[Adopted 7-9-1984 as Ch. 135]
A. 
The purpose of this Article is to provide for the reasonable regulation and control of the land and facilities of Ninigret Park, that certain parcel of property so designated one hundred seventy-two (172) acres as defined by deed, without unduly restricting the daily use of the park by the general public.
B. 
It is further intended to reduce hazards that may contribute to accidents, to enhance and protect the physical appearance of the park and to preserve its scenic and natural beauty.
The Police Department of the Town of Charlestown shall be responsible for the enforcement of the regulations here set forth. The direction of the resident security officer or any other authorized representative of the Ninigret Park Subcommittee shall be obeyed by all visitors. Failure to comply with a lawful order of these personnel shall warrant expulsion from the park.
[Added 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 345; amended 1-13-2014 by Ord. No. 361]
There shall be formed an advisory Friends of Ninigret Park Sub-Committee to the Parks and Recreation Commission consisting of five (5) members who shall be volunteer residents of Charlestown. The members of the Friends of Ninigret Park Sub-Committee shall be appointed by the Town Council whom shall serve for 3-year overlapping terms of office. All such appointments shall be for three-year terms of office. The initial appointments shall be for staggered partial-terms to allow for integration to full three year staggered terms. One member shall be a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, a second member shall be a member of the Economic Improvement Commission and a third member shall be a member of either the Parks and Recreation Commission or the Economic Improvement Commission. The director of the Parks and Recreation Department shall be an ex-officio member of the Sub-Committee and shall function as a liaison between the two bodies and shall establish and maintain effective communications on all matters of mutual interest and importance. The Friends of Ninigret Park Sub-Committee is established with the authority to raise funds for the care, control, use and management of Ninigret Park.
[Added 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 345]
A. 
The Sub-Committee shall adopt such rules, procedures and establish agendas as are necessary to fulfill its responsibilities and adopt and enforce rules and regulations for the care and maintenance of the Park.
B. 
The Sub-Committee shall hold regular meetings as deemed necessary. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or at the request of all the members. All meetings of the Sub-Committee shall be open to the public and held in compliance with the State Open Meetings Law. The director of the Parks and Recreation Department shall provide staff assistance as required.
C. 
Any person, or his/her authorized representative, shall be entitled to attend and be heard on any matter before the Sub-Committee.
D. 
With assistance from the town administration, the Sub-Committee shall develop rules of procedure under which to function. Said rules of procedure shall be approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission and Economic Improvement Commission.
E. 
Establish and manage an association entitled the “Friends of Ninigret Park Club” made up of all residents and non-residents of Charlestown interested in assisting the operation, care and maintenance of the Park.
F. 
Raise funds from a variety of sources for the purpose of improving, operating and maintaining Ninigret Park, subject to the approval of the Parks and Recreation Commission and Economic Improvement Commission and the Town Council. Any such funds raised must be deposited with the Town’s Finance Director’s office to be placed in a special Ninigret Park escrow account from which expenditures may be made for the purposes for which any funds raised may be used. All expenditures from this fund shall comply with local and state purchasing statutes, ordinances, policies and practices and shall be subject to the appropriate approvals by town officials.
G. 
In accordance with IRS Publication 526, members of the Friends of Ninigret Park Sub-Committee will work with the Town Treasurer to issue thank you letters to each donor that makes a charitable donation to Improve Ninigret Park. These letters will represent verification of a charitable donation and can be used as documentation to support a tax deduction.
H. 
Friends of Ninigret Park Sub-Committee members will submit all donations to the Town Treasurer. The Town Treasurer will follow standard accounting procedures and process the transaction as follows. A deposit of the donation will be made in the Town’s General Fund Bank Account for receivables and the funds will be credited to a special side fund account identified as the Friends of Ninigret Park. The Treasurer will maintain the fund account and record all credits and debits and will record any fund balance as part of the annual town financial audit. Any fund balance for the Friends of Ninigret Park would carry over to the next fiscal year.
I. 
All records of Sub-Committee’s proceedings, minutes, resolutions and actions shall be public and forwarded to the Town Clerk's office.
[Amended 3-9-2009 by Ord. No. 313]
A. 
The park shall be open to the public from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. All visitors shall leave the park by sunset, except during the months of May and June to allow for extended hours for fishing. The hours for May and June shall be Sunday through Thursday 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
B. 
Any organization planning any activities after sunset shall receive prior written approval from the Town Council.
A. 
The speed limit on all park roads shall be fifteen (15) miles per hour.
B. 
Cars and other vehicles shall be parked in designated parking areas.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 206, Vehicles and Traffic.
[Amended 3-8-2004 by Ord. No. 257]
Dogs must be kept on a leash or other means of restraint at all times. Dogs shall be allowed in all publicly utilized areas of Ninigret Park. The handler of any and all dogs is responsible for the clean up and proper disposal of any and all animal waste.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 103, Dogs and Other Animals.
Open fires are prohibited, except in designated areas. They shall be only in charcoal grills or stoves using gas or other manufactured fuels. Hot coals will be disposed of only in barrels provided for that purpose and shall not be dumped on the ground, buried or in litter barrels.
All refuse and waste material shall be deposited in receptacles provided for that purpose and shall not be left on the grounds of the park or beach. No person shall bring into the park or beach area any refuse, ashes, garbage or other material for the purpose of disposal within said area.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 165, Residential Collection Center.
Camping will not be permitted at any time except by prior approval of the Town Council.
No person shall possess, drink, sell or offer for sale any intoxicating beverages within the limits of the park without the proper written approval from the Town Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 74, Alcoholic Beverages.
[Amended 3-8-2004 by Ord. No. 257]
A. 
No person shall cut, remove or damage any tree or shrub or deface, damage or destroy any building or other property of the park.
B. 
The playing of golf or the driving of golf balls is prohibited in all Town parks, except the Town-owned driving range.
C. 
The washing of vehicles, bicycles and animals is prohibited in all Town parks, unless authorized by the Town Council.
D. 
Fishing is prohibited at all times from the beach at Little Nini Pond, unless authorized by the Town Council.
E. 
The launching of rockets or the flying of motorized model planes at Ninigret Park is prohibited, except in designated areas.
No person shall operate a motor vehicle, including motorcycles, in a reckless or noisy manner. No motor vehicles, motorcycles, miniscooters, minibikes, motor scooters, motorbikes, skimobiles, air cycles and other off-highway recreational vehicles shall be operated on any nature trail.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 152, Noise, and Ch. 179, Snowmobiles.
No person shall offer for sale, in the park, any goods or services of a commercial nature without official permission of the Town Council and without the required permits.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 128, Hawkers, Peddlers and Solicitors.
No person shall broadcast loud and raucous sound or noise by use of a sound truck, electrical amplifier or radio or create unnecessary or disruptive noise in any manner.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 152, Noise.
[Amended 8-20-2012 by Ord. No. 352]
Violators shall be prosecuted by the Chief of Police of the Town of Charlestown or his/her designee by issuance of a summons in the Municipal Court.
[Added 6-12-1989 by Ch. 171]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this Article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished, for each violation, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days. The continuation of a violation of any provision of this Article shall constitute, for each day the violation is continued, a separate and distinct violation hereunder.