[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Berne as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Mass public assemblies — See Ch. 79.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 138.
Snowmobiles — See Ch. 159.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 183.
[Adopted 4-11-1990 by L.L. No. 1-1990]
This article shall be known as the "Town Park Law of the Town of Berne."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MOTOR VEHICLE
Every vehicle which is propelled by any power other than muscular power, except electrically driven invalid chairs being operated or driven by an invalid and vehicles run only upon rails or tracks. The term "motor vehicle" shall include, without limitation, automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, mopeds, minibikes and snowmobiles.
PERMIT
Any written authorization issued by the Town Clerk of the Town of Berne or other authorized individual for a specified privilege within a Town Park.
PERSON
Any natural person, corporation, association, society, organization, firm or partnership.
POLICE OFFICER
A constable assigned by the Town Board of the Town of Berne or other proper authority to duty in a Town Park, as well as sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and members of the State Police.
TOWN PARK
Any park, playground, athletic field, swimming pool, beach, Town-owned land and land under water owned by the Town of Berne and any recreation area under the jurisdiction of the Town Board, whether the same be now or hereafter owned or acquired by the Town of Berne in fee or otherwise, including all land under, and space above, the surface of the ground.
A Town Park shall be opened and closed at such time or times as may from time to time be designated by the Town Board in its discretion by resolution. Notwithstanding the closing time established by the Town Board, any police officer may close the Town Park at an earlier hour if deemed necessary in the interests of public safety.
A permit to do any act shall authorize the same only insofar as it may be performed in strict accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. Any violation by its holder of any terms or conditions shall constitute grounds for revocation by the Town Board or its authorized representative. Applications for all permits shall be made in writing to the Town Board or in such manner as the Town Board may direct.
Organizers of any group picnics or outings must obtain a permit from the Town Clerk for use of any Town Park so as to eliminate conflicting use.
A. 
No person shall, in any Town Park, destroy, cut, break, deface, mutilate, injure, disturb, sever from the ground or remove any growing thing, including, but not limited to, any plants, flower, flower bed, shrub, tree or any branch, stem, fruit or leaf thereof.
B. 
No person shall bring into any Town Park any tool or instrument such as a hatchet, axe or saw for cutting of any living thing.
C. 
No person shall bring into any Town Park any spade, shovel, rake, hoe or any garden or agricultural tool for the removal of any tree, shrub or plant.
D. 
No person shall pile or maintain any material or debris of any kind against or upon any tree, shrub, grass or plant.
E. 
No person shall set fire or assist another to set fire to any timber, tree, shrub, plant, flower, grass or other plant growth or allow any fire upon other lands to extend into any Town Park.
Within the confines of any Town Park, no person shall have or carry, whether or not concealed upon his person, any pistol or revolver, or any instrument or weapon commonly known as a “toy pistol” or in which or upon which loaded or blank cartridges may be used, or any loaded or blank cartridges or ammunition therefor, except when so authorized by law. No person shall use any rifle, shotgun, air gun, spring gun or other instrument or weapon within the confines of any Town Park.
No person shall hunt or trap any animal or wildlife at any time in any Town Park.
No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire within the confines of any Town Park except in grills or fireplaces provided for that purpose by the Town.
No overnight parking, tenting, housing or camping shall be allowed in any Town Park except by permit.
No person shall leave, throw, lay, drop or discharge into or on any land or water in any Town Park any tin cans, bottles, refuse, garbage, rubbish or waste. Papers, cartons or any other type of litter must be placed in receptacles provided for that purpose.
No person shall use any portion of any Town Park as a sanitary facility other than facilities designated as such by the Town.
No person shall bring into any Town Park any beer, ale or other alcoholic beverage except by permit.
No person shall deface, injure, displace, remove, fill in, raise, destroy or tamper with any drive, path or walk; take or remove or carry away any soil, turf or any other material or substance; deface, injure, displace, remove, destroy or tamper with any structure, building or any other property or equipment, real or personal, owned by the Town of Berne or under the jurisdiction and control of the Town Board in any Town Park.
A. 
The speed limit for all vehicles within the area of the Town Park may be set from time to time by the Town Board by resolution and designated by suitable signs at the entrance to any Town Park. All owners and operators of motor vehicles and other vehicles shall comply with the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York while operating any vehicle within the Town Park, with such modifications of said law as provided for herein.
B. 
Commercial vehicles shall not be allowed within a Town Park except as may be necessary for building or construction purposes or by permit.
C. 
The Town Board may designate and limit such roads and roadways within a Town Park as may be used for the operation of commercial vehicles.
D. 
Nothing in this section shall apply to vehicles and apparatus of a fire company, police officers or public service emergency vehicles within any Town Park in case of fire or other emergency.
E. 
Within any Town Park no person shall cause or permit any motor vehicle or other vehicle unnecessarily to obstruct traffic on any road, street or roadway, or stop or park, except in such places as may be designated, except in case of emergency. This provision shall be deemed to include parking at night.
F. 
No person shall cause any motor vehicle to be parked upon or driven through any area of the Town Park, except designated park roads and roadways, unless a permit is obtained.
G. 
Any motor vehicle which is left in any Town Park after closing hours shall be towed by the Town at the owner's expense.
H. 
No person shall make any repairs to any motor vehicle in any Town Park, except emergency repairs which may be necessary to effect the removal of a motor vehicle from the Town Park.
I. 
All motor vehicles shall enter and exit any Town Park by the main gate thereof.
J. 
Any Town Park or portion thereof may be closed by order of the Highway Superintendent for the purpose of making repairs thereto at any time without notice.
K. 
No person shall drive, or cause to be driven, any motor vehicle in a Town Park in such a manner as to destroy, deface or injure any park road surface, or to deface, injure or displace any soil, turf, grass or other substance.
A. 
No person shall disobey any order of a police officer, playground director, parking attendant or other person designated by the Town Board to give orders or the notices, prohibitions, instructions or directions on any Town Park sign.
B. 
No person shall use threatening, abusive or obscene language in any Town Park.
C. 
No person shall throw stones or other missiles in any Town Park.
D. 
No person shall enter or leave any restricted Town Park area except at established entranceways or exits or at established times; nor shall persons use or gain admittance to, or attempt to use or gain admittance to, the facilities in any Town Park at any time other than those authorized.
Any violation of the provisions of this article or the rules and regulations adopted hereunder by any person shall be punishable as follows:
A. 
First offense: a fine not to exceed $250 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, or both.
B. 
Second and subsequent offenses, committed within a period of five years: a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both.