[Adopted 4-12-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-25]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMERCIAL APPLICANT
Any for-profit organization or business.
NONRESIDENT APPLICANT
A nonprofit community group, such as any organization, athletic team, league or association, which is comprised of less than 51% of Robbinsville Township residents.
NONRESIDENT INDIVIDUAL APPLICANT
An individual person that is not a resident of Robbinsville Township.
[Added 11-22-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-45]
RESIDENT APPLICANT
A nonprofit community group, such as any organization, athletic team, league or association, which is comprised of 51% or more Robbinsville Township residents. It also includes an individual resident(s) who may wish to convene a meeting of Township residents or to use a park. In determining if a group consists of a majority of Township residents, including a tournament or one-time event, all individuals/players will be counted.
RESIDENT INDIVIDUAL APPLICANT
An individual person that is a resident of Robbinsville Township.
[Added 11-22-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-45]
TOWNSHIP BOARD
Any board, council, commission, or committee established by the Township Council to conduct the affairs of the Township or to advise and recommend on matters of concern to residents of the Township.
A. 
The senior center must be used primarily for activities which serve the Township's senior population in accordance with a document entitled "Policy for Use of Senior Center." Senior activities take precedence over any other events in the senior center. To the extent that the contents of this article conflict with the aforesaid policy for use of the senior center, the policy for use of the senior center shall apply.
B. 
Except as provided in Subsection A of this section, the affairs of the Township of Robbinsville or of a Township Board shall take precedence over all other users of the buildings or parks of the Township.
C. 
Resident applicants will be given priority over other users for the use of Township parks and facilities with the written permission of the Township Administrator or his/her designee, based upon availability.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also changed the article title from "Guidelines for Use of Township Facilities" to "Guidelines for Use of Township Parks and Facilities."
D. 
Nonresident applicants will be given priority over commercial applicants for the use of Township parks and facilities with the written permission of the Township Administrator or his/her designee, based upon availability.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
E. 
Commercial applicants will be given the lowest priority for the use of Township parks and facilities with the written permission of the Township Administrator or his/her designee, based upon availability.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
F. 
In the event of a conflict between requesting applicants, the request received earlier will be honored first. In the event of a conflict between similarly classified applicants, such as athletic teams and/or groups, priority will be given to the applicant that is "in season" and/or the applicant that serves the higher percentage of Township residents, as determined by the Township Administrator or his/her designee.
G. 
Use of the parks and facilities shall be restricted to the areas, dates, and times expressly requested on the application for permit.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
A. 
The Township Administrator or his or her designee is authorized to approve or deny and schedule the use of municipally owned parks and facilities for meetings or other functions except for the senior center, whose scheduled use shall be approved or denied by the Senior Center Manager in accordance with the provisions set forth in the document entitled "Policy for Use of Senior Center."
[Amended 11-22-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-45; 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
B. 
Applications for use of parks and facilities must be submitted to the Township Administrator or his/her designee at least 14 days in advance, when practical, of the proposed meeting or function. All applications shall be submitted on the printed form provided by the Township.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
C. 
The application must be signed by an adult representative of the requesting group, who will be considered to be the agent of the group.
D. 
The Township Administrator or his/her designee will determine the classification of the user and the fees, if any, to be charged for the use of a park or facility.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
E. 
Resident and nonresident applicants may be required to provide a roster of participants with their application. Rosters must include the name and home address of each participant.
F. 
Permits cannot be transferred or assigned.
A. 
Permits may be canceled by an applicant on reasonable notice to the Township Administrator or his/her designee. In this event, the applicant shall be charged for any reasonable costs incurred by the Township by virtue of the applicant's failure to provide adequate advance notice of the cancellation.
B. 
The Township reserves the right to cancel any date on which the park or facility is required for Township purposes or in the case of emergency; but the Township shall use its best efforts to accommodate the applicant or Township Board elsewhere.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
C. 
Permits may be canceled for failure to comply with public law and/or Township policy.
A. 
Any municipal park or facility may not be used for any purpose prohibited by law.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
B. 
It is the responsibility of all users to be knowledgeable and comply will all applicable statutes and municipal ordinances, including applicable park ordinances.
C. 
Use of municipal parks or facilities shall not endanger Township property or the health and safety of the public.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
D. 
No park or facility may be used by a group which promotes the overthrow or subversion of the federal or state government, engages in illegal conduct, or undertakes hazardous or unsafe activity.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
E. 
The use, possession, and/or distribution of alcohol and/or controlled dangerous substances are prohibited, except that alcohol may be served at any park or facility in connection with events hosted by any commercial applicant, nonresident applicant or resident applicant, provided the applicant completes the appropriate application process established by Robbinsville Township for use of the park or facility for such events and obtains host liquor liability insurance. The service of alcohol shall only be permitted upon the applicant satisfying all New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control requirements and the adoption of a resolution by the Township's governing body permitting same. The applicant must provide a certificate of insurance at the time of application, naming the Township of Robbinsville as an additional insured, to indemnify and hold the Township harmless against any liability or loss resulting from serving of alcoholic beverages at the park or facility. The applicant must maintain host liquor liability insurance with limits of liability not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate. The policy will provide coverage for the applicant's activity at the park or facility and shall state such activities on the certificate of insurance.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
F. 
Smoking is prohibited in all buildings.
G. 
The user shall not damage, destroy or deface Township property. The park or facility must be left in a clean and orderly condition.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
H. 
No food or beverages shall be permitted in any buildings, unless prior approval has been granted, and then shall be permitted only in those areas designated by the Township.
I. 
When appropriate, applicants may be required to provide janitorial services in accordance with terms and conditions set forth by the Township Administrator or his/her designee. Additionally, arrangements shall be made for the return of the facility to its original condition in a timely manner and in advance of the next regularly scheduled Township activity.
J. 
Applicants shall be required to place a deposit of $100 to guarantee against damage and/or inadequate cleaning of the facility. This deposit shall be returned if the park or facility is returned to its original condition. However, if the park or facility is not returned to its original condition, the Township shall retain the deposit to offset costs of custodial and/or repair services necessitated as a result of the facility use.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
K. 
Equipment in any municipally owned park or facility is primarily for Township use only and shall not be used unless permission from the Township Administrator or his/her designee is obtained.
[Amended 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
L. 
No equipment is to be brought into any building unless noted in the application and special permission is obtained from the Township Administrator or his/her designee.
M. 
The maximum capacity for any event held in a park or facility shall be limited in accordance with the following:
[Added 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
Park/Facility
Maximum Attendance in Park/Facility*
Maximum Parking
Blakely Park
375 persons
190 vehicles
Community Park
325 persons if using main parking lots only; 1,500 persons if using adjacent parking field (weather permitting)
164 vehicles in main parking lots only
Foxmoor Community Park
25 persons using park parking lot only; 250 persons if using overflow parking at adjacent Shoppes at Foxmoor with written permission
12 vehicles
Gordon/Bresnahan Athletic Fields
125 persons
65 vehicles
Miry Run Recreation Area
345 persons if using park parking lots only; 500 persons if using overflow parking (weather permitting)
173 vehicles in main parking lots only
Municipal Complex
325 persons
164 vehicles
Robbins House
75 persons
35 vehicles
Tantum Park
350 persons
175 vehicles
Town Center Lake Gazebo
100 persons using street parking only; 500 persons if using overflow parking with written permission
45 vehicles (street parking only)
*
Maximum capacity for individual amenities in parks/facilities may vary.
A. 
Applicants shall provide reasonable adult supervision and oversight to ensure each participant's safety, and to orderly conduct its operations.
B. 
Any group engaged in youth activities shall demonstrate that it has undertaken reasonable safeguards and precautions to ensure the integrity and fitness of its adult leaders, coaches and organizers to oversee children. At the applicant's expense, this may include but is not limited to the submission of each leader, coach or organizer to a criminal history background check in coordination with the Robbinsville Township Police and utilizing the applicable statutory process.
A. 
All applicants shall assume full responsibility for any damage caused by or occurring during use of any facility. The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Township for any injuries, personal or property, proximately caused by its negligence or intentional act.
B. 
All applicants may be required to provide a certificate of insurance, at the time of application, naming the Township of Robbinsville as an additional insured, to indemnify and hold the Township harmless against any liability or loss resulting from use of municipally owned buildings or parks. The applicant must maintain general liability insurance with limits of liability not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate. The policy will provide coverage for the applicant's activity at the approved facility and shall state such activities on the certificate of insurance.
[Amended 3-4-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-7; 11-22-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-45; 11-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-58]
A. 
The Township may elect to charge any applicant a reasonable fee associated with the use of any park or facility. These fees will be established by the Manager of Recreation and adopted by the governing body by resolution and a copy of said resolution shall be forwarded to the Manager of Recreation, the Chief Financial Officer and the Auditor. Fees for the use of the Senior Center will be established by the Senior Center Manager and adopted by the governing body by resolution and a copy of said resolution shall be forwarded to the Senior Center Manager, the Chief Financial Officer and the Auditor. No fees shall be collected until the appropriate resolution has been adopted by the governing body.
B. 
In addition to any fee, if use of a park or facility necessities overtime pay for any Township employee as a result of such use, the group or organization holding the function shall be responsible for payment of such overtime. Payment shall be made in advance of the function and shall be in accordance with Township polices.