[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Palisades Park as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Violations and penalties — See Ch. 1, § 1-15.
Alcoholic beverages — See Ch. 84.
Bicycles — See Ch. 94.
Dogs — See Ch. 125.
Hunting and gunning — See Ch. 163.
Loitering — See Ch. 179.
Parking on posted land — See Ch. 206.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 214.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 218.
[Adopted 3-28-1985 by Ord. No. 1019]
This article is enacted to provide for the protection, care and control of public parks and recreation areas in the Borough and to regulate the conduct of persons using such facilities.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PARK
Includes all public parks, playgrounds, recreation areas and other facilities within the Borough and under the ownership of the Borough or under the control and supervision of the Mayor and Council of the Borough.
SPECIAL EVENT
Any activity or event conducted, sponsored or organized by a group other than the Borough Recreation Committee.
A. 
The parks are for the enjoyment of Palisades Park residents and the public, for any proper purposes, subject to the restrictions set forth in this article.
[Amended 3-18-2003 by Ord. No. 1412]
B. 
The use of parks by any person or persons shall be subject to the prior right of use by the Borough Recreation Committee while engaged in the actual conduct of its recreational programs.
A. 
Any group or organization which desires the use of any park for the purpose of conducting a specific program or activity is required to obtain a specific permit for such purpose, obtainable at the recreation office. Application for such use must be made at least 14 days in advance of the scheduled program or activity and must be approved by the Mayor and Council.
B. 
The person or persons seeking issuance of such a permit shall file an application, in writing, with the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Palisades Park stating:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
The names and addresses of the person, persons, corporation or association sponsoring the activities, if any.
(3) 
The day and the hours for which the permit is desired.
(4) 
The park or a portion thereof for which such permit is desired.
(5) 
A reliable estimate of the anticipated attendance.
(6) 
The type of activity for which such permit is desired.
(7) 
The anticipated age group of the expected participants.
(8) 
The names and addresses of the adult persons who would supervise and be responsible for the proposed activity.
(9) 
Such other information as may be reasonably required.
C. 
Issuance of a permit shall be made by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Palisades Park based on the following criteria and may contain special conditions as appropriate:
(1) 
That the proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park.
(2) 
That the nature and character of the proposed activity or use of the park are not reasonably anticipated to incite violence, crime or disorderly conduct.
(3) 
That the proposed activity or use of the park will not entail extraordinary or burdensome expense of police operation by the Borough.
(4) 
That the park area or facility desired has not been reserved for other use at the date and hour desired in the application and that it does not conflict with any other activity of the Borough Recreation Committee.
Any person aggrieved by the issuance or nonissuance of a permit may appeal the decision to the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Palisades Park within 10 days from the issuance of the permit or rejection of the application.
The person or persons to whom any permit is issued hereunder shall be fully liable for any and all loss, damage or injury sustained by any person whatever by reason of the willful misconduct or negligence of the person, persons or one of them to whom such permit shall have been issued.
All persons obtaining a permit shall, in all respects, be required to observe the conditions of this article and any regulations promulgated pursuant hereto, as well as any special conditions contained in the permit.
A. 
Park hours. Except for emergencies or other special reasons, the various parks in the Borough shall be open to the public every day of the year during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The opening and closing hours for each individual park shall be posted therein and in the Municipal Building for public information and shall be determined, from time to time, by resolution of the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 8-16-2005 by Res. No. 17]
B. 
Maintenance of parks shall be provided by the Borough Department of Public Works.
C. 
Any part or the whole of any park may be closed to the public at any time and for such interval of time as may be reasonably necessary in the public interest. Such closing shall be accomplished by the posting of signs containing the word "closed" and such other information as may be reasonably required to inform the public.
A. 
The regulations set forth in Subsection C of this section shall regulate the conduct of persons, as individuals or members of a group, and groups of persons and govern their use of parks, playgrounds or recreational areas of the Borough.
B. 
The Mayor and Council may, by resolution, adopt special provisions of a temporary nature inconsistent with the regulations as set forth in Subsection C of this section or in addition thereto.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 10, which immediately followed this subsection and dealt with violations and penalties, was deleted 8-15-1995 by Ord. No. 1226.
C. 
No person or group of persons shall, while upon any Borough park, playground or recreational facility:
(1) 
Be in or use the same for any purpose during the hours such facility is closed or when such facility or a part thereof is posted as closed.
(2) 
Damage, deface, injure, destroy, remove or interfere with any property of the Borough, including plant life or wildlife.
(3) 
Bring any domestic animal or animals into such facility or bring or ride a horse thereon.
(4) 
Kindle, build or maintain a fire of any sort.
(5) 
Picnic or bring foodstuffs into any area except such area, if any, as may be clearly marked therefor by signs posted.
(6) 
Bring or consume any alcoholic beverage.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 1514]
(7) 
Bring in or dump on or deposit or leave on any bottles, broken glass, trash, garbage or other refuse except in connection with the proper use of the property and when placed in the proper receptacles where provided for such matter, and, where receptacles are not provided, such matter shall be carried away by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.
(8) 
Post or otherwise place any sign, placard or advertisement whatever, unless authorized by proper authority, except that posters, placards or notices authorized by the Department of Recreation dealing with the functions of the Department of Recreation are considered authorized.
(9) 
Carry or possess firearms (which prohibition shall not apply to law enforcement officers) of any description or air rifles, spring guns, bows and arrows, slings or any other forms of weapons potentially inimical to wildlife and dangerous to human safety or any instruments that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges or any kinds of trapping devices. Shooting into park areas from beyond park boundaries is forbidden.
(10) 
Have in his possession or cause to be exploded or discharged any firecrackers, fireworks or similar things.
(11) 
Ride a bicycle on other than a paved vehicular road designated for that purpose. A bicyclist shall be permitted to wheel or push a bicycle by hand over any grassy area or trail or paved area reserved for pedestrian use.
(12) 
Drive, operate, use or bring into any park any automobile, motorbike, minibike, moped or motorcycle or any other motor vehicle, except that properly licensed vehicles may be brought to designated parking areas, if any, using designated roads for that purpose.
(13) 
Gamble or participate in any way in a game of chance or engage in wagering or participate in any game or sport for money or other valuable thing.
(14) 
Bring golf clubs or similar equipment or use the same in any park facility.
(15) 
Solicit contributions or support for any purpose, public or private.
(16) 
Sell or offer to sell any article of merchandise or thing or display for sale any article or thing.
(17) 
Disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person or persons occupying any area or participating in any activity under authority of a permit.
(18) 
Conduct himself in a disorderly or indecent manner or commit any indecent act or use profane, indecent or obscene language or gesture or interfere with or disturb any other person using or enjoying such facility.
(19) 
Wildlife feeding.
[Added 9-20-2005 by Ord. No. 1456]
(a) 
No person shall feed, in any public park or on any other property owned or operated by the Borough of Palisades Park, any wildlife, which includes all animals that are not domesticated, excluding confined wildlife.
(b) 
Violations and penalties. Any person in violation of this subsection who fails or refuses to comply therewith shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $50 and no more than $100 for each offense.
The Department of Parks and Playgrounds reserves the right, without given notice, to close any and all parks and playgrounds for reasons of inclement weather, to include snowstorms, high winds and rain.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. II, Recreation Program Fees, adopted 9-20-2011 by Ord. No. 1573, was repealed 11-28-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-12. This ordinance also changed the title of this chapter from "Parks and Playgrounds; Recreation" to "Parks and Playgrounds." See now Ch. 230, Recreation.