[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of North Versailles 6-9-1975 by Ord. No. 716 (Ch. 16, Part 1, of the
1987 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the intent, purpose, and scope of this chapter to insure
the preservation of public park lands, recreation facilities, and
conservation areas within the Township of North Versailles for the
perpetual enjoyment of the residents of the Township of North Versailles,
to regulate activities within these areas consistent with the enjoyment
of unspoiled natural settings and park facilities, and to prevent
any nuisances to the residents of the Township of North Versailles
in the use of such public park lands, recreation facilities, and conservation
areas or in the enjoyment of private property adjacent to such areas.
No person, except those authorized by the Township and conducting
Township business, shall, in recreation, park, or conservation areas:
A.
Injure, deface, disturb, befoul nor in any manner destroy or cause
to be destroyed any part of any recreation, park or conservation site
owned by the Township, nor any building, sign, structure, equipment,
utility or other property found therein.
B.
Remove, injure or destroy any tree, flower, shrub, plant or growing
thing, or any rock or other mineral.
C.
Kill, trap, hunt, pursue or in any manner deliberately disturb or cause to be disturbed any wild bird or animal within the recreation, park and conservancy sites owned by the Township, except as permitted in § 206-4B.
D.
Throw, discharge, or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the
waters of any fountain, pond, lake or other body of water in or adjacent
to any park or any tributary, stream, storm sewer, or drain flowing
into such waters, any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid,
which may result in the pollution of said waters; nor to dump, deposit
or leave any bottles, broken glass, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish,
waste, garbage, refuse, or trash anywhere within the park and conservancy
sites owned by the Township; but rather to make use of proper receptacles
where these are provided, and where receptacles are not so provided,
all such materials shall be carried away from the park by the person
responsible for its presence, and properly disposed of elsewhere.
A.
Hours of operation. Recreation, park and conservation areas shall
be open daily to the public from official sunrise to official sunset;
and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons, other than Township
personnel conducting Township business therein, to occupy or be present
in said park during any hours in which the park is not open to the
public. Permits must be obtained for use after official sunset for
specific activities. Any section or part of the recreation, park and
conservation areas may be declared closed to the public at any time
and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular or
stated intervals. During such periods of time, it shall be unlawful
to enter upon or occupy such areas or portions thereof contrary to
posted regulations.
B.
Group activity; possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
When any North Versailles group, association or organization desires
to use recreation or park facilities for a particular purpose, such
as picnics, parties or theatrical or entertainment performances, a
representative of said group, association or organization shall first
obtain a permit for such use in specially designated areas from the
Recreation Board and/or Recreation Director. The Board of Commissioners
may adopt an application form to be used by the Recreation Board which
may require an indemnity bond or other security to protect the Township
from any liability of any kind or character and to protect property
from damage. The Recreation Board and/or Recreation Director shall
grant the permit if it appears that the group, association or organization
will not interfere with the general use of the park by the individual
members of the public, and if the group, association or organization
meets all other conditions contained in the application. It shall
be unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession, custody
or control any alcoholic beverage, including beer of any kind whatsoever,
except as a member of a North Versailles group, association or organization
granted a permit for particular activities in specially designated
areas as set forth in this section.
C.
Use of facilities. Facilities and areas in Township recreation parks
or conservancy sites shall be used only for the purposes designated
or implicit in their character. Special activities, including flying
model airplane, games, picnics, the operation of motor scooters, motorcycles,
minibikes, go-carts and snowmobiles and similar vehicles, shall be
permitted only at locations or trails specifically designated for
such use and at times established.
D.
Motor vehicles. Licensed motor vehicles shall be permitted only on
designated roadways. The speed limit for such vehicles on such roadways
shall be 15 miles per hour. Motors scooters, motorcycles, minibikes,
go-carts and snowmobiles shall not be permitted on roadways designated
for licensed vehicular traffic unless licensed for travel on the public
roads of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All vehicles shall be parked
in areas or places so provided and designated. Parking in places contrary
to posted regulations and times is prohibited, and such vehicles may
be removed by the Township at the owners' expense. All parking
is prohibited after regular closing time. It shall be unlawful to
clean, wash, repair, or do any work whatsoever on private vehicles
within recreation, park and conservation areas except for emergency
repairs.[1]
E.
Fees. The Board of Commissioners shall have the authority to issue
a fee schedule for permits, set the amount of deposits and prescribe
conditions under which deposits are collected or forfeited. Such revenue
shall be used for recreation, park and conservation purposes within
the general fund.
A.
Fires and fireworks. Fires may not be built or allowed anywhere in
recreation, park or conservation areas except in stoves, fireplaces
or designated areas provided for that purpose. Permits must be secured
for any fireworks at any time, and for fires to be maintained after
closing time.
B.
Animals. It shall be unlawful for owners of domesticated animals
to permit same within recreation, park or conservation areas without
being controlled by a leash not more than six feet long. Permits may
be obtained for the training and/or exhibition of animals in designated
areas. It shall be unlawful to bring any dangerous animal into any
recreation, park or conservation area.
C.
Gambling. Gambling is prohibited on recreation, park and conservation
lands.
D.
Merchandising, advertising and signs. No person shall, in recreation,
park or conservation areas:
(1)
Offer for sale any article or thing, nor station or place any stand,
cart or vehicle for the transportation, sale, or display of any such
article or thing except under the authority of the Board of Commissioners
and/or Township Secretary by application and permit.
(2)
Announce, advertise, or call the public attention in any way to any
article or service for sale or hire.
(3)
Post, paste, fasten, paint, write, draw, carve, tack or affix any
placard, bill, notice, sign, advertisement, or any inscription whatever
upon any structure, tree, stone, fence, thing or enclosure within
any recreation, park or conservation area or on any public lands or
highways or roads adjacent to any recreation, park or conservation
area, except that the Township may place informational signs within
such areas.
E.
Aircraft. It shall be unlawful to land a private or commercial airplane
or helicopter on recreation, park and conservation lands.
F.
Personal conduct. It shall be unlawful for any person in any recreation
park or conservation area to:
(1)
Disturb the peace or use profane or obscene language.
(2)
Endanger the safety of any person by any conduct or act.
(3)
Commit any assault or battery, or engage in fighting.
(4)
Carry, possess, or drink any alcoholic beverage including beer except as otherwise permitted under § 206-3B.
(5)
Violate any rule for the use of the park, made or approved by the
Recreation Board.
(6)
Prevent any person from using any park, or any of its facilities,
or interfere with such use in compliance with this chapter and the
rules applicable to such use.
(7)
Act in an unlawful, disorderly or disruptive manner or against the
best interests of the areas or other people.
The Board of Commissioners and agents designated by them, primarily
the Recreation Board, shall administer the provisions of this chapter,
including the establishment and collection of fees, preparation of
application forms, issuance and revocation of permits, promulgation
of rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter
and all other decisions relative thereto. When acts or conduct of
individuals or groups is determined to be in violation of this chapter
or rules and regulations promulgated by the authority of this chapter;
or not to be in the best interests of the recreation, park and conservancy
area; or when such acts or conduct endangers other people, private
or public property; or when such acts are deemed to be disruptive
to the surrounding neighborhood, the Township Police, Recreation Board
or their agent assigned to such area or program shall have the authority
to cause such acts to be terminated, or to expel the perpetrators
of such acts from the area, or to call the Township police to arrest
and detain such individual or individuals, or to file a complaint
for the violation of this chapter with a Magisterial District Judge.
[Amended 11-16-1987 by Ord. No. 857; 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 867]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or to imprisonment for a term not
to exceed 30 days.
