[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Highlands 5-19-2014 by L.L. No. 2-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter is enacted to provide for the protection, care
and control of public parks and recreation areas in the Town and to
regulate the conduct of persons using such facilities.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Includes all public parks, playgrounds, recreation areas
and other facilities within the Town and under ownership of the Town
or under control and supervision of the Town Board or Recreation Commission.
Any activity or event conducted, sponsored or organized by
a group other than the Town Recreation Department or the owner of
a property operated as a park by the Town Board or Recreation Commission.
A.
The parks are for the enjoyment of Town of Highlands residents, guests
and visitors for any proper purpose, subject to the restrictions set
forth in this chapter.
B.
The use of parks by any person or persons shall be subject to the
prior right of use by the Town Recreation Department while engaged
in actual conduct of its recreational programs.
A person or group of persons shall, while upon any park, observe
the following rules of conduct:
A.
No swimming, except in accordance with the rules at Long Pond Recreation
Area.
B.
No open fires or flames of any sort.
C.
No cooking, except in cases where the Town has provided a grill for
such purposes.
E.
Private groups, exclusive of the owner of a property operated as a park by the Town Board or Recreation Commission, must apply for permits in accordance with § 135-5.
F.
All dogs must be kept on a leash, except in such areas, if any, as
may be clearly marked therefor by signs posted.
G.
No feeding of wildlife.
H.
No loud noise or amplified music.
I.
No motorized vehicles, except as a means of ingress and egress.
J.
No overnight parking of any motorized vehicles or trailers, and no
overnight camping.
K.
The speed limit, unless otherwise posted, shall be 10 miles per hour.
L.
A park shall not be used for any purpose during the hours that such
facility is closed or when such facility or a part thereof is posted
"Closed."
M.
A person shall not damage, deface, injure, destroy, remove or interfere
with any property of the Town, including plant life, wildlife and
archeological relics (nor shall anyone operate metal detectors in
connection with the search for archeological relics).
O.
A person shall not bring in or dump upon, deposit or leave any bottles,
broken glass, trash, garbage or other refuse, except in connection
with the proper use of the property and placed in 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.
P.
A person shall not post or otherwise place any sign, placard or advertisement
whatever, unless authorized by proper authority.
Q.
A person shall not carry or possess firearms of any description,
air rifles, spring guns, bow and arrows, slings or any other forms
of weapons potentially inimical to wildlife and dangerous to human
safety or any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges
of any kind or trapping device. Shooting into park areas from beyond
park boundaries is forbidden.
R.
A person shall not have in his possession or cause to be exploded
or discharge any firecrackers, fireworks or similar thing.
S.
A person shall not bring golf clubs or similar equipment or use the
same in any park facility.
T.
A person shall not disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person
or persons occupying any area or participating in any activity under
authority of a permit.
U.
A person shall not conduct himself in a disorderly or indecent manner
or commit any indecent act or use profane, indecent or obscene language
or gestures or interfere with or disturb any other person using or
enjoying such facility.
Permits shall be required for special events as follows:
A.
The person or persons seeking issuance of such a permit shall file
an application, in writing, signed by the applicant, with the Town
Board, stating:
(1)
The name and address of the applicant.
(2)
The name and address of the person, persons, corporation or association
sponsoring the activity, if any.
(3)
The day and the hours for which the permit is desired.
(4)
The park and 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.
B.
Issuance of a permit shall be made by the Town Board based on the
following criteria and may contain special conditions as appropriate:
(1)
The proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere
with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park.
(2)
The nature and character of the proposed activity or use of the park
is not reasonably anticipated to incite violence, crime or disorderly
conduct.
(3)
The proposed activity or use of the park will not entail extraordinary
or burdensome expense of police operation by the Town.
(4)
The park area or facility desired has not been reserved for other
use at the date and hour desired in the application and does not conflict
with any other activity of the Town Recreation Department.
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 the group to whom such permit shall
have been issued.
All persons obtaining a permit shall, in all respects, be required
to observe the conditions in this chapter and any regulations or promulgated
pursuant hereto, as well as any special conditions contained in the
permit.
A.
Park hours. Except for emergencies or another special reason, the
various parks in the Town shall be open to the public every day of
the year during designated hours. The opening and closing hours for
each individual park shall be posted therein and in the Town Hall
for public information and shall be determined, from time to time,
by resolution of the Town Board. If no opening or closing hours are
established and posted as herein provided, parks shall open at 8:00
a.m. and close at sunset, except those parks which are publicly lighted,
which shall open at 8:00 a.m. and close 15 minutes after the lights
go out.
B.
Any part or the whole of any park may be closed to the public at
any time and for such interval of times 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 rules of conduct set forth in § 135-4 of this chapter shall regulate the conduct of persons, as individuals or members of a group or groups of persons, and govern their use of parks, playgrounds or recreational areas of the Town.
B.
The Town Board may, by resolution, adopt provisions of a temporary nature inconsistent with the rules of conduct as set forth in § 135-4 of this chapter.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not to exceed $250
for each offense or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days,
or both.
