Borough of Glassboro, NJ Parks and Recreation Areas

An area of land, with or without water, developed and used for public recreational purposes, including but not limited to landscaped tracts; picnic grounds; playgrounds; athletic fields; recreation centers; camps; footpaths, bicycle paths and bridle paths; motor vehicle drives; wildlife sanctuaries; museums; zoological and botanical gardens; facilities for bathing, boating, hunting and fishing; as well as other recreational facilities for the use and benefit of the public.

[1]

Editor's Note: See also Ch. 91, Park and Recreation Commissioners, Board of.

§ 351-2 Restrictions on conduct.

While in a public park or recreation area, all persons shall conduct themselves in a proper and orderly manner, and in particular no person shall:

(1)

Bring or possess alcoholic beverages or drink same at any time.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

(2)

Bring or possess any narcotic or dangerous drug prohibited by law or use same at any time; nor shall any person be under the influence thereof in a park.

(3)

Have in his possession or set or otherwise cause to explode or discharge or burn any firecrackers, torpedo rockets or other fireworks, firecrackers or explosives of flammable material, or discharge them or throw them into any such areas from lands or highways adjacent thereto. This prohibition includes any substance, compound, mixture or article that, in conjunction with any other substance or compound, would be dangerous from any of the foregoing standpoints. At the discretion of the Board, permits may be given for conducting properly supervised fireworks in designated park areas.

(4)

Be responsible for the entry of a dog or other domestic animal into areas clearly marked by the Board by signs bearing the words, "Domestic Animals Prohibited in this Area," or other similar words. Nothing herein shall be construed as permitting the running of dogs at large. All dogs in those areas where such animals are permitted shall be restrained at all times on adequate leashes not greater than six feet in length.

(5)

Occupy any seat or bench or enter into or loiter or remain in any pavilion or any other park structure or section thereof which may be reserved and designated by the Board for the use of the opposite sex. Exception is made for children under six years of age.

(6)

Appear at any place in other than proper clothing.

(7)

Solicit alms or contributions for any purpose, whether public or private.

(8)

Build or attempt to build a fire except in such areas and under such regulations as may be designated by the Board. 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 highways, roads or streets abutting or contiguous thereto.

(9)

Enter an area posted as "Closed to the Public"; nor shall any person use or abet in the use of any area in violation of posted notices.

(10)

Gamble or participate in or abet any game of chance except in such areas and under such regulations as may be designated by the Board.

(11)

Sleep or protractedly lounge on the seats or benches or other areas or engage in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to breach the public peace.

(12)

Fail to produce and exhibit any permit from the Board he claims to have upon request of any authorized person who shall desire to inspect the same for the purpose of enforcing compliance with any ordinance or rule.

(13)

Disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person or party occupying an area or participating in any activity under the authority of a permit.

(14)

Expose or offer for sale any article or thing; nor shall he station or place any stand, cart or vehicle for the transportation, sale or display of any such article or thing. Exception is here made as to any regularly licensed concessionaire acting by and under the authority and regulation of the Board.

(15)

Paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription whatever; nor shall any person erect or cause to be erected any sign whatever on any public lands or highways or roads adjacent to a park.

(16)

Smoking shall be prohibited at any and all times in or on any publicly owned parks and/or recreational areas.

[Added 3-8-2005 by Ord. No. 05-10]

No person in a park shall:

(1)

Willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with or displace or remove any buildings, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, pavings or paving materials, water lines 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 appurtenance whatsoever, either real or personal.

(2)

Fail to cooperate in maintaining restrooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary condition. No person over the age of six years shall use the restrooms and washrooms designated for the opposite sex.

(3)

Dig or remove any soil, rock, sand, stones, trees, shrubs or plants or other wood or materials or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting or other means or agency.

(4)

Damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark or pick flowers or seed of any tree or plant, dig in or otherwise disturb grass areas or in any other way injure the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.

(5)

Climb any tree or sit, walk or stand upon monuments, vases, planters, fountains, railings, fences or upon any other property not designated or customarily used for such purposes.

(6)

Tie or hitch an animal to any tree or plant.

(7)

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 park or any tributary stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into such water any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of said waters.

(8)

Have brought in or shall 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 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.

(9)

Drive any vehicle on any area except the paved park roads or parking areas or such areas as may on occasion be specifically designated as temporary areas by the Board.

(10)

Park a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area, and such shall be in accordance with posted directions thereat and with the instruction of any attendant who may be present. No owner or driver shall cause or permit his vehicle to stand outside designated parking spaces except for a reasonable time to take up or discharge passengers or equipment. No motor vehicle shall be parked in said park areas from 1/2 hour after sunset until sunrise, except as otherwise permitted.

(11)

Leave a vehicle standing or parked at night in established parking areas or elsewhere in the park areas.

(12)

Leave a bicycle in a place other than a bicycle rack when such is provided and there is space available.

(13)

Ride a bicycle without reasonable regard for the safety of others.

(14)

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.

(15)

Carry or possess firearms of any description or air rifles, spring guns, bows 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. Shooting into park areas from beyond park boundaries is forbidden.

(16)

Picnic or lunch in places other than those designated for that purpose. Attendants shall have the authority to regulate 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.

(17)

Set up tents, shacks or any other temporary shelter for the purpose of overnight camping; nor shall any person leave in a park after closing hours any movable structure or special vehicle to be used or that could be used for such purpose, such as a house trailer, camp trailer, camp wagon or the like, except in those areas designated by the Board.

(18)

Take part in or abet the playing of any games involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins, horseshoes, quoits or model airplanes except in those areas set apart for such forms of recreation. The playing of rough or comparatively dangerous games such as football, soccer, hockey, basketball, baseball and lacrosse is prohibited except on the fields and courts or areas provided therefor. Roller-skating and skateboards shall be prohibited on tennis facilities.

(19)

Ride a horse except on designated bridle trails. Where permitted, horses shall be thoroughly broken and properly restrained and ridden with due care and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended; nor shall they be hitched to any rock, tree or shrub.

§ 351-3 Hours.

Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies, parks shall be open to the public every day of the year during the designated hours. The opening and closing hours for each individual park shall be posted therein for public information and shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.

Any section or part of any park may be declared closed to the public by the Board 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 the Board shall find reasonably necessary.

§ 351-4 Permits for special events.

Permits for special events in parks shall be obtained by application to the Board in accordance with the following procedure:

A person seeking issuance of a permit hereunder shall file an application with the Board, stating:

(1)

The name and address of the applicant.

(2)

The name and address of the person, persons, corporation or association sponsoring the activity, if any.

(3)

The day and hours for which the permit is desired.

(4)

The park or portion thereof for which such permit is desired.

(5)

Any other information which the Board shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued hereunder.

Standards for issuance of a use permit by the Board shall include the following findings:

(1)

That the proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public's enjoyment of the park.

(2)

That the proposed activity and use will not reasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of public health, welfare, safety and recreation.

(3)

That the proposed activity or uses that are reasonably anticipated will not include violence, crime or disorderly conduct.

(4)

That the proposed activity will not entail extraordinary or burdensome expense or police operation by the Borough.

(5)

That the facilities desired have not been reserved for other use at the date and hour requested in the application.

Within 30 days after the filing of an application for a permit, the Board shall grant or deny same. The Board is authorized to delegate the authority to grant or deny permits to the Director of Parks and Recreation of the Borough in all or a limited number of cases, as the Board shall determine.

Appeal. If an application is denied, the Board or the Director shall appraise the applicant, in writing, of its reasons for denying the permit within five days, and any aggrieved person shall have the right to appeal such denial. If the denial was issued by the Director, the appeal shall be referred first to the Board. Appeals from denials by the Board shall be referred to the Borough Council by serving written notice on the Borough Clerk. A copy of said notice shall also be served on the Board, and said Board shall immediately forward the application and the reasons for its refusal to the Borough Council, which shall consider the application under the standards set forth under Subsection B hereof and sustain or overrule the Board's decision within 14 days from the receipt of the appeal by the Borough Clerk. The decision of the Borough Council shall be final.

A permittee shall be bound by all park rules and regulations and all applicable ordinances fully as though same were inserted in said permits.

The person or persons to whom the permit is issued shall be liable for all 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. The Board shall have the right to require any permittee to submit evidence of liability insurance covering injuries to members of the general public arising out of such permitted activities in such amounts as may be from time to time determined by the Board prior to the commencement of any activity or issuance of any permit.

Revocation. The Board shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon a finding of violation of any rule or ordinance or upon good cause shown.

§ 351-5 Enforcement.

The Board and park attendants shall, in connection with their duties imposed by law, diligently enforce the provisions of this chapter.

The Board and any park attendant shall have the authority to eject from the park area any person or persons acting in violation of this chapter.

The Board and any park attendant shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device in the park, or used, in violation of this chapter.

This chapter shall also be enforced by the Borough Police Department.

§ 351-6 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 5-12-1987 by Ord. No. 87-7; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto shall, upon conviction, be subject to the replacement, repair or restoration of any damaged park property and shall be subject to a fine not more than $2,000, or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or community service for not more than 90 days, or any combination thereof.

§ 351-7 Fee schedule for use of park and recreation facilities.

[Added 1-22-2008 by Ord. No. 08-02; amended 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03; 3-22-2022 by Ord. No. 22-07]

The Parks and Recreation Facilities Use Application Form and Fee Schedule shall be established by the Borough Council of the Borough of Glassboro pursuant to a duly adopted resolution. Such approved application and fee schedule shall be made available at the office of the Borough Clerk, the Parks and Recreation Office, and electronically via the Borough of Glassboro website.

§ 351-8 Dog park.

[Added 11-23-2010 by Ord. No. 10-37]

The rules and regulations for use of a dog park are as follows:

Dogs are only permitted in designated dog park areas.

The dog park is for the use and enjoyment of Borough of Glassboro permit holders only.

Dogs at the park must be wearing up-to-date license tags and dog park permit tags at all times.

Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries caused by their dogs.

Dog owners must remain with their dogs at all times.

Dogs showing aggressiveness toward people or other dogs must be immediately leashed and removed from the dog park.

Dogs in heat or ill with internal or external parasites (fleas, ticks, worms, etc.) are not allowed in the dog park.

No more than two dogs per owner are allowed in the dog park at the same time.

Puppies using the dog park must be older than four months.

Owners must clean up and dispose of feces deposited by their dogs.

Owners must stop their dogs from digging. Any holes created by your dogs must be filled.

Dogs must be leashed before leaving the dog park.

The dog park area is for the use and enjoyment of dogs and their owners only. Recreational use by others is not permitted.

No eating is allowed while inside the dog park.

Professional dog trainers may not use this facility in the conduct of their business.

Only children over the age of 14 are permitted inside the dog park fence.

The dog park entrance gate shall be closed at all times unless entering or exiting the dog park.

No human food or large treats (rawhide, bones, etc.) are permitted inside the dog park area. Small treats are permitted.

Dogs that bark excessively must be removed from the park due to fairness to our neighbors.

Vehicles with dogs and dog park permits are only allowed to park in areas provided for dog park use, if so designated. If such area is full, then parking is permitted only in the adjacent parking lot to the dog park.

Any vehicle parked in the dog park permit parking area without a permit is subject to the issuance of a summons.

Violators are subject to removal from the dog park and/or parking lot, including the suspension or revocation of their dog park permit and/or the issuance of municipal summons.