[Added 8-18-1999]
A.Â
The Township Committee of the Township of Colts Neck
has determined that there is an increasing need for the preservation
of the many natural resources located within Big Brook Preserve. It
has been observed that natural resources such as fossils have been
taken from the park in large quantities. It has also been observed
that certain other dangerous conditions continue to threaten the natural
beauty, assets and environmental resources within Big Brook Park.
Therefore, for the purposes of safeguarding and preserving Big Brook
Park and its natural resources so that it may continue to serve as
a recreation facility, regulations are hereby enacted as follows.
B.Â
The Department of Recreation and Parks, subject to
the approval of the Township Committee of the Township of Colts Neck,
may promulgate additional policies consistent with the purposes set
forth above.
While in the public parks and/or recreation areas regulated by this article in the Township of Colts Neck, all persons shall conduct themselves in a proper and orderly manner. Except to the extent provided for in this article, the actions enumerated in § 177-21 of the Colts Neck Code shall be proscribed within the Big Brook Preserve.
All fossils located within Big Brook Park are
the property of the Township of Colts Neck, the County of Monmouth
and the State of New Jersey. Therefore, no fossils may be removed
from Big Brook Park except in accordance with the regulations set
forth in this article.
A.Â
The following rules are in effect regarding the collection
of fossils and such activity within the Big Brook Preserve:
(1)Â
A formal permit for the use of the preserve for fossils
collection and other such activities by all groups of 15 or more is
required. Permits are to be obtained from the Department of Recreation
and Parks at the Colts Neck Town Hall. The group permit fee is $25.
(2)Â
Permits for fossil collection are issued on a daily
basis and are in effect from 6:00 a.m. to dusk.
(3)Â
Permits must be kept with the person in charge of
the group and must be presented to enforcement officials upon request.
(4)Â
Group buses are restricted to the formal preserve
parking area located on Hillsdale Road.
(5)Â
The collection of fossils within the preserve is limited
to those fossils found within the actual stream waterline. Fossil
extraction is prohibited from the walls of streambed above the stream
waterline.
(6)Â
The use of equipment for the collection of fossils
is restricted to trowels with a maximum blade of six inches, and small
screens with an eighteen-inch-square maximum at all times.
(7)Â
No person may harvest more than five fossils per day.
B.Â
The Department of Recreation and Parks, subject to
the approval of the Township Committee of the Township of Colts Neck,
may amend or supplement the rules and regulations of this article.
These rules shall have the full force and effect of law as if set
forth herein at length. These regulations shall be posted prominently
at all entrance(s) to the preserve and shall remain on file in the
Township Clerk's office and in the offices of the Department of Recreation
and Parks. Additionally, appropriate signs shall be posted.
A.Â
The Department of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized
to issue permits for the collection of fossils within the Big Brook
Preserve in accordance with the rules and policies set forth above.
B.Â
All duly adopted rules and regulations pertaining
to conduct within Big Brook Preserve shall be enforced by any duly
constituted law enforcement officer who is otherwise authorized to
enforce the laws of the State of New Jersey, and any of its political
subdivisions within the geographical boundaries of the township.
[Amended 3-8-2006]
Any person being found to have violated any of the rules, regulations or any other established policies related to the general operation of the Big Brook Preserve set out herein shall be subject to the replacement, repair or restoration of any damaged property and shall be punishable as provided in § 1-9 of this Code.
