[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Washington 10-26-1995 by Ord. No. 26-1995 as Sec.
4-16 of the 1994 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The provisions of this chapter relate to the
parks, streams, lakes and recreational areas within the jurisdiction
of the Township of Washington, hereinafter referred to as "park areas,"
and to all persons who enter upon or use these areas.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a park
area to:
A.
Willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper
with or displace or remove any tree, plant, building, bridge, table,
bench, fireplace railings, paving, waterlines or other public utilities
or parts or appurtenances thereof, signs, notices or placards, whether
temporary or permanent, monuments or other structures or equipment,
facilities or Township property or appurtenances whatsoever, either
real or personal, without the authorization of the Mayor/Council.
B.
Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever
kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, or run or string
any public utility into, upon or across such lands without the authorization
of the Mayor/Council.
C.
Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, pursue, kill, trap,
chase, tease, shoot or throw any missile at any animal or bird, or
to remove or have in his/her possession the young of any wild animal,
or the eggs or nest or young of any animal or bird; provided, however,
that it shall be lawful to trap for muskrats in areas designated for
such purpose by the Mayor, in such lawful manner as may be permitted
by the State of New Jersey.
D.
Throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be
placed in the waters of any fountain, pond, lake, stream or other
body of water in or adjacent to any part of any tributary, stream,
storm sewer or drain flowing into such water, any substance, matter
or thing, liquid, solid or gas which will or may result in the pollution
of such waters, including, but not limited to, those materials designated
as hazardous waste by state statute.
E.
Dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass,
ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse
or other trash, and no such refuse or trash shall be placed in any
waters in or contiguous to park areas, or left anywhere on the grounds
thereof, but shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these
are provided, and where receptacles are not so provided, all such
rubbish or waste shall be carried away from park areas by the person
responsible for its presence, and properly disposed of elsewhere.
F.
Drive any vehicle on any area except the park roads
or designated parking areas or leave a vehicle standing or parked
at night in established parking areas or elsewhere in park areas.
G.
Ride a bicycle on other than a paved vehicular road
or path designated for that purpose, or leave a bicycle lying on the
ground or paving, or set against trees, or in any place or position
where other persons may trip over or be injured by them.
H.
Bring any animal into any park area with the exception
of duly designated dog parks.
[Amended 5-22-2008 by Ord. No. 18-2008
I.
Indecently expose his/her person, or dress or undress
on any beach or in any vehicle, toilet or other place in park areas.
J.
Swim, bathe or wade in any lake, stream or other body
of water in park areas, except as may be authorized.
K.
Launch, dock or operate any boat of any kind or character
in the waters aforesaid, except as may be authorized.
L.
Use, carry or possess firearms of any description, or air rifles, spring guns, bow and arrows, slings or any other forms of weapons potentially inimical to wildlife and dangerous to human safety, or any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges, or any kind of trapping device, except devices for trapping muskrats in accordance with the provisions of Subsection C above. Shooting into park areas from beyond the border thereof is forbidden.
M.
Picnic in a place other than those designated for
that purpose, or violate the regulation that use of individual fireplaces,
together with tables and benches, follows generally the rule of "first
come, first served," unless reservations are approved in advance.
N.
Use any portion of the picnic areas or of any of the
buildings or structures therein for the purpose of holding picnics
to the exclusion of other persons, nor shall any person use such area
and facilities for an unreasonable time if the facilities are crowded.
O.
Leave a picnic area before the fire is completely
extinguished and before all trash in the nature of boxes, paper, cans,
bottles, garbage and other refuse is placed in the disposal receptacles
where provided. If no such trash receptacles are available, then refuse
and trash shall be carried away from the area by the picnicker to
be properly disposed of elsewhere.
P.
Ride a horse, except on designated bridle trails.
Where permitted, horses shall be thoroughly broken and properly restrained,
and ridden with care, and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended
nor shall they be hitched to any rock, tree or shrub.
A.
Lakes, streams and other bodies of water in park areas
which are suitable for fishing shall be available to the residents
of the Township for public fishing at lawful times, and in such lawful
manner as may be permitted by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
B.
The Township Council may curtail or strictly prohibit
any or all fishing privileges authorized hereunder which it deems
necessary for the conservation and preservation of fish or any other
reasonable cause in which the best interest of the Township is in
any manner involved.
While in park areas all persons shall conduct
themselves in a proper and orderly manner, and in particular no person
shall:
A.
Possess alcoholic beverage in park areas or consume
the same while there, or be under the influence of intoxicating liquor
while there.
B.
Enter into, loiter or remain in any part, structure
or section thereof which may be reserved and designated for the use
of the opposite sex. Exceptions made for children under six years
of age.
C.
Solicit alms or contributions for any purpose, whether
public or private.
D.
Build or attempt to build a fire except in such areas
and under such regulations as may be designated. No person shall drop,
throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes or
cigars, tobacco paper or other inflammable material within park areas
or on any highway, road or street abutting or contiguous thereto.
E.
Enter an area posted as "Closed to the Public," nor
shall any person use or abet the use of any area in violation of posted
notices, including, but not limited to, parking in areas designated
for the handicapped.
F.
Gamble or participate in or abet any games of chance.
G.
Sleep or protractedly lounge on the seats or benches,
or engage in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or
indecent language, or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior
tending to a breach of the public peace.
H.
Expose or offer for sale any article or thing, nor
shall any person station or place any stand, cart or vehicle for the
transportation, sale or display of any such articles or things, without
prior written consent.
I.
Paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard,
advertisement or inscription whatever, except as may be authorized.
J.
Cook, grill or otherwise prepare any whole animals or animal heads.
The foregoing prohibition shall include any meat products, such as
beef, lamb, pork, or any other animal. Cooking and grilling of poultry
(without heads), fish and prebutchered or prepackaged meats shall
be allowed.
[Added 6-27-2018 by Ord.
No. 11-2018]
A.
Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies, park
areas shall be open to the public every day of the year during daylight
hours.
B.
Park areas, or any section thereof, may be declared
"Closed to the Public" by the Mayor or the Council at any time and
for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated
intervals, daily or otherwise, and either entirely or merely to certain
uses, as shall be reasonably necessary.
[Amended 10-12-2000 by Ord. No. 23-2000]
A.
Police officers, park rangers, Parks and Recreation
Department staff, in connection with their duties imposed by law,
shall diligently enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B.
Police officers and park rangers shall have the authority
to eject from the park any person acting in violation of this chapter.
C.
Police officers and park rangers shall have the authority
to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device in the park
used in violation of this chapter.
