[Adopted 1-26-2004 by Ord. No. 1851]
This article of the Code of the Borough of Ridgefield may be referred to as the "Parks and Open Space Ordinance."
[Amended 12-9-2013 by Ord. No. 2243; 2-10-2020 by Ord. No. 2379]
The Borough hereby determines and declares that certain Borough-owned open space be designated as either a park or a recreational facility. Those areas forming a part of a designated recreational facility but not used, designed or maintained for the conduct of athletic activities, such as adjoining spectator areas, grandstands and picnic areas, are determined and declared to be parks. The inventory of the Borough's open space, with its appropriate designation, is as follows:
Name of Open Space
Location
Park
Recreational
Facility
Veteran's Memorial Park
Shaler Boulevard and Banta Place
X
Willis Park
Linden Avenue and Grand Avenue
X
Community Center Field
725 Slocum Avenue (behind Community Center)
X
Meadowlands Field
Westerly end of Pleasantview Terrace
X
Columbus Park
Triangle at intersection of Edgewater Avenue and Shaler Boulevard
X
Lot next to Wolf's Creek
Lot 3, Block 907, on the Tax Map of the Borough of Ridgefield, a lot lying on the southerly side of Slocum Avenue east of Shaler Boulevard
X
Picnic Grove
Bruce and Slocum Avenues, to east of Community Center
X
Aybar Steps
Running between Oak Street and Stewart Street
X
Dead end at Martling Place
Southerly end of Martling Place
X
Grassy area to east of Route 5
Between Ray Avenue and Elm Avenue
X
Soldier's Monument
Triangle at Route 5 and Elm Avenue
X
Firemen's Monument
Triangle at Linden Avenue and Route 5
X
Marshall Monument
Triangle at Route 5 and Ray Avenue
X
Slocum Path Area
Between Shaler Boulevard and Abbott Avenues, directly to south of Nature Center
X
General Shaler Park
Triangle at intersection of Broad and Grand Avenues
X
Nature Center
Wooded area to the south of Ray Avenue between Shaler and Abbott Avenues
X
Parks may be used by all persons without regard to the residence of the users, subject to the rules and regulations of § 293-5.
[Amended 12-9-2013 by Ord. No. 2243]
A. 
The use of recreational facilities shall be restricted to use by Borough residents unless prior permission is obtained from the Mayor and Council or the Borough's Parks and Recreation Department. The Borough may prescribe forms of application and determine reasonable conditions, for example, insurance limits on activities, number of persons and duration, for use.
B. 
All fields are for Ridgefield residents only. All field usage by groups of more than 10 requires a permit, except for Ridgefield Recreation and Ridgefield High School sponsored events. In order to obtain a permit, the following criteria must be met:
(1) 
Adult rosters must consist of seventy-five-percent Ridgefield residents.
(2) 
Teams consisting of children under the age of 18 must consist of fifty-percent Ridgefield residents.
(3) 
Proof of residency is required (driver's license) for all people on the roster. People without or not of age to have a license may be asked to provide a utility bill. If the above information is falsified, it may result in the revocation of the permit.
C. 
All groups obtaining a permit will be required to have insurance. Insurance guidelines will be set by the Borough's risk manager. All permits will also require individuals to sign a hold harmless agreement as well as an agreement to return the field to it's original state, that is, clean up all garbage, debris, etc. If the field is not properly cleaned, the permit may be revoked.
D. 
The following permit fee structure is hereby established for the use of fields:
Field
Fee
Willis Field (per two-hour block)
$100
All other fields (per two-hour block)
$50
E. 
These fees do not include additional charges for police coverage or DPW coverage if needed.
F. 
The Mayor and Council reserves the right to waive all fees.
G. 
The use of recreational facilities by Borough-sponsored or -organized residential activities shall be paramount, and the Parks and Recreation Department is authorized to restrict the use of recreational facilities by Borough residents in order to permit officially sponsored or organized activities.
It is intended by the Mayor and Council that use of public parks and recreational facilities of the Borough of Ridgefield be enjoyed by all persons to their fullest, and that the use of the facilities therein be made available to the public subject to the terms of this article and to the following rules and regulations:
A. 
No animals shall be lead or let loose in parks or recreational facilities.
B. 
No persons shall sell or offer for sale any goods without permission from the Mayor and Council and without acquiring a permit from the Borough Clerk.
C. 
No alcoholic beverages shall be permitted in any park or recreational facility unless permission is received from the Mayor and Council.
D. 
Betting or gambling of any type is prohibited.
E. 
Baseball will be permitted only on diamonds set aside for this activity.
F. 
Hitting regulation golf balls is prohibited.
G. 
No person shall cut, deface, injure, remove or disturb any tree, shrub, building, fence, bench or any other structure, apparatus or property or pick, cut or remove any shrub, bush or flower or mark or write upon any building, fence, bench, sign or other structure.
H. 
No person shall make or kindle a fire in any park or recreational facility without written permission from the Mayor and Council.
I. 
No entertainment or exhibition of any kind shall be given without the direction and approval of the Mayor and Council.
J. 
No one shall be permitted in any park or recreational facility between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. except during activities sponsored by the Borough.
K. 
No person shall distribute circulars or other written material or affix any placard or sign in the parks without the written permission from the Mayor and Council.
L. 
Bicycles.
[Amended 8-24-2009 by Ord. No. 2107]
(1) 
Bicycles may be ridden in Veterans Memorial Park except for the following designated areas and times:
(a) 
No bicycle riding across pedestrian bridge.
(b) 
No bicycle riding during summer camp hours of operation.
(c) 
No bicycle riding on the pedestrian crosswalk between the recreation office and the pool.
(2) 
Bicycles will not be operated in a reckless manner and bicyclists must yield to pedestrians at all times. Bicycle riding may be temporarily suspended at any time at the discretion of the Police Department, or Parks and Recreation Department, with the consent of the Mayor and Council.
(3) 
Bicycles may not be ridden in other parks and recreational facilities.
M. 
Tennis registration and court regulations.
[Amended 8-24-2009 by Ord. No. 2107]
(1) 
Hours and location. The tennis courts are located in Veterans Memorial Park and will be open from (weather permitting) 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days per week.
(2) 
Registration procedure. All players are required to have a tennis badge ID which can be obtained at the Recreation Department during operating hours. Proof of Ridgefield residency is required each year, prior to the issuance of the new ID NO EXCEPTIONS! Only the following items will be accepted as proof of residency: a lease, deed, tax bill, maintenance agreement, or most recent cancelled rent check. All persons must be present at time of registration, at which time they will receive a copy of the rules and regulations. Tennis Badge IDs are not transferable.
(3) 
Tennis badge fees.
(a) 
Residents 18 years or older: $5.
(b) 
Residents under 18 years: no charge.
(4) 
Tennis court regulations.
(a) 
General.
[1] 
Tennis courts are reserved exclusively for the enjoyment of members who are Ridgefield residents and their guests.
(b) 
Guest procedures.
[1] 
Guests will be permitted on tennis courts, provided that they are accompanied by a Ridgefield resident possessing a current tennis badge ID.
(c) 
Tennis court rules.
[1] 
When others are waiting:
[a] 
All play is restricted to one hour for singles and 1 1/2 hours for doubles, when other players are waiting to play.
[b] 
A court must be occupied by a minimum of two players and no more than four players (doubles), with the exception of Recreation Department sponsored activities.
(d) 
General rules.
[1] 
Members must have their tennis badge IDs with them at all times to use courts.
[2] 
Adults 18 years of age and older have priority of court use on weekends and holidays before 1:00 p.m.
[3] 
Mixed adult-youth play is permitted at all times.
[4] 
Shirts and proper attire must be worn at all times.
[5] 
Tennis shoes or sneakers are required on courts at all times.
[6] 
Borough-sponsored programs, whether tennis or otherwise, take precedence over all other play.
[7] 
Food and drink are prohibited on courts.
[8] 
Bicycles, carriages, skateboards, rollerblades, etc., are not permitted on courts.
[9] 
No animals are allowed in any part of the park, including the tennis court enclosures.
[10] 
All injuries must be reported immediately to the Recreation and Parks Department.
[11] 
No paid or unpaid group lessons will be permitted on courts except those sponsored by the Recreation and Parks Department and listed in the Department's brochure.
[12] 
No paid or unpaid private lessons will be permitted on the tennis courts. Violators (teacher and student) will lose court privileges.
[13] 
The Recreation and Parks Department has the right to revoke any tennis badge ID or eject any player for failure to comply with the aforementioned rules.
N. 
As to recreational facilities, the Recreation Commission may establish a schedule of times and facilities to be set aside for all responsible organizations. These organizations shall use the recreational facilities during such established times. The recreational facilities are open to all other residents at any other times.
O. 
No person shall throw stones or any foreign objects.
P. 
No profane or abusive language shall be used in any park or recreational facility.
These rules and regulations are supplemental to all Borough ordinances and statutes of the State of New Jersey and are not intended nor shall they relieve any person of the duties to observe other provisions as set forth in any New Jersey statute or ordinance of the Borough of Ridgefield.
The Borough may act to temporarily close or limit the use of parks and recreational facilities whenever in the judgment of appropriate Borough officials it is deemed necessary or desirable for the protection of health or safety of persons entitled to use such facilities.
Members of the Police Department of the Borough of Ridgefield, designated agents of the Parks and Recreations Department, the Mayor and Council and the Borough Administrator shall be authorized to prohibit any actions or conduct which they may consider to be dangerous, improper or immoral or any acts or actions in violation of the rules and regulations hereinbefore provided and shall have the power of expulsion.
[Amended 6-28-2010 by Ord. No. 2133]
A. 
If this article of the Code of the Borough of Ridgefield provides for the licensing or permitting of the violator, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ridgefield reserve the right to revoke such permit or license.
B. 
Any person found guilty of violating this article of the Code of the Borough of Ridgefield shall be subject to a penalty consisting of a fine or imprisonment, or both, subject to the discretion of the Judge, the maximum of which shall be the maximum fine or term of imprisonment permitted to be imposed by the court having jurisdiction over the violation of this article of the Code of the Borough of Ridgefield; provided, however, that the fine shall not be less than $100 nor more than $2,000 per offense and the prison term shall not exceed 90 days in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.
C. 
In the event of a continuing violation, each day shall constitute a separate offense.