Township of West Hempfield, PA Chapter 92 Parks and Recreation

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Hempfield 4-1-2003 by Ord. No. 7-03.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Outdoor burning — See Ch. 54.

Curfew — See Ch. 60.

Noise — See Ch. 88.

Peace and good order — See Ch. 96.

Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 99.

Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 139.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 92, Parks and Recreation, adopted 7-3-1984 as Ch. 16, Part 1, of the 1984 Code, as amended.

§ 92-1 Purpose.

These regulations are established to govern the conduct of members of the public in parks and recreational facilities and other properties established and/or maintained by the Township and to protect and preserve public property.

§ 92-2 Definitions and word usage.

A. The following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

APPLICABLE APPROVING AUTHORITY

For all Township property other than Grubb Lake Nature Park, the Board of Supervisors. For Grubb Lake Nature Park, the Board of Supervisors and Council of the Borough of Mountville.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The Board of Supervisors of the Township or its designee.

PERSON

Any individual, corporation, association, partnership, firm, trust, estate or legal entity whatsoever which is recognized by the law as the subject of rights and duties.

TOWNSHIP

The Township of West Hempfield, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

TOWNSHIP PROPERTY

Any real estate owned or leased or maintained in whole or jointly by the Township, including but not limited to Grubb Lake Nature Park which the Township jointly operates with the Borough of Mountville.

B. As used in this chapter, words expressed in the singular include their plural meaning, and words expressed in the plural include their singular meaning. Words in the masculine gender include the feminine gender and the neuter.

§ 92-3 Regulations for use of Township property.

From and after the enactment of this chapter, the following regulations shall be in effect for the proper conduct or behavior of all persons using any facilities of the Township or being upon any Township property:

A. Regulations governing animals on Township property.

[Amended 8-7-2018 by Ord. No. 7-18]

(1) Service animals, including but not limited to guide dogs, are permitted on any Township property when engaged in assisting a person with a handicap requiring such assistance. Any service animal shall be on leash and under the control of the person it is assisting.

(2) Dogs are permitted only on Township properties where the Board of Supervisors has, by resolution, authorized dogs to be brought onto such property and the Township has posted the property with signs stating that dogs are allowed to be present on such property. Where the Board of Supervisors has authorized dogs to be brought onto a particular Township property and signs have been posted to allow dogs, persons bringing a dog onto Township property shall comply with the following regulations:

(a) Dogs shall be currently licensed and vaccinated.

(b) There shall be a limit of two dogs per adult.

(c) Aggressive dogs are not permitted to be brought onto any Township property.

(d) Dogs must be leashed at all times, and the leash must not be longer than six feet unless the Township has developed an enclosed area for dogs to be allowed off leash and such area is posted to state that dogs may be allowed off leash.

(e) No person shall allow a dog to be on any playground area, court or sports field, or inside a building, concession stand or picnic pavilion.

(3) Any person bringing any dog or other animal, whether legally or illegally, onto any Township property is responsible for the immediate removal and proper disposal of any fecal matter deposited by the animal.

(4) Any person bringing any animal onto Township property, whether legally or illegally, shall be responsible for any injuries inflicted by such animal on any person or any other animal or any damage to property.

(5) No person shall bring any animal onto any Township property other than a service animal or a dog where the Township has posted the Township property to state that dogs are specifically authorized.

B. No person shall hunt for, shoot at, chase, catch, or intentionally injure or kill or attempt to shoot at, chase, catch or intentionally injure or kill, with or without dogs, any bird or animal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, fishing other than ice fishing is permitted if such person has a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and is in compliance with all applicable Pennsylvania Fish Commission regulations.

C. No person shall swim, wade, or bathe at any place.

D. No person shall operate or use any boats on Township property.

E. No person shall engage in any unlawful gambling.

F. No person shall discharge within any Township park or recreational facility any firearms as that term is defined by § 6120(b) of the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act[1] except for the justifiable use of force as authorized by Chapter 5 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.[2] No person shall use or possess within any Township park or recreational facility any bow and arrow, sling shot, air rifle or any other device (other than firearms as defined above) capable of throwing any projectile of any sort, including the hand-throwing of rocks or stones intended to be used as weapons. This section shall not be operative in any specific area now designated or to be designated in the future by the Township as a rifle range, archery range, or any other specific area whose purpose is to allow the activities otherwise prohibited by this section.

[Amended 5-4-2010 by Ord. No. 3-10]

[1] Editor's Note: See 18 Pa. C.S. § 6120(b).

[2] Editor's Note: See 18 Pa. C.S. § 101 et seq.

G. Possession or use of alcoholic beverages upon Township property is prohibited. Persons under the influence of intoxicating beverages shall not be permitted on Township property.

H. No person shall break, cut, deface, disturb, injure or take any flower, fruit, plant, tree shrub, bench, building, fence, monuments, or other structure, apparatus or property.

I. No person shall gather or remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel unless authorized by the applicable approval authority.

J. No person shall remove, molest, injure or damage anything natural or physical on Township property.

K. No person shall injure, deface or destroy any posted or permanently fixed signs or notices.

L. No person shall smoke in areas where forbidden by signs.

M. No person shall discard matches, cigars or cigarettes in any area.

N. No person shall leave any cans, bottles, broken glass, paper or rubbish of any description. All refuse shall be removed from the site by the person or party that generated same before leaving the Township property or placed in trash receptacles if provided.

O. No person shall discard any refuse, dead animal or offensive matter or substance of any kind.

P. No person shall make or kindle open fires except in picnic stoves or enclosed fireplaces in designated areas unless specifically authorized by the applicable approval authority. All fires must be extinguished before leaving.

Q. No person shall post or erect any bills, notices or advertising matter of any kind. This shall not apply to notices placed by employees of the Township engaged in the performance of their duties.

R. No person shall peddle or solicit business of any nature whatsoever on Township property without the permission of the applicable approval authority.

S. No person shall engage in camping unless permitted by the applicable approval authority.

T. No person shall stand or park any vehicle except at those places designated therefor.

U. No person shall violate any posted rules for or misuse any picnic area, playfield, or other recreational area.

V. No person shall operate electric generators or chain saws or other powered implements unless authorized by the applicable approval authority.

W. No person shall wash or repair any motor vehicle, including but not limited to the changing of oil or other fluids, except for emergency repairs.

X. No person shall have or conduct any live musical, theatrical or other entertainment or exhibit, instruct, compete, demonstrate or allow a special event unless authorized by the applicable approval authority and unless all necessary permits have been obtained.

Y. No person shall operate any vehicle at any place other than authorized roadways or special areas designed for operation of such vehicles. The speed limit shall be no more than 10 miles per hour.

Z. No person shall engage in any violent, abusive, loud, boisterous, vulgar, lewd, wanton, obscene or otherwise disorderly conduct tending to create a breach of the peace or to disturb or annoy others while in or on any Township property. No person shall commit any indecent or immoral act intending to debauch the morals or manners of the public while in or on any Township property.

AA. No person shall operate snowmobiles, mini-bikes, go-carts or other unregistered motorized land or air vehicles at any place upon the Township property unless permitted by applicable approval authority.

BB. No person shall operate a mountain bike at any location, including but not limited to any trails, on Township property.

CC. No person shall horseback ride on Township property.

DD. No person shall use or operate a skateboard on any Township property; provided, however, skateboards may be operated if there is a designated and identified area which has been posted to authorize use of skateboards.

EE. No person shall abandon any vehicle within the limits of any Township property or roads abutting said Township property.

FF. No person shall have any organized group conduct activities of any kind without having first secured a permit from the applicable approval authority.

GG. No person shall commit any unlawful act as designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the Township.

HH. No person shall create or place fixed or temporary structures unless authorized by the applicable approval authority.

II. No person shall park, or allow to be parked, any vehicle on Township property unless such person is legally and actively utilizing such Township property, engaged in business with the Township, or has received special permission from the applicable approval authority.

§ 92-4 Hours of operation.

Township property shall be open to the public from dawn to dusk each day unless different hours are established by the applicable approval authority.

§ 92-5 Availability; reservations.

All facilities in Township parks are available for the use of the general public. Individual facilities may be reserved by contacting the applicable approval authority and by paying the fee as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. A security deposit may be required for the use of facilities in Township parks.

§ 92-6 Additional regulations.

The applicable approval authority may, by resolution, from time to time establish additional rules and regulations and, if it so desires, alter, amend and supplement the rules and regulations herein established for the operation, use and protection of the Township property. Such rules and regulations may include but shall not be limited to regulations governing the times for presence of persons therein, the nature and extent of the permitted and prohibited uses thereof, and such other matters as the applicable approval authority may deem necessary or proper for the protection of the Township property and the persons and properties therein.

§ 92-7 Enforcement.

This chapter may be enforced by any Township police officer and by the Code Enforcement Officer.

§ 92-8 Penalties.

Any person convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before a district justice, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $600 and the cost of prosecution for each and every offense, plus the cost of all damages inflicted upon Township property.