A.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a public park
or recreation area to:
(1)
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 appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.
(2)
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.
(3)
Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever
kind, whether permanent or temporary, or run or string any public
service utility into, upon or across such lands, except on special
written permit issued hereunder.
(4)
Damage, cut, carve, mark, transplant or remove any
plant or injure the bark or pick the 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)
Throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be
placed in the waters of any fountains, 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.
(6)
Take into, carry through or put into any park any
rubbish, refuse, garbage or other material. Such refuse and rubbish
shall be deposited in receptacles so 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.
(7)
Bring any glass container into any park or recreation
area.
(8)
Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue,
chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, wildlife, reptile
or bird, nor shall he remove or have in his possession the young of
any wild animal or the eggs or nest or young of any reptile or bird.
Exception to the foregoing is made in that snakes known to be deadly
poisonous or animals believed to be rabid may be killed.
(9)
Ride a horse, except on designated bridle trails.
Horses shall be thoroughly broken and properly restrained and ridden
with due care and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended.
(10)
Walk a domestic animal without a leash. Further, the
owner or person having custody of said domestic animal shall be responsible
for removal of any animal solid waste.
B.
Vehicles. It shall be unlawful for any person in a
public park or recreation area to:
(1)
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.
(2)
Park a vehicle anywhere, except on a designated parking
area.
(3)
Leave a vehicle standing or parked in established
parking areas or elsewhere in the park and recreation areas during
hours when the park and recreation area is closed. During a snow storm
and for three days thereafter, established parking areas in parks
and recreation areas may be utilized for parking, but not by trailers
of any kind.
(4)
Leave a bicycle in a place other than a bicycle rack,
when such is provided and there is space available.
(5)
Ride a bicycle without reasonable regard to the safety
of others.
(6)
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.
(7)
Wash any vehicle.
(8)
Drive or operate within the parks any bus or vehicle
adapted for more than 12 passengers, any hearse, truck, tractor or
vehicle used for advertising, provided that taxis, buses and trucks
may be used to carry visitors to the parks and recreation areas.
(9)
Use the parks, park drives, parking places or parkways
for the purpose of demonstrating any vehicles or for the purpose of
instructing another to drive or operate any vehicle nor shall any
person use any park area, including parking places, for the repairing
or cleaning of any vehicle, except in an emergency.
C.
Firearms: weapons. It shall be unlawful for any person
to bring into or have in his possession in any park or recreation
area:
(1)
Any pistol or revolver or objects upon which loaded
or blank cartridges may be used. Official starters, at authorized
track and field events, are excepted from this restriction.
(2)
Any rifle, shotgun, BB gun, air gun, spring gun, slingshot,
bow or other weapon in which the propelling force is gunpowder, a
spring or air.
D.
Explosives and fireworks. It shall be unlawful for
any person to have in his possession or set off any fireworks. Permits
may be given for conducting properly supervised fireworks in designated
park areas.
E.
Advertising; assemblages; entertainment.
(1)
No person shall post, paint, affix, distribute, deliver,
place, cast or leave about any bill, billboard, placard, ticket, handbill,
circular or advertisement, except where designated.
F.
Merchandise sale prohibited. No person shall expose
or offer for sale any article in any park or recreation area without
a license as a concessionaire.
G.
Ignitable and combustible materials. No person shall
kindle, build, maintain or use a fire, except in places provided for
such purposes. Any fire shall be continuously under the care and direction
of a competent person from the time it is kindled until it is extinguished.
No person shall throw away or discard any lighted match, cigar, cigarette,
tobacco, paper or other material within or against any building, boat
or vehicle or under any tree or in underbrush.
H.
Prohibited activities. 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:
[Amended 10-19-2021 by Ord. No. 259]
(1)
Be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol or
possess, drink, smoke, burn, light, consume or use, at any time, any
of the following:
(a)
Alcoholic beverages;
(b)
Cigarettes, cigars, pipes or similar devices, whether containing,
wholly or in part, tobacco and/or cannabis, including, but not limited
to, electronic delivery systems or vapor products containing tobacco
and/or cannabis. For purposes of this subsection, all terms used in
this subsection, unless otherwise stated, shall have the same meanings
as the definitions set forth in the Connecticut General Statutes,
as the same may be amended;
(c)
Illegal drugs and controlled substances being used without a prescription.
(2)
Solicit alms or contributions for any purpose, whether
public or private.
(3)
Play any game of chance or have possession of any
instrument or device for gambling.
(4)
Play or engage or take part in any game or competitive
sport for money or other valuable thing without a written permit.
I.
Miscellaneous conduct. It shall be unlawful for any
person in a park or recreation area to:
(1)
Camp or stay overnight anywhere, except in areas designated
for camping or staying overnight in vehicles or trailers.
(2)
Take part in the playing of any games involving thrown
or otherwise propelled objects, except in those areas designated for
such forms of recreation.
(3)
Play football, baseball, basketball, soccer or lacrosse,
except in areas designated for such games.
(4)
Roller-skate or use skateboards, except in those areas
specifically designed for such pastimes.
(5)
Enter an area posted as "closed to the public."
(6)
Engage in threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent
language or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to
breach the public peace.
(7)
Fail to produce and exhibit any permit upon request
of any authorized person who shall desire to inspect the same for
the purpose of enforcing compliance with any ordinance or rule.
(8)
Disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person
or party occupying any area or participating in any activity under
the authority of a permit.
(9)
Erect or occupy any tent, stand or other structure
in any park or playground or sell or give away from any such tent,
stand or other structure any food, drink or other thing without a
permit.
J.
Picnic areas. It shall be unlawful for any person
or group of persons to hold a picnic in any park, except in areas
set aside or specifically designated as picnic areas. A permit must
be secured for any picnic with more than 20 participants.
K.
The Town Council shall have the authority to exempt the application of § 88-13H of the North Branford Code regulating alcoholic beverages on town parks or recreation areas to any person or entity that applies for such exemption upon such terms and limitations that the Town Council deems appropriate. Any exemptions granted by the Council shall be subject to the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes relating to the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
[Added 11-1-2016 by Ord.
No. 249]
The following activities are permitted only
at times and in areas so designated for that purpose and are prohibited
elsewhere within the parks:
A.
Swimming, bathing, wading and fishing.
B.
Ice skating, sledding and skiing.
C.
Model airplane flying.
D.
Boating on ponds, without motors.
E.
Baseball.
F.
Archery.
G.
Horseshoe pitching.
H.
Tennis.
I.
Picnicking.
J.
Camping.
K.
Football and track.
L.
Basketball.
M.
Soccer.
N.
Bicycle riding.
O.
Throwing or propelling any objects.
P.
Roller-skating and roller-blading.
The unlighted playgrounds and parks shall be
open for use from sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. Overnight camping
without a permit shall be unlawful.
A.
Permits for special events in parks and recreation
areas shall be obtained by application to the Director of Parks and
Recreation in accordance with the following procedure:
(1)
A person seeking issuance of a permit hereunder shall
file an application stating:
(a)
The name and address of the applicant.
(b)
The name and address of the person, persons,
corporation or association sponsoring the activity, if any.
(c)
The day and hours for which the permit is desired.
(d)
The park or portion thereof for which the permit
is desired. A refundable fee to assure compliance with the rules and
regulations may be required.
(e)
Any other information reasonably necessary to
a determination as to whether a permit should be issued hereunder.
(f)
Variances required from park rules and regulations.
(2)
Standards for issuance of a use permit shall include
the following findings:
(a)
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.
(b)
That the proposed activity and use will not
unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of the public
health and welfare, safety and recreation.
(c)
That the proposed activity will not entail extraordinary
or burdensome expense or police operation by the town.
(d)
That the facilities desired have not been reserved
for other use on the date and hour requested in the application.
B.
Appeal.
(1)
Within 10 days after the receipt of an application,
the Director shall inform an applicant in writing of his/her decision
to grant or deny a permit. In the event of a denial, the notification
shall include the reason for the denial. Any aggrieved person shall
have the right to appeal to the Commission by serving written notice
thereof on the Town Clerk within five working days of said refusal.
(2)
A copy of said notice shall also be served on the
Director within the same time and said Director shall immediately
forward the application and the reasons for its refusal to the Commission.
The Commission shall decide the appeal within 10 days from the receipt
of the appeal by the Town Clerk or at its first meeting after the
filing of the appeal, whichever is later. The decision of the Commission
shall be final.
C.
A permittee shall be bound by all park rules and regulations
and all applicable ordinances as fully as though the same were inserted
in said permits.
D.
An applicant for a permit may be required to submit
evidence of liability insurance covering injuries to participants
and members of the general public arising out of such permitted activities
in such amounts as may be from time to time determined prior to the
commencement of any activity or issuance of any permit.
E.
Revocation. The Director shall have the authority
to revoke a permit upon a finding of violation of any rule or ordinance
or upon good cause shown. Such revocation may be appealed in the same
manner as provided for herein for denials.
A.
The town's Police Department, Parks and Recreation
Commission and the Parks and Recreation Director shall, in connection
with their duties imposed by law, diligently enforce the provisions
of this chapter.
B.
The town's Police Department, Parks and Recreation
Commission and the Parks and Recreation Director shall have the authority
to order any person or persons acting in violation of this chapter
to leave the park or recreation area.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any
provision of this chapter shall be fined for each offense and a separate
offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a
violation occurs or continues.
