[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Wallingford 2-25-2008 by Ord. No. 553.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Recreation Commission — See Ch. 8, Art. IV.
Alcoholic beverages — See Ch. 62.
Animals — See Ch. 71.
Open burning — See Ch. 93.
Skateboards and roller skates — See Ch. 184.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 151, Parks and Park Facilities, adopted 9-25-2007 by Ord. No. 549.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall the meanings indicated:
ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR
As defined by § 30-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes which includes all forms of alcohol, beer, spirits and wine.
COMMISSION
The Recreation Commission.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Parks and Recreation.
DIRECTOR
The Director of Recreation.
FACILITY PERMIT
Written authorization issued by the Director or his designee to a person to use a particular park facility for the date and time prescribed.
OPEN SPACE LAND
Any area of land owned by the Town of Wallingford, including land leased to others for use as farmland or for farming purposes, the preservation or restriction of the use of which would maintain and enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources or promote conservation of soils, wetlands or water resources.
PARK
A place for recreation as designated by the Commission, whether active or passive, laid out in walks, drives and recreation grounds or fields, but not including any public street that may cross a park.
PARK FACILITY
The particular function available in any park, such as a pavilion, a tennis court, a ball field, etc.
PERSON
Any person, group of persons, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or any other legal entity.
SPECIAL EVENT, TOURNAMENT
Department-sponsored sporting events which are widely known and attract large crowds. Examples are the TWIST Soccer Tournament, the Tradition Softball Showcase, intra-Town soccer and softball tournaments. This definition shall not apply to the Department's normal, regular summertime permitted sporting events and recreational activities.
TOWN
The Town of Wallingford.
VEHICLE
Includes any device suitable for the conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, whether operated on wheels, runners, a cushion of air or by any other means, except baby carriages, wheelchairs and vehicles used by the Town to maintain or service the parks.
A. 
No person shall enter or remain in any park or open space land between dusk and 4:00 a.m. If, however, artificial lighting has been installed by the Town for the purpose of illuminating sporting events or other activities or events authorized by the Director, then the closing hours shall be as follows:
(1) 
If the entire park or open space land is so illuminated, then the closing hours for such park or open space land shall be from the time the lighting is extinguished and 4:00 a.m.
(2) 
If only a section of a park or open space land is so illuminated, then the closing hours for such section, and such section only, shall be from the time the lighting is extinguished and 4:00 a.m. and the rest of the park or open space land shall be closed.
B. 
Any person in attendance at an activity authorized by written permit issued by the Director and which permit allows such activity to be conducted during the prohibited hours, shall be exempt from this section.
C. 
Any person engaged in farming an area of land under lease or other agreement from the Town, including such person's family members, agents or employees, shall be exempt from the closing hours prohibitions regarding open space land.
A. 
The entire park at which a special event or tournament has been scheduled will be closed to any other recreational activity or sporting event throughout the duration of such event or tournament. Any persons involved in such other recreational activity or sporting event during those times must vacate the park.
B. 
Park facilities shall be closed to all recreational activity and sporting events during such time as the facilities are undergoing reconditioning, repair or general maintenance.
No person shall ride or drive any vehicle in any park except upon the roads, paths or trails provided therefor or at times in areas which have been designated for such purpose by the Commission.
No person shall drink or consume any alcoholic liquor in any park, nor shall any person possess or bring alcoholic liquor into any park with the intent to drink or consume said alcoholic liquor within the park.
No person shall use any tobacco products, including, but not limited to, smoking cigarettes, smoking cigars, smoking pipes or chewing tobacco in any park, except that the use of such products shall be permitted within areas designated and marked in such parks for the parking of motor vehicles.
A. 
Any person seeking to reserve the use of a park facility for a certain date and time must file a facility permit application with the Director. Application forms are available at the Department of Parks and Recreation, 6 Fairfield Boulevard, Wallingford, Connecticut. The Director shall determine the information requested in the application.
B. 
Any person holding a facility permit shall have priority for the use of the particular park facility on the date and time indicated on said permit, and if another person is there at such date and time, that person must vacate such park facility.
C. 
Any person issued a facility permit must comply with any conditions of use made a part of said permit.
D. 
Any person issued a facility permit must carry it on his or her person or have it readily available during the entire period of reserved use and exhibit same upon request to the Director, his designee or to a Wallingford peace officer.
E. 
Standards for issuance. The Director shall issue a facility permit when he finds that:
(1) 
The proposed use will not interfere with the use of any other park facility or the enjoyment of the park by the public.
(2) 
The proposed use is not reasonably anticipated to result in physical damage to the park facility or create a public safety issue.
(3) 
The proposed use is appropriate to the park facility.
(4) 
The application does not unreasonably reserve the park facility for multiple dates.
(5) 
The park facility is available for use on the date and time requested in the application.
[Amended 3-23-2021 by Ord. No. 639]
The Commission may adopt regulations setting forth the facility permit fee structure for use of the various park facilities, the liability insurance requirements of persons using park facilities, the form of the application for use of a park facility and any other matter deemed necessary for the efficient administration of the permitting process and for the protection of park facilities and other areas administered by the Commission. Facility permit fee structures, including waiver provisions, require the approval of the Town Council. Fee structure changes will take effect 30 days after action by the Council unless the Council determines otherwise.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Director or his designee and by the Police Department, acting separately or jointly.
Any person denied a facility permit by the Director may appeal such denial to the Commission. Any appeal must be in writing and mailed or delivered to the Department of Parks and Recreation within 10 days of the date of denial. The Commission shall sustain or deny the appeal based upon the written record consisting of the Director's reasons for denial and the applicant's reasons for appeal, but may invite the parties to a hearing. In any event, the Commission shall render its decision within 15 days of the date of appeal.