[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Chester 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-04. Amendments noted where applicable.]
These are rules and regulations for the use of and conduct in
the parks and recreation areas and facilities within the Borough.
These rules and regulations shall apply in all parks and recreation
areas and facilities within the jurisdiction of the Borough, unless
expressly exempted. For the issuance of permits, temporary designations,
authorizations, granting of approval and other actions, the approving
authority shall be the Borough governing body or its designee.
In the interpretation of this and all succeeding park and recreation
area rules and regulations the provisions shall be construed as follows:
A.
Any term in the singular shall include the plural.
B.
Any term in the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter.
C.
Any requirement or prohibition of any act shall respectively extend
to and include the causing and procuring, directly or indirectly,
of such act.
D.
No provision hereof shall make unlawful any act necessarily performed
by any police officer or Borough employee in line of duty or work
as such, or by any person, his agent or employee, in the proper and
necessary execution of the terms of any agreement with the Borough.
E.
Any act otherwise prohibited by law or local ordinance shall be lawful
if performed under, by virtue of, and strictly within the provisions
of a permit so to do, and to the extent authorized thereby.
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Includes cats, dogs, horses, any fowl or birds and any living
creatures within the jurisdiction of the park or recreation area.
The Borough Mayor and Council or their designee.
Any crossing, whether marked by a pavement or otherwise;
the extension to any sidewalk space across any intersecting drive,
street or highway.
The boundary of any street, road, avenue, boulevard, or drive,
whether or not marked by a curb.
Any person employed by the Borough as a park attendant to
perform duties or tasks within the park and recreation areas.
Any footpath, walk, trail, or any path maintained for pedestrians.
A person afoot.
Any written license issued by or under the authority of the
approving authority permitting a special event or activity on park
facilities.
Any natural person, corporation, company, association, joint-stock
association, firm or co-partnership.
Selling goods or services by sample or taking orders for
future delivery with or without accepting advance payment for the
goods; seeking any form of contributions.
When prohibited, means any cessation of movement of a vehicle
occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with pedestrians
or other traffic including horses and bicycles.
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals and vehicles, either
singly or together.
Any conveyance (except baby carriages), including motor vehicles,
trailers of all types, campers, tricycles, bicycles, motorized or
not, sleds, sleighs, pushcarts, or vehicles propelled by other than
muscular power. Traffic shall include horses, burros, donkeys or animal-drawn
conveyance.
Selling or trading any item or service.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a public park or recreation
area or facility to do any of the following:
A.
Mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with or displace or remove
any buildings, bathrooms, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings,
paving or paving materials, water lines or other public utilities
or parts or appurtenances thereof, signs, notices or placards, whether
temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts, or other boundary
markers, or other structures or equipment, facilities or park property
or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.
B.
No person over the age of six years shall use the restrooms and washrooms
designated for the opposite sex.
C.
Dig or remove any soil, rock, sand, stones, trees, shrubs or plants
or other wood or materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment,
blasting or other means or agency.
D.
Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether
permanent or temporary, or run or string any public service utility
into, upon, or across such lands, except on special written permit
issued hereunder.
E.
Damage, cut, carve, mark, transplant or remove any plant, or injure
the bark, or pick flowers or seed of any tree or plant, dig in or
otherwise disturb grass areas, or in any other way injure the natural
beauty or usefulness of any area.
F.
Climb any tree or walk, climb, stand or sit upon monuments, vases,
planters, fountains, railings, fences or upon any other property not
designated or customarily used for such purpose.
G.
Attach any rope or cable or other contrivance to any tree, fence,
railing, bridge, bench, or other structure.
H.
Throw, discharge, or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the
waters of any fountains, pond, lake, stream or other body of water
in or adjacent to any park or any tributary, stream, storm sewer,
or drain flowing into such water, any substance, matter or thing,
liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution, obstruction
or diversion of said waters.
I.
Take into, carry through, or put into any park, any rubbish, refuse,
garbage or other material. Such refuse and rubbish shall be deposited
in receptacles so provided. Where receptacles are not provided, all
such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person
responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.
J.
Bring any glass container into any park or recreation area.
K.
Cause or permit to run loose any animal.
L.
Tie or hitch an animal to any tree or plant.
M.
Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue, chase, tease, shoot
or throw missiles at any animal, wildlife, reptile or bird; nor shall
he remove or have in his possession the young of any wild animal,
or the eggs or nest, or young of any reptile or bird. Exception to
the foregoing is made in that snakes known to be deadly poisonous
may be killed on sight.
N.
Ride a horse except on designated bridle trails; horses shall be
thoroughly broken and properly restrained, and ridden with due care,
and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended.
O.
Walk a domestic animal without a leash. Further, the owner or person
having custody of said domestic animal shall be responsible for removal
of any animal solid waste and shall be responsible to have control
over the animal in a manner so as to not disturb or menace others
in the park.
P.
Any golf activity.
Q.
Smoking or vaping in any public park, playground, recreational facility
or ball field is strictly prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a public park or recreation
area or facility to do any of the following:
A.
Drive any vehicle on any area except the paved park roads or parking
areas, or such areas as may on occasion be specifically designated
as temporary parking areas.
B.
Park a vehicle anywhere except on a designated parking area.
C.
Leave a vehicle standing or parked in established parking areas or
elsewhere in the park and recreation areas during hours when the park
and recreation area is closed, except when said parking is authorized
by a valid permit. During a snow storm and for three days thereafter,
established parking areas in parks and recreation areas may be utilized
for parking, but not by trailers of any kind.
D.
Leave a bicycle in a place other than a bicycle rack when such is
provided and there is space available.
E.
Ride a bicycle without reasonable regard to the safety of others.
F.
Leave a bicycle lying on the ground or paving or set against trees,
or in any place or position where other persons may trip over or be
injured.
G.
Drive or operate within the parks any bus or vehicle adapted for
more than 12 passengers, any hearse, truck or tractor, or vehicle
used for advertising.
H.
Use the parks, park drives, parking places, or parkways for the purpose
of demonstrating any vehicles, or for the purpose of instructing another
to drive or operate any vehicle, nor shall any person use any park
area, including parking places, for the repairing, washing, or cleaning
of any vehicle, except in an emergency.
I.
Cause or permit a vehicle in tow of another vehicle to enter the
parks or proceed therein, except that in case of a breakdown a disabled
vehicle may be towed to the nearest exit; or operate or drive a vehicle
containing any person or object projecting or hanging outside of or
beyond the side or the rear thereof.
It shall be unlawful for any person to bring into or have in
his possession in any park or recreation area or facility any of the
following:
A.
Any pistol or revolver or objects upon which loaded or blank cartridges
may be used.
B.
Any burglary tools.
C.
Any rifle, shotgun, BB gun, air gun, spring gun, slingshot, bow,
or other weapon in which the propelling force is gunpowder or any
material which stores energy by tension or compression or compressed
gas.
It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his possession
or set off any fireworks. Permits may be given for conducting properly
supervised fireworks in designated park areas.
A.
No person shall post, paint, affix, distribute, deliver, place, cast
or leave about, any bill, billboard, placard, ticket, handbill, circular,
or advertisement.
B.
No person shall do any of the following without a permit, provided
that no permit shall be required for any action or event sponsored
by the Borough or the Recreation Committee:
(1)
Display any advertising signs or other advertising matter, provided
that a sign attached to a vehicle to identify the vehicle, or a sign
lawfully on a taxi or bus, is not prohibited.
(2)
Operate for advertising purposes any musical instrument, soundtrack,
siren or horn.
(3)
Hold public assemblages.
(4)
Conduct exhibitions.
(5)
Hold a parade.
(6)
Operate any form of sound, music or voice amplification equipment
using loud speakers.
No person shall expose or offer for sale any article in any
park or recreation area or facility, except by permit.
No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire except
in places designed or provided for such purposes. Any fire shall be
continuously under the care and direction of a competent person from
the time it is kindled until it is extinguished. No person shall throw
away or discard any lighted match, cigar, cigarette, tobacco, paper
or other material.
While in a public park or recreation area or facility, all persons
shall conduct themselves in a proper and orderly manner, and, in particular,
no person shall:
A.
Bring alcoholic beverages or controlled dangerous substances, drink
or use the same at any time, nor shall any person be under the influence
of intoxicating liquor or a controlled dangerous substance in a park
or recreation area, except alcoholic beverage use may be permitted
at authorized events at the Borough Field House.
B.
Solicit alms or contributions for any purpose, whether public or
private.
C.
Play any game of chance or have possession of any instrument or device
for gambling.
D.
Play, engage or take part in any game or competitive sport for money,
or other valuable thing, without a written permit.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a park or recreation
area or facility to do any of the following:
A.
Camp or stay overnight except when authorized by valid permit.
B.
Take part in the playing of any games involving thrown or otherwise
propelled objects except in those areas designated for such forms
of recreation or in open fields.
C.
Play football, baseball, basketball, soccer or lacrosse, except in
areas designated for such games.
D.
Enter any area posted as "closed to the public."
E.
Engage in threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language or
engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to breach the
public peace.
F.
Fail to produce and exhibit a permit upon request of any authorized
person who shall desire to inspect the same for the purpose of enforcing
compliance with any ordinance or rule.
G.
Disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person or party occupying
any area or participating in any activity under the authority of a
permit.
H.
Erect or occupy any tent, stand or other structure in any park or
playground, or sell or give away from any such tent, stand or other
structure any food, drink or other thing, without a permit.
I.
Use an area designed or designated for a specific other purpose.
A permit must be secured for any picnic with 15 or more participants.
No person shall be in any park during the hours the park is
closed, except by permit. The parks are closed from one-half hour
after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. Closing hours will be
posted at all parks.
A.
The Police Department, park attendants and Borough employee designated
by resolution shall, in connection with their duties imposed by law,
diligently enforce the provisions of this section.
B.
The Police Department, park attendants and Borough employee designated
by resolution shall have authority to order any person or persons
acting in violation of this section to leave the park or recreation
area or facility.
Violation of any rule or regulation shall be brought before the Municipal Court Judge of the Borough of Chester by summons issued by a police officer, park attendants or Borough employee designated by resolution. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this section shall be subject to the general penalty provisions of this Code, set forth in Chapter 1 (General Provisions), Article III (General Penalties). Fines and imprisonment shall be at the discretion of the Judge of the Borough of Chester Municipal Court.
The Borough shall cause to be posted upon said public lands
and to be distributed from time to time to participants in all recreation
programs notice of all applicable rules and regulations.
