the Director designed to fairly allocate and assign the use of such facilities among competing interests. To qualify for the use of these facilities, the organization requesting the use must meet the policies of the Board of Supervisors, participate in all planning meetings called by the Director and agree to be bound by all rules, regulations and policies governing the use of any facilities.
(2) 
Where a proposed use of an active/group use facility by an independent organization conflicts with the use of such facility by a Department sponsored program or activity, the Department sponsored program or activity shall have priority.
(3) 
Unless taken out of play for recovery or repair, any active/group use facility when not scheduled for or in use by a Department sponsored program or activity or by an independent organization's activity shall be available for unorganized group play by Township residents.
(4) 
Passive/individual use facilities, excluding the amphitheater, will generally be available to the general public on a first-come/first-use basis.
(5) 
The amphitheater shall be used only for Township sponsored programs or activities or for programs or activities sponsored by a Township related organization with which the Department has agreed to affiliate for the purpose of the event. "Affiliation" for the purpose of this subsection shall mean a program or activity described and presented in detail by the applicant to the Director which is reviewed and recommended by the Park and Recreation Board, and with which the Department agrees to appear as a cosponsor.
Any person, firm, group, league or other organization desiring to use any active/group use facility, the concession stand, or to reserve use of a pavilion shall first make a written application to the Department on a form provided for that purpose setting forth with specificity the facility, the use proposed and the date or dates of the activity. Users of any facilities agree to be bound by all rules, regulations and policies governing the use of any facilities. The Director shall approve or deny an application in writing within 10 days following receipt. Any appeals from a denial by the Director shall be presented to the Township Manager who shall affirm, modify or overrule the Director's decision within five days of receipt of an appeal.
[Amended 5-22-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-05; 2-26-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-04]
Any person, firm, group, league or other organization violating any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding, be subject to pay a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 per violation, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment thereof, be subject to penalties for failure to pay a fine pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Each time that violation occurs or each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.