[Adopted 9-18-2007 by Ord. No. 1380]
This article contains the policies and procedures
for recreational facilities and park use within the Borough of Franklin
Lakes. The purpose of this policy is to assure that usage, access,
and distribution of all recreational sites are in accordance with
Borough regulations. The primary use of Borough recreation facilities
and parks is for resident recreation activities. Borough facilities
may be made available for additional activities if available and if
not in conflict with proper maintenance of the facility or other community
use. Factors to be considered in determining usage include: resident
priority, efficient scheduling, coordination of uses, regular maintenance,
rehabilitation of facility after a specific use, availability, weather,
and availability of services at the site. All facility users shall
comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Users shall
be responsible for payment of all costs, expenses, fines, penalties,
and damages which may be imposed upon Franklin Lakes by reason of,
or arising out of, the user's failure to comply with legal requirements
or failure to comply with provisions of this policy.
[Amended 10-16-2018 by Ord. No. 1756; 10-15-2019 by Ord. No. 1805]
The recreational facilities and parks within the Borough of
Franklin Lakes are listed as follows:
|
Location
|
Facility
|
|---|---|
|
Municipal Field
|
Muni 1, Muni 2, and Field 1
|
|
Tommy John Field
| |
|
Pulis Field
|
Diamond 60 feet, Diamond 90 feet, Field 1, Field 2, and basketball
courts
|
|
McBride Field
| |
|
Firemen's Field
|
Diamond and Field 1
|
|
Old Mill Woodlands
|
Tennis Courts
|
|
Parsons Pond Park
|
Ballfield and park facilities
|
|
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
|
Park facilities
|
[Amended 7-15-2008 by Ord. No. 1418; 8-16-2011 by Ord. No. 1526; 11-12-2014 by Ord. No. 1608; 10-16-2018 by Ord. No. 1756]
A.
Permits for field/facility use are issued by the category in which
the organization or event is placed. Group I use shall have priority
over Group II, and II over III. Generally, games shall have priority
over practice. Priority shall be given within a particular sport's
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ("NJSIAA") designated
season for that sport. In-season sports have priority over out-of-season
sports. In reviewing a permit application, the Recreation and Parks
Director may also consider whether a demonstrated need for providing
the activity is evidenced, or whether a program duplicates a similar
activity offered within the community.
B.
All permits for field/facility use by Group I users shall be approved
and issued by the Recreation and Parks Director. All permits for field/facility
use by Group II or III users shall be submitted to the Recreation
and Parks Director, approved by resolution of the Mayor and Council
and issued by the Recreation and Parks Director. The Mayor and Council,
in reviewing an application, shall take into consideration certain
factors, including, but not limited to, wear and tear on the field;
scheduling conflicts with other events; provision of sufficient parking
for the event; whether a demonstrated need for providing the activity
is evidenced; whether a program duplicates a similar activity offered
within the community; and whether the event benefits the Franklin
Lakes community. The Recreation and Parks Director shall provide a
recommendation to the Mayor and Council which includes an assessment
of these factors.
C.
Applications for all field usage shall be on a form approved by the
Recreation and Parks Committee. Applications shall be submitted to
the Recreation and Parks Director at least 30 days prior to field
use, except that applications for tournaments and camps and similar
uses shall be submitted at least 90 days prior to field use. No permits
shall be issued unless these requirements are met.
D.
Groups are categorized as follows:
(1)
Group I: Recreation and Parks directly sponsored activities, Franklin
Lakes elementary school events or teams, and Indian Hills or Ramapo
High School events or teams. These activities include programs run
by the Recreation and Parks Department, such as day camps, after-school
programs, day programs, special events and seasonal sporting activities.
(2)
Group II: private groups. These groups are made up of residents of
Franklin Lakes or businesses located in Franklin Lakes who request
the use of facilities on an occasional basis when space is available.
(3)
Group III: other privately operated programs or groups. Borough facilities
can be made available for organizations, camps, leagues, or groups
located outside of Franklin Lakes for the purpose of providing recreational
services to youth or adults. This group includes instructional activities
that extend beyond one day and for which a separate fee or tuition
is charged.
[Amended 10-16-2018 by Ord. No. 1756]
A.
Recreation and Parks Committee field liaisons. The Recreation and
Parks Committee shall assign members or Program Directors to report
on current field maintenance issues and future needs for the budget
process. Complaints about the use or misuse of any Borough field or
athletic facility shall be made to the Recreation and Parks Director.
The Recreation and Parks Director may restrict or deny access to groups
who abuse any facility. The Recreation and Parks Director, with recommendations
from the Recreation and Parks Committee, will develop a seasonal field
and facility schedule. The Recreation and Parks Director, with recommendations
from the Recreation and Parks Committee and the Superintendent of
the Department of Public Works, shall establish the opening and closing
dates for field use. The Recreation and Parks Director shall provide
the Recreation and Parks Committee, the Police Department, and the
Department of Public Works with the field schedule.
B.
Make-up schedule. Make-up schedules shall be made in the sole discretion
of the Recreation and Parks Director. The Recreation and Parks Director
shall have authority to move scheduled events as necessary.
C.
Field closing due to weather. All use of athletic fields is subject
to the determination of field playing conditions on a daily basis.
Determination is made on weekdays by the Recreation and Parks Director
or his or her designee. Generally, all users are subject to the same
standard for closure. Nevertheless, determination will be made on
a field-by-field basis, as well as a user-by-user basis where conditions
are such that some fields may be playable while others are not, and
some users may do less damage by use than others. At later times and
weekends, each organization is required to close its fields if injury
may result to participants or if damage may result to the playing
surface, affecting not only its continued use by this user but also
use by others in this season and in the following season. If in doubt,
the field or facility shall be closed. Users must notify the Recreation
and Parks Director or his or her designee if they have closed the
fields so other users questioning whether to close their fields can
be so advised.
D.
Special events. The Borough sponsors numerous special events such
as sports tournaments, fireworks, baseball parades, Town Fair, etc.
Every effort shall be made to accommodate such events. Exceptions
to the stated policy may be granted for such special events. These
exceptions may be granted by the Recreation and Parks Director or
the Mayor and Council.
A.
Use of any active recreation area by a group of more
than 10 participants is authorized by permit only.
B.
Alcoholic beverages or controlled substances of any
kind are prohibited.
C.
Smoking is prohibited on any recreational field owned
by the Borough. For purposes of this article, the smoking prohibition
shall not apply to parking areas surrounding the recreational field.
D.
Profane, loud, threatening, insulting, indecent and
abusive language is prohibited.
E.
Amplifiers for music, announcements or otherwise shall
not be unreasonably loud.
F.
Athletic fields/facilities may not be used before
8:00 a.m. or after dusk, except where lights are utilized. Lights
shall be turned off as soon as the pickup of players allows.
G.
All trash shall be placed in proper receptacles. Users
shall leave the facility in the same condition in which it was found,
or better.
H.
Concession sales are by separate permit only in compliance
with all Borough ordinances.
I.
Warm-ups for the next scheduled event must be performed
so as not to interfere with an existing event and so as not to endanger
the welfare of all participants, spectators and facilities.
J.
All managers, coaches, or persons in charge of a group
using the fields will be responsible for the conduct of all participants,
spectators and others connected with the activity, including visiting
teams and opponents.
K.
Any group that desires a "port-o-john" at a site must
gain approval from the Recreation and Parks Director. The Department
of Public Works shall be responsible for the site location. Complaints
about the portable facility shall be made to the Recreation and Parks
Director.
L.
Clothes shall be changed in rest rooms only.
M.
All participants, including instructors, coaches,
officials and players, shall provide evidence of insurance in such
form and amounts as may be required by the Borough's Risk Manager.
N.
All team sport members shall adhere to the Borough's
Code of Conduct.
O.
All coaches shall be in good standing in Franklin
Lakes or any other municipality. Participants not in good standing
shall be banned.
P.
Any substantial proposed changes to the fields or
parks should be submitted to the Recreation and Parks Director to
consider their impact upon facility use. This requirement shall include
advertising and signs. The placement of all movable items (port-o-johns,
portable stands, goals, batting cages, blocking sleds and dummies,
temporary fencing, etc.) shall be the responsibility of the Recreation
and Parks Director. The Recreation and Parks Director shall coordinate
with the Department of Public Works. Signage and all banner placements
with the purpose of advertisement shall be reviewed by the Recreation
and Parks Committee, and presented to the Mayor and Council for approval.
Q.
Private
training, group lessons, organized sports programs, or any for-profit
activity on all Borough facilities, including, but not limited to,
fields, tennis courts and basketball courts, is not permitted, unless
permitted in accordance with a field/facility use permit.
[Added 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 1862]
Field and facility schedules will be posted
in the Recreation and Parks Department. Event or team rosters and
insurance information will be maintained in the Recreation and Parks
Department. All such information shall be available upon request.
[Amended 7-15-2008 by Ord. No. 1418; 10-16-2008 by Ord. No. 1756]
The following fees shall be charged for use of the Borough fields/facilities:
A.
Group I: No fee.
C.
E.
Tournaments and camps: The Recreation Director shall obtain estimates
of costs to be incurred by the Borough as a result of the use of the
Borough fields, including, but not limited to, costs to be incurred
by the Police and Public Works Departments. The fee may be adjusted
for services or equipment to be provided to the Borough, including,
but not limited to, recreation equipment or instructional services.
Such an adjustment shall be in the sole discretion of the Recreation
and Parks Director.
F.
Security deposit: For Group II or III use, the applicant shall post
a security deposit or bond in an amount not to exceed $5,000, as determined
by the Recreation and Parks Director in his or her sole discretion,
based on intensity of use and likelihood of damage to Borough facilities.
Said security deposit may be utilized by the Borough to repair any
damage to Borough facilities resulting from applicant's use of the
fields. Release of the security deposit shall be approved by the Recreation
and Parks Director.
[Added 8-17-2021 by Ord. No. 1844]
The following rules and regulations shall apply at the Old Mill
Woodlands tennis and pickleball courts:
A.
Only cardholders and authorized guests are permitted.
B.
No private or group lessons permitted except that personal training
sessions for tennis shall be permitted in accordance with policies
adopted by the Recreation and Parks Committee and approved by resolution
of the Mayor and Council. The fee for personal training sessions for
tennis shall be $25 per hour for residents and $35 per hour for nonresidents.
[Amended 11-22-2022 by Ord. No. 1896]
C.
No food or alcoholic beverages.
D.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
E.
Court hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
F.
Play is limited to one hour when others are waiting. The one hour
is calculated from the time the players started playing, not from
the time others started waiting.
G.
The fine for violating the provisions of this section is $200 per
violation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 356-29, Community Center room
rental fee, added 7-20-2010 by Ord. No. 1489, was repealed 7-19-2016
by Ord. No. 1684.
