Township of Deerfield, NJ Chapter 139 Parks and Recreation Areas

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Deerfield 2-15-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-1 as Ch. 97 of the 1984 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Alcoholic beverages — See Ch. 37.

Dogs and other animals — See Ch. 45.

Games of chance — See Ch. 101.

Littering — See Ch. 128.

Noise — See Ch. 131.

Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 188.

§ 139-1 Alcoholic beverages.

No person shall be permitted within a Township park or recreation area under the influence of intoxicating beverages, drugs or narcotics. No person shall possess or consume alcoholic beverages, drugs or narcotics in any Township park or recreation area without written permission of the Recreation Commission. The use of the above said beverages shall be in accordance with the New Jersey state alcoholic beverage control laws.

§ 139-2 Group use; public meetings; loudspeakers.

[Amended 5-4-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-4]

A. No group of 100 or more persons shall use a Township park or recreation area without first having obtained a group use permit not later than seven days before the proposed date of use. Group use shall be limited to designated areas. Adult supervision of children's groups is required at all times. This subsection shall not apply to special events as defined in Chapter 166 of the Deerfield Township Municipal Code, the procedures for such special events being governed by that chapter.

B. No person shall call or hold any public meeting or give any concert or public entertainment of any kind within a Township park or recreation area unless licensed to do so in advance in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 166 of the Deerfield Township Municipal Code.

C. No person shall use loudspeakers, public-address systems or amplifiers within a Township park or recreation area without first having obtained written permission in advance from the Board of Recreation Commissioners no later than seven days before the proposed date of use. This subsection shall not apply to special events as defined in Chapter 166 of the Deerfield Township Municipal Code, the procedures for such special events being governed by that chapter.

§ 139-3 Pets and domestic animals.

A. Dogs and cats must be kept on a leash not exceeding six feet in length. No domestic animal shall be permitted to run at large within any Township park or recreation area, either with or without a keeper, except in those areas designated for that purpose by the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

B. No person shall ride, drive, lead or keep a saddle horse or other animal within a Township park or recreation area except on such roads, trails or areas and subject to such regulations as the Board of Recreation Commissioners may from time to time specifically promulgate. No horse or other animal shall be hitched to any tree or shrub in a manner that may cause damage.

§ 139-4 Littering.

A. No person shall leave bottles, broken glass, ashes, wastepaper or other rubbish within a Township park or recreation area except in a properly provided receptacle designated for that purpose.

B. No person shall throw or place any dirt, stone, rock, debris, foreign or waste substance into or upon a Township park or recreation area or a body of water or stream bordering upon land of a Township park or recreation area.

§ 139-5 Preservation of natural features.

A. No person shall pick flowers, foliage, berries or fruit, or cut, break, dig up or in any way mutilate or injure any tree, shrub, plant, fern, grass, turf, railing, seat, fence, structure or any other object within a Township park or recreation area.

B. No person shall bring into or upon a Township park or recreation area any tree, shrub or plant or any newly plucked branch or portion of a tree, shrub or plant.

C. No person shall dig up or remove any dirt, stone, rock or other substance whatever; make any excavation; quarry sand or stone; or lay or set off any blast, or cause or assist in doing any of the said things, within a Township park or recreation area.

§ 139-6 Fires; fireworks.

A. No person shall build, light or maintain a fire within a Township park or recreation area except in a camp stove or a fireplace provided, maintained or designated for such purpose by the Board of Recreation Commissioners, excepting, however, that oil or gasoline camp stoves may be used in established campsites or picnic areas where other stoves are provided.

B. No person shall discharge or set off within a Township park or recreation area any firecrackers, torpedoes, rockets or other fireworks.

§ 139-7 Discharge of weapons; trapping or hunting.

A. No person shall carry or discharge any weapon or firearms within or into a Township park or recreation area.

B. No person shall molest, trap, capture, hold, remove, injure or kill any animal or disturb its habitat within a Township park or recreation area.

§ 139-8 Restricted uses and areas.

A. No person shall enter upon any portion of a Township park or recreation area where persons are prohibited from going by direction of the Recreation Commission as indicated by sign or notice.

B. No person shall coast with handsleds, bobs, skis, carts, skateboards or other vehicles on wheels or runners within a Township park or recreation area except in areas designated and posted for this purpose by the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

C. No person shall throw, cast, catch, kick or strike any baseball, golf ball, football or basketball or any object within a Township park or recreation area except in areas designated and posted for this purpose by the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

D. No person shall bathe in any body of water within or bordering a Township park or recreation area unless it has been designated and posted for this purpose by the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

§ 139-9 Commercial uses.

A. No person shall engage in any commercial enterprise, including but not limited to the offering of services, soliciting, selling or peddling any liquids or edibles for human consumption, or distribute circulars or hawk, peddle or vend any goods, wares or merchandise within a Township park or recreation area, except as provided by action of the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

B. No person shall cut, carve, paint, mark, paste or fasten on any tree, fence, wall, building, monument or other object within a Township park or recreation area any bill, advertisement or inscription. Nor shall any person distribute, cast, throw or place any handbill, pamphlet, circular, advertisement or notice of any kind within a Township park or recreation area.

C. No person shall play at games of chance or use any gambling device within a Township park or recreation area except as provided by action of the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

§ 139-10 Vehicular and pedestrian uses.

A. No person shall use any portion of a Township park or recreation area for vehicular or pedestrian travel except drives, parking areas, roadways, paths, walks and trails established for such purpose by the Board of Recreation Commissioners; and footpaths or walks established for pedestrian travel shall not be used for vehicular travel. The use of mopeds or motorized bikes will be limited to roadways, drives and parking areas as established and opened to all other vehicular traffic.

B. No person shall drive or propel or cause to be driven or propelled along or over any road within a Township park or recreation area any vehicle at a rate of speed greater than 25 miles per hour or the speed limits as established by the Board of Recreation Commissioners and indicated by speed limit signs erected along the right-of-way.

C. No person shall drive or propel or cause to be driven or propelled along or over any road, parkway, drive or parking area within a Township park or recreation area any motor vehicle in a reckless manner or in a manner to endanger the life, limb or property of pedestrians or the drivers or occupants of other vehicles or any other person within a Township park or recreation area. The motor vehicle operator and the motor vehicle operated within a Township park or recreation area shall be in compliance with New Jersey state motor vehicle license and safety laws.

D. No person shall park or store any motorcar, motorcycle, bicycle, wagon or other vehicle within a Township park or recreation area except in areas designated and posted for such purposes. Parking areas and thoroughfares are limited to use by park patrons only and for the purpose of driving to park vehicles. Loitering in or around parked vehicles is not permitted unless special permission has been granted by the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

E. No person shall set or place or cause to be set or placed any goods, wares or merchandise or property of any kind as to obstruct travel within a Township park or recreation area.

F. No person shall enter any part of a Township park or recreation area or park roads with a commercial vehicle except in the service of or by permission of the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

G. No person shall use park drives or parkways within a Township park or recreation area for the purpose of demonstrating any vehicle or for learning to drive or operate any vehicle.

H. No person shall be permitted to park or store any motorcar, motorcycle, bicycle, wagon, all-terrain vehicle or other vehicle in the area posted "No Parking Beyond This Point." Furthermore, no person shall be permitted to park or store any unregistered vehicle in the area posted "No Parking Beyond This Point."

[Added 6-6-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-6]

§ 139-11 Hours of use; penalties for violation.

[Amended 4-3-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-3]

Township parks and recreation areas shall only be open to the general public from dawn to dusk. All lighting shall be turned off at dusk. No person shall, without permission, enter into or remain within a Township park or recreation area between dusk and dawn. Any person convicted for violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to punishment as contained in § 139-13.

§ 139-12 Disorderly persons.

A. No person shall resist any agent or officer of the Board of Recreation Commissioners in the discharge of his duty, or fail or refuse to obey any lawful command of any such agent or officer or in any way interfere with or hinder or prevent any such agent or officer from discharging his duty, or in any manner assist or give aid to any person in custody to escape or attempt to escape from custody, or rescue or attempt to rescue any person when in such custody.

B. No person shall falsely represent or impersonate any agent or officer or pretend to be an agent or officer of the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

C. No person shall harass, obstruct, molest, assault or interfere with any person lawfully within a Township park or recreation area, or shall resist, obstruct, molest, assault or interfere with any agent or officer of the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

D. No person shall remain within a Township park or recreation area who does not abide by conditions adopted and posted by the Board of Recreation Commissioners for the preservation of good order and the protection of property within a Township park or recreation area; and no person shall remain within a Township park or recreation area who does not abide by the instructions and directions of duly authorized officers or agents of the Board of Recreation Commissioners in the lawful performance of their duties. Any person directed by an agent or officer of the Board of Recreation Commissioners to leave a Township park or recreation area shall do so promptly and peaceably.

E. No person shall interfere with or in any manner hinder any agent or officer of the Board of Recreation Commissioners while engaged in constructing, repairing or caring for any park property, or interfere with any improvements being made within or about a Township park or recreation area.

F. No person shall use threatening, abusive, boisterous, insulting or indecent language or gesture within a Township park or recreation area, nor shall any oration, harangue, public demonstration or any nuisance be made.

§ 139-13 Violations and penalties.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.