Township of Towamencin, PA Chapter 107 Parks

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Towamencin 6-14-2017 by Ord. No. 17-03.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance repealed former Ch. 107, Parks, adopted 10-22-1987 by Ord. No. 87-16, as amended.

§ 107-1 Definitions.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings herein indicated:

FIREARM

Anything contained within the definition of "firearm" in the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act.[1]

LITTER

Includes rubbish, paper, trash, ashes, junk, waste, liquid or solid vegetable or animal matter and garbage.

PARK

Any park, playground, open space or municipal facility owned, leased, maintained by or dedicated to the Township of Towamencin.

TOWNSHIP

The Township of Towamencin.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS

The Chief of Police, Township Manager or the Board of Supervisors.

[1] Editor's Note: See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6101 et seq.

§ 107-2 Park regulations.

A. No person or persons without a special permit shall be allowed in the park except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and dusk, except in parks where other hours are posted.

B. Persons shall enter and leave a park by the entrances and exits provided for that purpose.

C. Automobiles or other vehicles shall not be parked in any roadway or section of ground except in areas designated for parking purposes nor driven on any areas other than designated roads within the parks.

D. The washing, repair or painting of any motor vehicle shall not be allowed in any park.

E. Intoxicating beverages shall not be possessed, sold, distributed or consumed within a park.

F. Intoxicated persons shall not be allowed in the park.

G. No person shall be present in any Township park, open space or recreation area while under the influence of intoxicating beverages, drugs or any other controlled substances.

H. Disorderly conduct as defined in the statutes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ordinance in the Township of Towamencin or in common law, is prohibited.

I. Abusive, indecent or threatening language or any conduct that may annoy others shall not be allowed in the parks.

J. No person shall operate a minibike, snowmobile or other similar recreational vehicle, whether licensed or unlicensed, anywhere in a Township park, recreation area or Township-owned open space area.

K. No animals are allowed in the park or recreational areas unless attended and controlled by a leash no greater than 12 feet in length. The individual in charge of an animal entering any park or recreational area is required to be in possession of proper implements for the gathering and disposing of animal feces. All feces will be collected immediately, removed from the park or recreational area and disposed of.

L. Defacing, injuring, displacing, removing or damaging any natural or artificial facility or appurtenance in the park shall not be permitted.

M. No persons shall scatter, drop or leave litter in any portion of a park except in the receptacles provided for that purpose.

N. No persons shall injure, deface or destroy any notices, rules or regulations for the government of a park posted or in any manner permanently fixed within the limits of the same.

O. No persons shall cut, injure, destroy, remove, disturb, interfere with or take any of the blossoms or fruit growing upon any tree, shrub, flower or bush in a park.

P. Fires in parks shall only be allowed in designated areas where fireplaces or stoves are provided or in grills brought to a park for this purpose. All fires are to be extinguished before leaving.

Q. Groups or parties wishing to reserve a park facility shall apply for a permit prior to occupying such a facility. Applications for a permit must be made at least 10 working days before the time the group or party desires to occupy the park and a schedule reservation fee must be paid.

R. Use of Township parks shall be restricted to persons who are residents and/or taxpayers of Towamencin Township or persons who are guests of Township residents, except for parks funded in part by state or federal grants.

S. Activities and games within the park shall take place in areas designated for such. Paintball and golf are prohibited activities in all parks.

T. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to discharge any firearm in any park or any Township open space, except in lawful self-defense.

U. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, in any park or Township open space, to bring into or to discharge any air rifles, spring guns, bow and arrow, slingshots, BB guns or any other missiles or projectiles not included within the definition of "firearms" contained within the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6101 et seq.

V. It shall be unlawful to molest, annoy, strike, injure, maim, kill or destroy any animal life and/or animal habitat in the park.

W. No soliciting, posting of notices or advertisements, vending or any commercial activity is permitted in any Township park except any concession as may be duly established by the Board of Township Supervisors.

X. No group exceeding 25 persons shall be allowed to use Township parks without a parks facilities use permit obtained from the Township Manager's office.

§ 107-3 Enforcement.

The Police Department of the Township of Towamencin shall enforce these regulations and exercise general supervision over persons occupying or using the parks. The police shall have the right to evict violators from the parks and to suspend the use thereof for up to one year in duration.

§ 107-4 Supervision.

The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Towamencin, along with the Open Space and Parks Committee and with other Township officers, shall exercise general supervision over persons occupying or using the parks and over the care, maintenance and replacement of Township property and equipment in the parks and shall keep such property and equipment in a clean and sanitary condition.

§ 107-5 Fees.

The Board of Supervisors may from time to time, by resolution, adopt a schedule of fees and charges and other use regulations for Township facilities.

§ 107-6 Parking violations.

A. Any person or persons who shall violate any of the above regulations relating to parking of a motor or other vehicle within any park shall be notified by the Police Department of such violation, said notice to be served by affixing a written ticket or notice upon the vehicle unlawfully operated or by personal service upon the owner or operator of the vehicle. The traffic notice shall indicate the violation, the model of the vehicle, the license number, the name and address of the owner, if such information is immediately available, the place and time of the violation and the officer's name.

(1) Any person receiving a notice of such a violation shall report within 72 hours to the Township Building and settle the charge by paying $10 for said violation to the proper Township employee, for the use of the Township of Towamencin, and thus avoid further proceedings.

(2) In case such person fails to report to the Township Building within 72 hours or, having reported, fails to settle the charge by paying the prescribed sum of money to the Township of Towamencin, the officer who served the notice shall file a citation against such person before a District Justice of the Township of Towamencin, and thereafter the said District Justice shall follow the procedure and prescribe such fines as are set forth hereinbelow.

B. The procedures and charges set forth in this section shall be in addition to and not a substitution for the fines and penalties prescribed for violation of any other Township ordinance.

§ 107-7 Violations and penalties.

Any person or persons violating the provisions of this chapter shall, upon summary conviction before a District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $300, costs of prosecution and restitution of damages.

A. No person or persons without a special permit shall be allowed in the park except between dawn and dusk.