[Added 8-18-1999; amended3-8-2006; 9-11-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-21]
A. 
The Township Committee of Colts Neck Township 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. 
The Department of Recreation and Parks, subject to the approval of the Township Committee of Colts Neck Township, 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 Colts Neck Township, 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 Colts Neck Township, 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. 
The following rules are in effect regarding the collection of fossils and such activity within the Big Brook Preserve:
(1) 
Group buses are restricted to the formal preserve parking area located on Hillsdale Road.
(2) 
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.
(3) 
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.
(4) 
No person may harvest more than five fossils per day.
B. 
The Department of Recreation and Parks, subject to the approval of the Township Committee of Colts Neck Township, 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. 
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.
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.