[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam 6-20-1978. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
All parks and playgrounds of the City of Amsterdam shall be operated and maintained by the Superintendent of Parks.
B. 
The Director of Recreation of the City of Amsterdam is hereby designated as the Superintendent of Parks. The Superintendent of Parks shall see to the operation and maintenance of City parks and playgrounds, and he shall perform his duties subject to the supervision of the Amsterdam Recreation Commission.
C. 
For all purposes herein, the term "parks and playgrounds" is defined as all of those recreational areas established and permitted for use by the City of Amsterdam for such purposes.
D. 
The rules and regulations herein set forth shall apply at all parks and playgrounds, including but not limited to the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course, the Herbert L. Shuttleworth II Park, Sassafrass, excepting that the supervision, control and maintenance of said golf course shall remain under the supervision of the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course Commission as it is presently established by statute.
E. 
The Superintendent of Parks shall see to the enforcement of all ordinances relating to the parks and playgrounds. He shall enforce all rules regulating to use as herein set forth.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any regulation governing conduct in the parks and playgrounds and golf course which has been approved by the Common Council.
No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or organize any assembly or group of people or make any speeches or conduct any musical program or festivals in any park unless a permit has been obtained from the Park Superintendent; provided, however, that provisions hereof shall not apply to students' work when constituting a part of their educational activities and under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities, nor to any governmental agency within the scope of its functions. Applications for a park permit shall be filed with the Superintendent not less than 20 days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct such activity. Such application shall be on a form prepared by the Superintendent of Parks. Upon filing such request, the Park Superintendent shall, within five days of filing, act thereon. Issuance of permits shall be by the City Clerk of the City of Amsterdam.
[Amended 4-17-1990; 5-15-2001; 12-3-2024 by Ord. No. 8-2024]
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation using such parks and/or playgrounds to either perform or permit to be performed any of the following acts:
A. 
Willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with or displace or remove any building, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, paving or paving material, waterlines or other public utilities or parts or appurtenances thereof, signs, notices or placards, whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts or other boundary markers or other structures or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.
B. 
Throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters of any fountain, pond, lake, stream, bay or other body of water in or adjacent to any park or any tributary, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into such waters, any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of said waters.
C. 
Bring in or dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse or other trash. No such refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters in or contiguous to any park or left anywhere on the grounds thereof, but it shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these are provided; where receptacles are not so provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and shall be properly disposed of elsewhere.
D. 
Disturb the peace or use any profane, obscene or blasphemous language.
E. 
Endanger the safety of any person by any conduct or act.
F. 
Commit any assault or battery or engage in fighting.
G. 
Carry, possess or drink any alcoholic beverage in any park or on any City street, except by special permit issued at the discretion of the Mayor with the following conditions:
(1) 
The applicant for a special permit must have a current valid license issued by the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
(2) 
The applicant must contract with off-duty police officers to aid with crowd control.
(3) 
The applicant must provide a roped off area or tent enclosure where alcohol may be purchased and consumed.
(4) 
The applicant must provide the City with an insurance certificate, naming the City as an additional insured, with coverage of at least $1,000,000.
(5) 
Sale of alcohol to a minor is grounds for an immediate suspension of the special permit. Upon suspension, the City must hold a hearing within 10 days of the suspension and give the applicant the opportunity to be represented by counsel at any such hearing.
(6) 
The Common Council, by resolution, may establish a fee schedule for the issuance of special permits under this section of the chapter.
H. 
Violate any rule for the use of the park.
I. 
Prevent any person from using any park or any of its facilities or interfere with such use in compliance with this chapter and the rules applicable to such use.
J. 
Swim, bathe or wade in any waters or waterways in or adjacent to any park, except in such waters and at such places as are provided therefor and in compliance with such regulations as are herein set forth or may be hereafter adopted.
K. 
Appear in bathing costume at any place in the parks except within the limits of designated bathing places or areas, and all bathing costumes shall conform to commonly accepted standards.
L. 
Dress or undress in any vehicle, toilet or other place, except in such bathing houses or structures as may be provided for that purpose.
M. 
Smoking tobacco products, vaping tobacco products, smoking cannabis products, vaping cannabis products.
The parks and playgrounds, exclusive of the swimming pool, shall be opened daily to the public from Memorial Day to October 1 of any one year during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. of any one day; and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons, other than City personnel conducting City business therein, to occupy or be present in said park during any hours in which the park is not open to the public. Any section or part of the park may be declared closed to the public by the Park Superintendent at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular or stated intervals. Hours for public swimming shall be established by the Park Superintendent and shall be duly posted when so established.
No person in a park shall picnic or lunch in a place other than those designated for that purpose. Attendants shall have the authority to regulate the activities in such areas when necessary to prevent congestion and to secure the maximum use for the comfort and convenience of all. Visitors shall comply with any directions given to achieve this end. No person in a park shall 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.
A. 
Automobiles. It shall be unlawful to drive any automobile except on a street, driveway or parking lot in any park or to park or leave any such vehicle in any place other than one established for public parking.
B. 
It shall be unlawful to drive, operate and bring on to any park or playground any snowmobiles, mopeds, dirt bikes, trail bikes and/or other unlicensed vehicles. This prohibition does not preclude the use of a bicycle, as long as it does not interfere with the rights of others using the premises.
C. 
On any park or playground where automobiles are permitted the speed limit thereon shall not exceed 20 miles per hour, which is hereby established as the maximum speed for the operation of a vehicle in said affected area.
[Amended 12-22-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1998]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.