[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Lower Providence 4-9-1979 by Ord. No. 249. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Park and Recreation Board — See Ch. 31.
This chapter is hereby adopted by the Township
of Lower Providence for the purpose of prescribing rules and regulations
governing the use of park and recreation facilities in the township.
The park and recreation facilities are for the benefit, pleasure and
convenience of the public; therefore, detailed rules and regulations
are required for the purpose of providing for the safety and general
welfare of those using such parks and recreational facilities.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Refers to the Director of Parks and Recreation or, in the
absence of the Director, the Township Manager.
Includes all lands, waters and facilities under the control
of the Department of Parks and Recreation or that may come under its
control while this chapter is in effect.
Refers to individual persons, groups or organizations who
shall request use of the facilities as indicated in this chapter or
who shall use such facilities.
A.
Areas used during the day shall be open between the
hours of 8:00 a.m. and sundown unless written authorization is obtained
from the Director.
B.
Areas used at night shall be opened as posted at such
facilities or by permit obtained from the Director.
C.
Any township park or facility that becomes hazardous
for public use due to weather, fire, water, construction or other
conditions may be closed at the discretion of the Director. Whenever
possible, 24 hours' notice of the closing will be given to persons
holding facility permits for use of such facility.
A.
The Director shall schedule the use of all group-use facilities, including but not limited to ballfields, picnic pavilion and amphitheater. If such facilities are not scheduled, they would be available to the public. See § 106-9.
B.
Township residents shall receive priority in the use
of park and recreation facilities when applicable.
C.
Only charcoal fires shall be permitted in barbecue
grills and shall be closely monitored and completely extinguished
by the user before the site is vacated.
A.
Use or possession of alcoholic beverages or narcotics
is prohibited. Persons under the influence of alcohol or narcotic
drugs may be prohibited from entering or using the parks.
B.
Abusive, indecent or threatening language or any indecent
act shall be prohibited.
C.
Trapping, the carrying or use of bows and arrows,
slings, slingshots, fireworks, and other weapons except firearms are
prohibited. The use of firearms and/or hunting is regulated under
the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6101
et seq., and/or the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 101 et seq.
[Amended 3-19-2015 by Ord. No. 624]
D.
Pets must be on a leash unless otherwise prohibited,
and all droppings must be cleaned up.
E.
All trash, garbage and litter shall be deposited in
the refuse cans provided. Scattering, dropping, dumping or leaving
any trash, litter or substance of any kind or polluting or dumping
any matter into park waters and any portion of any park by any person
is prohibited.
F.
Intentionally breaking, cutting down, removing or
in any manner injuring or defacing any ornament, tree, plant, shrub,
fern, flower and turf is prohibited.
G.
Damaging, destroying, defacing, adding to or removing
from any park property, including equipment, facilities and the natural
environment, is prohibited.
H.
No person shall deface or destroy any notices, rules
or regulations for the regulation of a park system posted or in any
manner permanently fixed within the limits of the same.
I.
Disturbance of waterflow in streams, pools, ponds
or basins is prohibited.
J.
Disturbance of birds' nests, eggs or any other wildlife
habitat is prohibited.
M.
Foot or bicycle traffic in unlighted areas after sundown
shall be prohibited.
A.
Operating or parking any vehicle while on park property
in an unauthorized, reckless or negligent manner or in excess of the
posted speed or in such a manner as to become a nuisance to other
park users is prohibited.
B.
The following shall be defined as operating in an
unauthorized manner:
(1)
Operating on areas other than cartways especially
designed and constructed for vehicular traffic. This shall not apply
to vehicles of the township and authorized emergency vehicles.
(2)
Washing, repairing or servicing of vehicles is prohibited
in parks. Abandonment of such vehicles is prohibited. If mechanical
disablement occurs, immediate steps must be taken for removal.
C.
All other laws pertaining to motor vehicles in general
shall be enforced by Lower Providence Township police on park property.
D.
All nonlicensed motorized vehicles are prohibited
in all park areas. Horses, snowmobiles and mopeds are especially prohibited
and barred from any and all park properties. Licensed motorbikes and
motor vehicles are restricted to posted parking areas. Bicycles are
allowed on designated bicycle paths.
No gathering or meeting of any kind assembled
through advertisement shall be permitted in a park or recreation facility
without written authorization from the Director.
A.
Permits are available from the Director for the following:
(1)
Reservations of group-use facilities: ballfields,
basketball courts, picnic pavilion, amphitheater, multipurpose fields,
tennis courts and any others that will be built.
(4)
Use of special equipment such as generators, sound
systems and the like.
(5)
Posting of signs.
(7)
Planting of trees and shrubs.
B.
Fees for permits as determined and approved by the Board of Supervisors shall be posted in the Township Office, and a copy shall be provided with each permit request. These fees may consist of a deposit or bond against damages, a fee for electricity, special services or equipment rental. See § 106-13.
C.
A complete copy of the rules and regulations as set
forth in this chapter shall be provided each applicant with his approved
permit.
D.
Issuance of a permit does not exempt any person from
any of the rules or regulations as set forth in this chapter.
A.
Erection of temporary backstops, goalposts, crowd-control
fences and barriers is allowable by permit with the following restrictions:
(1)
Permits must be secured no later than 48 hours prior
to the erection of said structures.
(2)
Specific dates must be included in the application
for both the installation and removal of said structures.
(3)
Temporary structures shall not be in place for a period
of time greater than specified on the permit and shall be removed
no later than the date given for removal on the permit. Structures
not removed as aforesaid shall be removed by the Director, and the
charge for such removal shall be payable by the person making the
application for the permit.
(4)
All temporary structures shall be kept in good repair
and shall be repaired, replaced or removed by the applicant within
72 hours of any reported damage.
(5)
Permits for the erection of temporary structures shall
be granted based on their intended use, the function or use of the
area where requested, their compatibility with the area and their
impact on the use of the park and public safety. Permits for erection
of temporary structures must be approved by the Director.
B.
Erection of permanent facilities and structures, modification
of present facilities, the planting of trees, shrubs, sod and any
other action with permanent or lasting impact on the park is allowable
only by permit with the following restrictions:
(1)
All permanent additions or alterations shall be considered
in light of future development plans for the area intended and in
the comprehensive plan for the parking system of Lower Providence
Township.
(2)
Permanent structures shall conform to all township,
county, state or other prevailing codes applicable.
(3)
All plans for permanent improvements shall be reviewed
by the Parks and Recreation Board and Director for their consideration
and approval. Final consideration and approval shall be made by the
Board of Supervisors.
(4)
Inasmuch as all park properties are public property
and are maintained for the use and enjoyment of all residents, it
shall not be permissible for any person or group or organization to
erect or maintain the use of any facility and/or structure for restricted
usage. All improvements shall become the property of the township
and come under the control of the Parks and Recreation Department.
In the event a private party or organization wishes to make substantial
investments in the improvement of a park facility or construction
of an approved structure, arrangements can be made to give priority
in scheduling the use of that facility or structure to the donor for
a period of time not to exceed 12 calendar months. This priority scheduling
for use of such facility and/or structure can be renewed for additional
twelve-month period by the approval of the Parks and Recreation Board
and Director. At the conclusion of the approved priority period and
in the event of the failure to renew the priority by the Parks and
Recreation Board and Director, said donor shall relinquish any claim
for priority in scheduling the use of the improved area and shall
be subject to the same scheduling sequences and priorities as all
other applicants. The terms for priority scheduling shall be agreed
to in writing prior to the commencement of any improvements.
A.
Permits are required to sell any food and retail item.
All profits must go to the organization sponsoring the fundraising
events. Permits may be issued for the following:
B.
Issuance of a permit by the Director in no way absolves
the applicant from procuring additional permits or conforming to regulations
as required by the township, county, school district or any other
governing bodies having jurisdiction in the retailing of food or merchandise.
The general park system contains a number of
specialty areas, including but not limited to hike/bike trails, amphitheater,
tennis courts, picnic pavilion and baseball fields, each requiring
specific regulations concerning proper use of that individual facility.
This chapter shall in no way restrict the Director from formulating
and posting restrictions for those specific areas in addition to the
general restrictions in this chapter.
The following reservation permit fees will be charged to the applicant for the use of the group-use facilities. All money collected will be returned to the applicant upon inspection of the facility after its use. If any section of this chapter has been violated, the permit fee will not be returned, and the permit may be revoked for the remainder of its term. See § 106-14 for other penalties.
A.
Reservation deposits as established by Township resolution.
[Amended 6-16-2005 by Ord. No. 526]
B.
These fees are required at the time of filing for
reservations.
C.
Other fees and charges may be levied for use of electricity,
special services and equipment rental if needed.
D.
Events sponsored by the Methacton School District
are exempt from all fees and charges unless the event is a fundraising
program.
A.
Any person violating any of the foregoing sections
or subsections of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before
a District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300
and costs of prosecution.
B.
In addition to the above, the Parks and Recreation
Board and Director, in lieu or in addition to the above penalties,
may impose restrictions or limitations on the permit granted to such
person. The permit may be revoked and the deposit forfeited to the
township.
C.
Any person who violates any of the foregoing rules
and regulations to the injury of township property or to the person
or property of any other person shall be liable for such injury in
addition to payment of the fines and penalties set forth in this section.
This section shall not be construed to limit such liability in any
manner.
