A. 
Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies, park facilities will be open to the public every day of the year from sunrise until sunset unless written permission to the contrary has been granted by the Department Director.
B. 
The use of the park facilities specified in § 149-25B shall first require an authorized permit pursuant to Chapter 247, Article III.
C. 
At the discretion of the Department Director, the park facility's hours may be modified and areas declared "closed to the public" as the Director may find reasonably necessary.
While using (or in) any park facility, all persons shall conduct themselves in an orderly manner; and, in particular, no person shall:
A. 
Feed the wildlife in any park facility, with the exception of foods specifically authorized by the Zoo Curator.
B. 
Taunt or tease, throw any rock, missile, or object of any kind at any wildlife or zoo animal.
C. 
Climb any fencing within, or surrounding, the zoo.
D. 
With the exception of service dogs, no pets (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.) are permitted in the zoo unless permitted in writing by the Department Director.
E. 
Fail to produce or exhibit the authorized permit required for use of a park facility when requested by an authorized agent.
F. 
Fail to comply with a direct request for compliance with any requirement of this article from an authorized agent.
G. 
Have in his or her possession any open container with unconsumed alcohol while in any public park, playground, or other public recreation or open space so designated, unless authorized by permit issued by the Department Director.
[Amended 10-3-2023 by Ord. No. 23-32]
H. 
Build or attempt to build a fire except in such areas and under such regulations as may be specified by an authorized agent. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other flammable material within any park facility or on any highway, road or street abutting or contiguous thereto. In an emergency, or during dry spells, the authorized agent may impose restrictions prohibiting the building of fires or use of any spark- (or ember-) producing product in park facilities.
I. 
Have in his or her possession, set off, or otherwise cause to explode or discharge or burn any firecrackers, torpedo, rocket or other fireworks, or explosive devices, or propel them into any area from any place.
J. 
Enter any area posted as "closed to the public," nor use, or abet the use of, any area in violation of posted notices.
K. 
Expose, or offer for sale, any article (or thing), nor station (or place) any stand, cart (or vehicle) for the transportation, sale (or display) of any article or thing. At the discretion of the Department Director, a limited exemption may be granted for existing duly licensed concessionaires pursuant to § 247-19.
L. 
Solicit alms or contributions for any purpose, whether public or private, without the written approval of the Department Director.
M. 
Participate in or abet any game of chance, except as authorized by Chapter 173, Games of Chance.
N. 
Go onto the ice on any of the park facility waters.
O. 
Sleep on seats or benches.
P. 
Engage in (or abet) any disorderly behavior or offensive language (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2).
Q. 
Disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person or party lawfully occupying any area, or participating in any activity, under the authority of an authorized permit.
R. 
Paste, glue, tack, or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription whatsoever, nor erect or cause to be erected any sign:
(1) 
On, or within, any park facility.
(2) 
On any public lands or highways or roads adjacent to a park facility.
S. 
Enter into, loiter, or otherwise remain in any bath, or restroom, facility which may be identified as reserved (by the Department Director) for the use of the opposite sex. An exception is made for children less than six years of age.
T. 
No person shall indecently expose their person, or dress or undress, on any beach.
U. 
Smoking, or the use of any tobacco product, is prohibited in all seating areas of all outdoor amphitheaters, stadiums, bleachers, and recreation areas used by any spectators at sporting events and other public events. Smoking, or the use of any tobacco product, is also prohibited on all public playgrounds, athletic fields, and courts. In recreation areas which are not part of the park system of the City of Bridgeton, smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products shall be permitted so long as the smoking is not conducted any closer than 25 feet from the border of any recreational area, including but not limited to basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, softball fields, and football fields. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to the penalties as provided in § 247-22 of the Code of the City of Bridgeton and as set forth in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty.
V. 
With the exception of service dogs which must be leashed and under control of the person with a disability at all times, no person shall allow nonservice-related dogs, whether leashed or unleashed, to enter or otherwise remain at or on Block 131 Lot 16 also known as the Pauline Boykin Playground.
[Added 9-17-2024 by Ord. No. 24-16]
[Amended 7-15-2025 by Ord. No. 25-12]
Unless authorized by the Department Director, no person shall:
A. 
Operate any vehicle (on-road, off-road, recreational, etc.) in any park facility except on paved park roads.
B. 
Park on areas not specifically designated as parking areas.
C. 
Leave a vehicle standing or parked in any park facility between sunset and sunrise.
D. 
Ride a horse except on designated bridle trails. Where permitted, horses shall be thoroughly broken, properly restrained, and ridden with due care and shall not be allowed to graze, go unattended, nor shall they be hitched to any rock, tree or shrub.
E. 
No vehicle, other than a school bus or similar coach, shall park in spaces designated for school buses.
A. 
All bicycles, skateboards, and roller skates shall be operated in accordance with Title 39 of the Motor Vehicle and Traffic Regulation laws (N.J.S.A. 39:4 et seq.).
B. 
Skateboarding and roller-skating shall be confined to those areas specifically designated for such activities.
C. 
With the exception of walked bicycles, no bicycles, skateboards, or roller skates are permitted to be ridden or otherwise operated inside the zoo perimeter fence.
D. 
No person shall:
(1) 
Leave a bicycle in a place other than a bicycle rack when provided and there is space available.
(2) 
Leave a bicycle lying on the ground or paving, or set bicycles against trees or in any place or position where other persons may trip over or be injured by them.
No person shall willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, displace or remove any tree, plant, building, bridge, table, bench, fireplace, railings, paving or paving material, waterlines or other public utilities or parts of appurtenances thereof, signs, notices or placards, whether temporary or permanent, monuments or others structures or equipment, facilities or City property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal, in any public park, lake or recreational area.
In addition to the requirements of § 247-2, the following regulations apply to the use of park facility picnic areas:
A. 
Only places designated as picnic or lunch areas may be used for that purpose.
B. 
Authorized agents have the authority to regulate activities in picnic and lunch areas when necessary to prevent congestion, and to secure the maximum use for the comfort and convenience of all. All persons shall comply with any directions given to achieve these objectives.
C. 
Unless reserved by permit, the use of individual fireplaces, tables, and benches is on a "first come, first served" basis.
D. 
Using park facilities for the purpose of holding picnics to the exclusion of other persons, or for an unreasonable time is not permitted.
E. 
Before leaving a picnic or lunch area, all fires shall be completely extinguished, and all trash, garbage, and similar refuse that is present, or may have accumulated, shall be placed in disposal receptacles, where provided. When no such trash receptacles are available, said trash, garbage, and refuse shall be carried away from the park area by the picnicker, to be properly disposed of elsewhere.
F. 
Unless authorized in writing by the Department Director, the following activities shall not be permitted:
(1) 
Erecting tents, shacks, movable structures, or any other temporary shelters for any purpose.
(2) 
Run, or string, water, electric, or sewer service into, upon, or across park facilities.
(3) 
Set up or erect any special vehicle that could be used for such purpose, such as a house trailer, camp trailer, camp wagon or the like to remain overnight.
(4) 
The playing of rough (or comparatively dangerous) games, such as football, or baseball not on designated fields and courts. In their discretion, authorized agents may assess the degree of roughness or danger of any game.
(5) 
The playing of any games involving thrown (or otherwise propelled) objects, such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins, or model airplanes, except in designated areas set apart for such forms of recreation.
(6) 
The use of devices or products that generate or contain a flame.
All persons using or within park facilities shall maintain restrooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary condition. The Department Director is hereby authorized to establish rules and regulations for the control of all park facility restrooms and washrooms within the City.
A. 
No person may throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters of any fountain, pond, lake, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into such water any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may alter the natural color or chemistry, or otherwise pollute such waters.
B. 
The following acts are considered littering. Violators shall be subject to the penalties specified in § 203-20:
(1) 
Dumping, depositing or leaving bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse or other trash in or upon any park facility, lake, or body of water within the City.
(2) 
Casting or throwing debris upon any ice which may form within park facilities.
C. 
No refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters in or contiguous to any park facility, or left anywhere on the grounds thereof, but shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these are provided. Where receptacles are not provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.
A. 
All lakes and lake areas within the City shall be available to the public for lawful fishing as may be permitted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife, provided that those persons who utilize said areas for fishing shall have, and properly display, any and all valid licenses.
B. 
Whenever it is deemed necessary for the conservation (or preservation) of fish, or any other reasonable cause in which the best interest of the City is in any manner involved, fishing privileges may be amended by an approved City Council resolution.
The Department Director may designate by regulation areas available in City waters for boating purposes, provided that:
A. 
Only canoes, kayaks, or boats using electric motors may be operated in any such designated areas.
B. 
Motorized canoes and boats have a valid New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registration.
C. 
Operators of motorized canoes and boats shall be in possession of a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate.
D. 
Nonmotorized canoes and kayaks are not required to be registered with the NJ DMV.
Within, or while on, park facilities, no person may:
A. 
Hunt, trap, throw stones or other projectiles at or pursue wildlife at any time.
B. 
Use, carry or possess firearms of any description, nor air rifles, spring guns, bow and arrows, slings, or any other forms of weapons potentially dangerous, injurious or harmful to wildlife or human safety.
C. 
Use any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges, or any kind of trapping device.
D. 
Shoot, or otherwise propel projectiles into park areas from beyond park facility boundaries.
E. 
No person shall hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or otherwise propel projectiles at any wildlife, or remove or have in his possession the young of any wildlife or their eggs or nest.
F. 
Kill on sight any snakes or other reptiles, unless they are known to be deadly poisonous.
The Department Director and any authorized agent:
A. 
May enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Shall have the authority to eject from the park any person in violation of this chapter.
C. 
Shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing, or device used in the park in violation of this chapter.
[Added 9-17-2024 by Ord. No. 24-16]
A. 
A first violation of § 247-3V shall not require a court appearance unless a not guilty plea is entered. The fine for a first offense absent a court appearance shall be $50. Subsequent violations of § 247-3V can, at the discretion of the enforcing agency, require a court appearance.
B. 
Fines for second or subsequent offenses of § 247-3V shall be punished as provided in § 1-17A.