[Adopted 7-8-1974 by Ord. No. 10-17 (Ch. 106 of the 1975 Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FEED
To give, place, expose, deposit, distribute or scatter any edible material with the intention of feeding, attracting or enticing wildlife. Feedings does not include baiting in the legal taking of fish and/or game.
[Added 6-13-2005 by Ord. No. 05-22]
PARK
Any park, lawn, playground, playing field or vacant land within the limits of the Borough of Chatham which is open to the public, irrespective of whether or not the same shall be owned by the Borough, including the paths, roadways, sidewalks, streets and parking areas therein and adjacent thereto.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
[Added 6-13-2005 by Ord. No. 05-22]
WILDLIFE
All animals that are neither human nor domesticated.
[Added 6-13-2005 by Ord. No. 05-22]
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-76]
This article is enacted to establish rules and regulations for the protection, care and control of the public land, parks and playgrounds in the Borough and to regulate the conduct of persons on or within such public land, parks and playgrounds or using the facilities thereof.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-76]
A. 
No person shall injure, deface, displace, remove, alter, disturb, tamper with, damage or destroy any trees, shrubs, soil, grass or plantlife or any structure, building, post, playground equipment, walkway, telephone or electric pole, wires, pipes or appurtenances or any other park or recreational equipment or facility or any hydrant, water, storm or sewer drain, pipe, main, basin covering, manhole or any appendage or appurtenance thereof, or any sign, inscription, post or monument erected or marked for any lawful purpose; or injure or in any way interfere with the operation of any machinery or equipment used under the direction of the Borough or any of its departments, agencies or officials; or deface, destroy, alter, damage or tamper with any drive, path, walk, bridge, parking area or shelter; or take up, remove or carry away any asphalt, concrete, stone, rock, wood, gravel, clay or earth; or make any excavation of any kind.
B. 
No person shall hunt, molest, kill, frighten, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird; nor shall he remove or molest the eggs or young of any animal, reptile or bird.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-76]
No person shall kindle, build or maintain a fire within any park except in such areas as may be designated for that purpose and then only charcoal or self-contained camping stoves may be used. No fire shall be left unattended and any fire shall be put out immediately after use.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 106-5, Firearms and weapons, added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-76, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 4-25-2005 by Ord. No. 05-09.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-76]
No person shall take part in or abet the playing of archery or golf except in such areas as may be designated for either purpose within any park.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-76; amended 4-25-2005 by Ord. No. 05-09]
The playing of rough games is restricted to specific locations, as determined by the Director of Recreation for the Borough of Chatham.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
No person shall cast, lay, drop or discharge into or leave in the water or waterways of any park any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976; amended 8-10-1981 by Ord. No. 12-81]
A. 
No person shall drive, operate, use or bring into any park any motorbike, minibike, motorcycle, snowmobile or any other motor vehicle, except for vehicles duly licensed or otherwise authorized and then only in areas designated for the parking or operating of such vehicles.
B. 
No person shall drive a vehicle in any park carelessly or without due caution and circumspection in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger a person or property.
C. 
This section shall apply to all parks as defined in this article and include specifically all Borough and school parking lots and driveways, but is not intended to, nor shall it apply to, any highway as that term is used in Title 39 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
No person shall post, exhibit or otherwise display any signs, posters or other advertising material in any park, except where authorized in connection with the issuance of a permit for a special event under § 195-21. This section shall not apply to bulletin boards, posters or programs erected, maintained or sponsored by the Borough or any of its departments or agencies.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other flammable material within any park, or on any highway, road or street abutting or contiguous thereto.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
No person shall leave a vehicle unattended or parked in any park except during park hours, but this provision is not intended to apply to adjacent public streets. No person shall park a vehicle in other than an established designated area within any park, and such use shall be in accordance with any posted directions and the directions of any attendant who may be present. Overnight parking is prohibited except where specifically authorized in connection with a special event approved pursuant to § 195-21.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976; amended 3-22-2004 by Ord. No. 04-07]
A. 
Opening and closing hours for Borough parks may be determined on an individual or area basis, from time to time, by the Enforcement Officer. Such determination may exclude certain activities or all activity or close any park to the public at any time and for any interval of time.
B. 
Any person having knowledge of a determination made pursuant to this section or who, upon being advised thereof, fails to abide thereby or violates the same shall be guilty of a violation of this article. Where notice of the determination is posted in the park area, knowledge thereof shall be presumed.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
Nothing contained in any of the foregoing restrictions, §§ 195-7 to 195-17 of this article, shall be understood or construed to apply to municipal officers or employees of the Borough acting within the scope of their duties or any person or person acting under specific directions or with specific permission of the Borough Council, the Board of Recreation or the owner of the land involved, e.g., the Board of Education. Nothing in this exception, however, shall be construed to authorize any act which is prohibited by other applicable ordinance or is otherwise unlawful.
[Added 6-27-1988 by Ord. No. 17-88; amended 12-10-2012 by Ord. No. 12-18]
The Borough of Chatham, as part of its authority to administer, maintain, operate and protect lands for public park, recreation and conservation purposes, shall include the composting of leaves as a permitted use for Block 34, Lot 1, subject to the following conditions:
A. 
The operation of a leaf compost facility shall be in accordance with applicable state, county or local permits, conditions and land use regulations affecting park, recreation and conservation areas.
B. 
Lands which are regulated in whole or in part by the New Jersey Green Acres Statutes and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder shall fall under such statutes, rules and regulations which must be enforced by the municipality.
C. 
The operation and maintenance of a leaf compost facility shall neither permanently nor completely alter or divert from a use other than public recreation or conservation lands dedicated, owned or operated by the Borough of Chatham.
D. 
The humus produced from a leaf compost facility shall be made available to the general public at designated times and places as may be prescribed and used by the municipality for natural resource purposes.
E. 
Any sales proceeds derived from Subsection E above shall be dedicated in a special account for park, recreation and conservation purposes in the municipality.
F. 
No person shall dump or cause to be dumped any leaves or other material at the compost facility or in any part of any park, recreation or conservation area except as may be prescribed by the Borough of Chatham and with the approval of the New Jersey Green Acres Program.
[Amended 10-12-2010 by Ord. No. 10-29]
A. 
No alcoholic beverage shall be sold within any park or brought to the same for consumption or free distribution therein, and the possession of any alcoholic beverage therein otherwise than in its original sealed container is prohibited, unless a permit therefor shall have been issued by the Mayor and Council. Said permit shall be subject to such rules as the Mayor and Council deem necessary to preserve and protect the public welfare.
B. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borough Administrator may grant or issue a permit for the free distribution of alcoholic beverages in any public park by or for the Chatham Borough Police Department, the Chatham Borough Fire Department and the Chatham Borough Emergency Squad at any events held for their members.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
A. 
A special event is any event which is conducted, sponsored or permitted by an organized group of persons and which involves any advance publicity or advertising by or within said group, except activities scheduled by the Board of Recreation.
B. 
No special event shall be held or permitted in any park owned by the Borough unless a permit therefor shall have been issued by the Mayor and Council. Said permit shall be subject to such rules as the Mayor and Council deem necessary to preserve and protect the public welfare.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
The person or persons to whom a permit is issued under this article shall be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any person whatever by reason of the negligence of the person or persons to whom such permit shall have been issued.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
No person shall conduct himself in a disorderly or indecent manner or commit any indecent act or use profane, indecent or obscene language in any public park. No person shall unreasonably interfere with or disturb any other person in the use of any park.
[Added 9-13-1976 by Ord. No. 13-1976]
No person shall interfere with or fail to obey any police officer or parks and playground personnel in the proper performance of their duties in any park.
[Added 3-22-2004 by Ord. No. 04-07]
The Recreation Director of the Borough of Chatham is hereby designated as the Enforcement Officer for the purposes of enforcement of the provisions of this article. All members of the Chatham Borough Police Department are hereby designated as Assistant Enforcement Officers for the purposes of the enforcement of this article.