Township of Haverford, PA Article I Public Parks and Playgrounds

[Adopted 11-13-1944 as Ord. No. 704]

§ 126-1 Short title; purpose.

[Amended 7-9-1962 by Ord. No. 1179]

A. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Park Ordinance."

B. These rules and regulations are created to cover the use, operation and conduct of the public parks and playgrounds of the Township of Haverford and include all parks and playgrounds owned, used or leased by the Township of Haverford, as well as those jointly used by the Township of Haverford and others.

§ 126-2 Hours of operation; exception.

[Amended 7-9-1962 by Ord. No. 1179; 10-9-1972 by Ord. No. 1484]

No person shall be allowed in a park or playground except between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and dusk unless a permit for overnight camping has been obtained or unless the park and/or playground has adequate functioning lighting facilities.

§ 126-3 General regulations governing parks.

A. No person shall enter or leave a park except by entrances or exits provided for such purpose.

B. No person shall stand or lie on a table, bench or seat.

C. No person shall enter a toilet set apart for the use of the opposite sex.

D. No intoxicated person shall be permitted in a park.

E. No gambling or any obscene or indecent act or any abusive, threatening, indecent or profane language or any conduct that may annoy others shall be allowed in a park.

F. No person shall solicit alms or subscriptions in a park.

G. Canines and domestic animals.

[Amended 12-9-1996 by Ord. No. 2259; 4-9-2018 by Ord. No. 2831; 11-13-2018 by Ord. No. 2851]

(1) Canines are not permitted in the following Township parks: Westgate Hills, Hilltop, Lynnewood, Merry Place, Genthert Field, Karakung Field, Carroll Park, Richland Farms play area and Steele Field.

(2) Subject to the restrictions in § 126-3G(3), canines that are under control and properly leashed on a leash no longer than six feet long are permitted on the pathways, perimeter and wooded areas of the following Township parks: Bailey, Cadwalder Tract, Chatham Glen, Community Park, Darby Creek Valley Park, Elwell, Fairmount Park, Foster Tract, Gest Tract, Grange, Grasslyn, Lawrence Road, Llanerch, Llanerch Crossings, Merwood, Normandy, Paddock, Polo, Powder Mill, Preston Field, Thompson Tract, Veterans, Hillside Avenue and Highland Farms.

(3) Canines are prohibited in or within eight feet of the following areas in the Township parks listed in § 126-3G(2):

(a) Playground equipment areas;

(b) Sports fields and sports surfaces, including but not limited to benches, batting cages, dugouts, basketball and tennis courts and other court surfaces;

(c) Spectator viewing areas and bleachers around sports fields and sports surfaces;

(d) Restrooms;

(e) Concession areas;

(f) Pavilions; and

(g) All perimeter areas that intersect with these excluded areas.

(4) No other domestic animals are permitted in Township parks without a permit, other than service animals as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles II and III.

(5) Canine handlers must properly clean up after and dispose of any waste in accordance with § 49-4, and are subject to the penalties specified in § 49-22.

H. Parking.

[Amended 9-8-2008 by Ord. No. 2549]

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in any Township park, unless such person is a park patron who is using such park for park purposes during such time as such patron's motor vehicle is parked in such park.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in any Township park at any time other than during park hours.

(3) No person shall park any motor vehicle in any portion of a park except in spaces set aside and marked for parking purposes, and no person shall occupy a parked motor vehicle after dark except with the interior lights turned on. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive recklessly in a park, and no person shall drive in a park in excess of the posted speed limit. No person shall enter or leave a park except by entrances or exits provided for such purposes, and no person shall drive a motor vehicle in a park except on a road or driveway.

I. No person shall carry or use firearms or throw stones or other missiles or leave dead animals or offensive matter of any kind in a park.

J. No person shall scatter, drop or leave any paper, rag, garbage, dead flowers or plants, glass, tin cans or other rubbish anywhere in a park, except in receptacles provided for such purpose.

K. No person shall injure, damage or deface any buildings, structures, fences, bridges, playground equipment or other property in a park, nor climb any tree or break, cut down, trample upon, remove or in any manner injure or damage any ornament, rock, stone, tree, plant, shrub, fern, blossom, flower or turf, nor foul nor contaminate any stream or water. The picking of violets, buttercups, daisies or dandelions is permitted.

L. No person shall annoy, injure or kill any animals or birds in a park, nor disturb waterfowl in the streams, pools or ponds, nor remove or carry away any bird's nest or eggs.

M. No person shall injure, deface or destroy any public signs or notices posted in a park.

N. No advertisement, placard or notice, except public notices, shall be posted or distributed in a park.

O. No person shall light or permit a fire to burn in a park except in fireplaces provided for such purpose.

P. (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection P, regarding meetings for political, industrial or other similar purposes, was repealed 7-8-2013 by Ord. No. 2686.

Q. The playing of golf in any park is prohibited except on putting greens provided for such purpose.

R. No persons over 12 years of age shall appear in parks without shirts or other proper clothing.

S. No person, vendor or business entity shall sell their goods, wares, merchandise, food, drink, products or services in or on Township park/playground property unless said business activity is a nonprofit organization, association or civil group authorized by the Board of Commissioners to conduct community events, activities or sporting programs in park/playground facilities.

[Added 6-7-1993 by Ord. No. 2175]

§ 126-4 General regulations governing playgrounds, athletic fields and tennis courts.

A. The promiscuous use of javelins, arrows, discus or similar athletic equipment dangerous in character is prohibited unless used under the direct supervision of an authorized playground supervisor.

B. The riding of minibikes, trail bikes, motor scooters, motorcycles and any self-propelled vehicle in the area of any playfield or athletic field is prohibited; except, however, a vehicle on governmental business.

[Amended 6-14-1971 by Ord. No. 1427]

C. The use of the tennis courts of Haverford Township for any other activity other than tennis playing is prohibited.

[Added 3-10-1975 by Ord. No. 1597]

§ 126-5 Certain activities permitted in parks by permit only.

The use of a park for any of the following purposes is prohibited unless a permit is first obtained from the Township Secretary as hereinafter provided:

A. Sale of merchandise.

B. Use of fireworks.

C. Musical or theatrical entertainments.

D. Overnight camping.

E. Parties or gatherings in excess of 15 persons for any purpose whatever.

[Amended 10-10-2017 by Ord. No. 2820]

§ 126-6 (Reserved) [1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former § 126-6, Distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages, was repealed 7-8-2013 by Ord. No. 2686. See now Art. III, Alcoholic Beverages.

§ 126-7 Enforcement.

The Police Department shall enforce the regulations hereinabove set forth and shall exercise general supervision over persons and property in all parks.

§ 126-8 Maintenance of parks and equipment; authority of Committee on Parks.

[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]

The Department of Parks and Recreation shall have general custody of all parks and all maintenance, repairs and replacements of property and equipment therein and shall be chargeable with the duty of keeping the parks in a clean and sanitary condition at all times. In view of the fact that the parks and playgrounds of the Township have been acquired and are maintained primarily for the use of the residents of the Township, the Committee on Parks or any person or persons designated by it shall have the right to exclude therefrom any person who is not a resident of the Township.

§ 126-9 Special permits.

[Amended 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 2168]

Special permits for the use of parks shall be issued by the Township Secretary upon application therefor. No charge shall be made for such permits. Permit fees shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Commissioners, which may be amended from time to time. No permit shall be issued, however, unless an application therefor is made to the Township Secretary, in writing, at least 24 hours before the applicant intends to use the same. Any person to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any person or persons by reason of the negligence or fault of the applicant, his servants, agents or employees.

§ 126-10 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960; 6-13-1988 by Ord. No. 2019; 3-12-2012 by Ord. No. 2660]

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this articleshall, upon summary conviction before any District Justice of the Peace, pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 and costs of prosecution; and in default of one payment of the fine and costs, the violator may be sentenced to the county jail for a term of not more than 90 days. Each and every day in which any person, firm or corporation shall be in violation of this articleshall constitute a separate offense.