[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.
Swimming shall be allowed only when a lifeguard
is on duty.
Ice-skating shall be allowed only when designated
by an authorized sign.
[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.
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.
Signs shall be posted per order of the Town
Council.
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.
[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 use profane or indecent language
or in any way annoy another person or commit any disorderly or indecent
act within the limits of the park.
Loitering is not allowed in or around rest rooms.
There shall be no hunting, trapping or discharge
of firearms at any time within the limits of the park.
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.
No fireworks will be permitted without the proper
written approvals.
Nude sunbathing will not be permitted in the
park.
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.
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.
[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.
