[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Shrewsbury 12-13-1982 by Ord. No. 481 (Ch. 58 of the 1973 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Recreation Committee — See Ch. 9, Art. III.
Alcoholic beverages — See Ch. 63.
Animals — See Ch. 67.
Bicycles — See Ch. 72.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 174.
Pet waste and wildlife feeding — See Ch. 215.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 852]
A. 
Use of swings, teeters and related apparatus shall be limited to children 12 years of age and younger. One child at a time shall be permitted on a swing.
B. 
No bicycles shall be ridden or walked on athletic fields, parks or playgrounds except where specified bike paths are established or by specific authorization from the Recreation Committee.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
C. 
No motorized vehicles, to include but not be limited to automobiles, motor bikes, mopeds and go-carts, shall be permitted on any athletic field, park or playground without specific authorization from the Borough Police Department and Department of Public Works.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
D. 
No motorized airplane, drone or rocket shall be allowed on any athletic field, park or playground without prior permission of the Borough Police Department and Department of Public Works.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
E. 
Littering and disposal of trash and garbage on any athletic field, park or playground shall be prohibited.
F. 
Climbing on fences, backstops, trees and buildings shall be prohibited.
G. 
Swimming, fishing, building of dams or blockage in public streams, brooks or creeks shall be prohibited.
H. 
Golfing shall be prohibited.
I. 
No animals shall be permitted on any athletic field, park or playground, except in Manson Park if they remain on a leash, and pet owners must clean up after their animals.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
J. 
Baseball (hardball) or any activity deemed unsafe shall be prohibited on any athletic field without prior permission of the Borough Police Department and Department of Public Works.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
K. 
Carrying of any weapon or firearm on any athletic field, park or playground shall be prohibited.
L. 
No radio, amplified audio device or musical instrument shall be played at a volume to create a nuisance without permission from the Borough Police Department and Department of Public Works.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
M. 
Anyone in possession, consuming or under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or narcotic on any athletic field, park or playground shall be prohibited.
N. 
Use of basketball courts shall be limited to one hour per group. At the end of the hour, use of the court must be relinquished to any waiting group that has requested use of the court. If no group is waiting, play may continue for an additional hour or to such time as use of the court is requested. One basketball court must be free from being booked by groups for training, games and other activities.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
O. 
Playgrounds, parks, recreational facilities and tennis courts shall be open daily for public use from 8:00 a.m. until sunset Monday through Saturday and 9:30 a.m. until sunset on Sunday.
P. 
Skateboarding shall be prohibited.
Q. 
Fireworks shall be prohibited.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
The rules and regulations and the hours of operation must be posted at each park and recreational facility for the preservation of good order and protection of property.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 852]
A. 
Person(s), group(s) or organizations may apply to the Borough Council for special permission to conduct special events, operations or uses which otherwise would be considered a violation of Borough ordinances regulating the use of Borough parks and facilities. If so authorized by the Borough Council, a special permit to hold or conduct these special events, with strict adherence to hours of operation, good order and protection of property and stipulation that an adult shall be responsible for such special events, may be granted to the event organizer.
B. 
Facility use request forms and reservations of any Borough facility will be handled through the office of the Borough Clerk. A facilities use request form must be completed and submitted for approval of Council seven days prior to scheduled Council meeting.
C. 
Borough parks (areas of land set aside for public use).
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1040]
(1) 
Active recreation parks: Parker Park (Patterson Avenue), Robert Graham Athletic Felds (Sickles Park), Manson Park (Municipal Complex).
(2) 
Passive recreation parks: Buttonwood Park (Buttonwood Drive), Esther Hymer Nature Preserve (Williamsburg Drive), Beech Tree Park (Sycamore Avenue).
D. 
Borough facilities. Municipal Complex: Municipal Center, Courtyard, Shrewsbury Historical Society Museum, Wardell House, 9/11 Memorial Gazebo, lawns, open space, parking areas.
E. 
Upon issuance of a special permit, a copy shall be submitted to the Police Department at least seven days prior to the event for which the special permit was issued.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 852; 9-6-2011 by Ord. No. 967]
A. 
All players 16 years of age and over shall have badges issued by the Borough of Shrewsbury or shall not be permitted to use the Borough tennis courts. Said tennis badges will be good from March 15 to October 31 and must be obtained at the Borough Hall. There shall be no charge to Shrewsbury residents for badges. Nonresidents may obtain a daily badge for $5 and an annual badge for $35.
[Amended 3-3-2014 by Ord. No. 1001; 10-3-2016 by Ord. No. 1031]
B. 
In order to reserve a court, players are required to call the Borough Hall one day prior to play, after hours, and leave a message with the badge number and time of court reservation.
C. 
All courts can be reserved by badge holders or Borough children under 16. For reservations of courts, the person making the reservations must possess a current Shrewsbury Borough tennis badge. Reservations for weekends should be made no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday.
D. 
Court reservations shall be limited to one-hour periods per badge holder. Play shall be limited to two hours per day unless open court time permits. Badge holders who have not played that day shall have first choice of open court time.
E. 
In any event, play shall be limited to not more than two consecutive hours by badge holders.
F. 
No one shall sign up for court time in the name of another person other than someone in the immediate family.
G. 
Tennis shoes are required.
H. 
No bicycle riding, skating, skateboarding or any use other than tennis is allowed on the courts.
I. 
Persons other than actual tennis players are not allowed on the tennis courts. No pets, playpens, strollers or baby carriages shall be permitted on the courts or within the fence.
J. 
A court may not be used by more than four players at one time.
K. 
Persons waiting for courts must wait outside of the fence.
L. 
Instructors other than those employed by the Recreation Committee of the Borough of Shrewsbury may not use the courts. Paid instruction is not permitted by a person who is not hired by the Recreation Committee.
M. 
The Borough tennis courts shall be closed from November 1 through March 14.
[Added 3-3-2014 by Ord. No. 1001]
[Added 8-5-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-1135[1]]
A. 
Definitions.
ATHLETIC FIELD
Any Borough-maintained sports field or court designated for organized recreational or athletic use.
BOROUGH-SPONSORED PROGRAM
A program directly organized, funded, or run by the Borough of Shrewsbury (e.g., Recreation Department programs).
HYBRID TEAM
An athletic team composed of both residents and non-residents.
NON-RESIDENT
A person residing outside the Borough of Shrewsbury.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
A recognized 501(c)(3) or similar nonprofit organization operating in good standing.
ORGANIZED ACTIVITY
Any planned, structured, or recurring use of a Borough facility by a group of five or more individuals, or any activity involving a coach, instructor, or formal competition.
RESIDENT
A person residing within the Borough of Shrewsbury.
RESIDENT TRAVEL TEAM
A travel team (e.g., baseball, softball, basketball) comprised entirely of Shrewsbury residents, registered with a recognized travel league.
B. 
Permit required. All individuals, organizations, or teams must obtain a permit from the Borough Recreation Department before using any Borough athletic field, court, or facility for an Organized Activity.
C. 
Fee schedule. A portion of all fees collected through this section shall cover operational costs, including but not limited to field preparation and maintenance, and the purchase/repair of athletic field equipment.
(1) 
Athletic field usage - single use/seasonal.
(a) 
$50 per two-hour use.
(b) 
Usage shall be capped at $500 per field per season (up to 10 uses).
(c) 
Uses exceeding 10 will be subject to discussion and potential additional fees determined by the Borough Administrator or Designee.
(2) 
Tournaments/multi-game events.
(a) 
Single-day tournament: $200 per field per day.
(b) 
Multi-day tournament: $350 per field for up to three days.
(c) 
A refundable security deposit of $250 may be required for all tournaments to cover potential damage or excessive cleanup.
(d) 
Porta-potty fee. If the tournament organizer does not provide portable restroom facilities for events exceeding four hours or involving more than 50 participants, a fee of $150 per day shall be assessed for the Borough to arrange for such facilities.
(3) 
Game or practice reservations.
(a) 
Resident team: $10 per game.
(b) 
Non-resident team: $50 per game or practice.
(c) 
Hybrid team: $20 per game or practice.
(d) 
Practice reservations: $0 for resident-only teams.
(e) 
Proof of 100% residency and registration in a recognized travel league shall be submitted with the application for the resident travel team rate.
(4) 
Outside vendor facility fee.
(a) 
Outside vendors shall pay 10% of the program registration fee, with a minimum of $10 per registrant.
(5) 
Nonprofit organization rate.
(a) 
Nonprofits shall be eligible for a 50% discount on applicable fees.
(b) 
Proof of nonprofit status (e.g., IRS letter) shall be required for eligibility.
D. 
Exemptions.
(1) 
Borough-Sponsored Programs, Shrewsbury Borough School events, and Recreation Department programs are fully exempt from all fees as described in the section herein.
(2) 
Additional exemptions or reductions may be granted by the Borough Council on a case-by-case basis.
E. 
Payment and compliance.
(1) 
All applicable fees must be submitted with the permit application.
(2) 
Unauthorized use or non-compliance with Borough rules may result in revocation of permits or field access.
(3) 
Cancellation and refund policy. Permit fees are non-refundable unless a reservation is canceled by the Borough due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., field closure, severe weather). User-initiated cancellations may be eligible for a partial credit towards future use if adequate notice (e.g., 48 hours) is provided, at the discretion of the Borough Administrator or Designee.
F. 
Scheduling priority. Scheduling priority for Borough fields and facilities shall be given in the following order:
(1) 
Borough Recreation Department programs.
(2) 
Shrewsbury Borough School events.
(3) 
Shrewsbury Resident Teams.
(4) 
All other applicants.
G. 
Maintenance and usage guidelines. All individuals, organizations, or teams utilizing Borough fields and facilities must adhere to all established Borough rules and guidelines, including but not limited to proper disposal of trash, respecting designated operating hours, and leaving fields and facilities in good condition.
H. 
Administration.
(1) 
The Borough Administrator or Designee may recommend changes to the fee schedule annually.
(2) 
Adjustments to the fee schedule may be approved via Borough Council resolution without full ordinance revision.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former § 170-5 as § 170-6.
[Amended 9-6-2011 by Ord. No. 967]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter, which shall be enforced by the Police Department of the Borough of Shrewsbury, shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than $150 nor more than $1,250, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof.