Town of Topsham, ME Parks and Recreation

The following shall be the rules and regulations of all of the recreational facilities of the Town of Topsham and shall be strictly enforced. It shall be unlawful for any person in any park, playground, ball field, tennis court, or any other recreational facilities thereof, owned and controlled by the Town of Topsham to not abide by the following:

(1)

Park hours of operation.

[Amended 5-15-2013 STM, Art. 13]

(a)

Foreside Recreational Facility: Monday through Sunday, dawn to dusk, unless using basketball court with lights. (Time then is 11:00 p.m.)

(b)

Ponds Area at Topsham Solid Waste Facility:

[1]

Dawn to dusk.

[a]

Vehicles are only permitted at ponds during Solid Waste Facility hours.

(c)

Head of Tide Park:

[1]

Dawn to dusk, unless explicit written agreement with the Topsham Parks and Recreation Department.

(2)

Trespassers entering either area before or after park hours will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

(3)

Littering is expressly prohibited. All trash must be placed in provided trash receptacles. Under no circumstances will household garbage or waste generated outside the park be permitted to be disposed of in the park facilities or on park grounds.

(4)

Abusive language/disorderly conduct/fighting will not be tolerated. This is a family park.

(5)

The holding of any exhibition, ceremony or making of any speech without permission from the Parks and Recreation Department will not be allowed.

(6)

No discharge of firearms, bows and arrows or other projectile instruments are permitted at the Foreside Recreational Area or the Head of Tide Park.

[Amended 5-15-2013 STM, Art. 13]

(7)

Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs are not allowed on park grounds. The selling, delivering or attempting to sell or deliver any alcoholic beverage or illegal substance is prohibited.

(8)

Tobacco products of any kind are prohibited.

(9)

Obey all traffic signs. All vehicles, including motorcycles, must be parked in parking areas provided. Service roads and walking paths are for pedestrians and authorized vehicles only. It shall also be unlawful to fail to obey all traffic officers or such persons being authorized and instructed to direct traffic whenever and wherever needed in the park.

(10)

Vehicles left unattended for more than 24 hours on park property, will be towed away at the owner's expense.

(11)

Defacing or intentionally damaging any Town owned facility or monument is prohibited.

(12)

Soliciting of any kind on park property is prohibited. This includes the distribution of any handbills or circulars, or posting, placing, or erecting any bills, notices, paper or advertising devisees not authorized by the Parks and Recreation Department.

(13)

Parks and Recreation Department prohibits vendors from any type of selling without prior approval and permit.

(14)

Cutting, picking, pulling or damaging trees, flowers, plants or other vegetation is strictly prohibited.

(15)

Dogs must be leashed at all times and no more than four feet from owner. Dogs are not allowed in the children's playground areas. Please be considerate of others, and owners must pick up dog's excrement on park grounds. All animal fecal matter must be removed by the owner and not left on trails, fields or in other public areas.

(16)

Walking trails are used primarily by pedestrians. However, persons on skateboards, skates and bicycles are welcome, but must use proper precautions, travel at a safe speed, and stay on walking trails at all times. All other motorized-type vehicles must be parked in parking spaces provided. Motorized handicapped wheelchair (or similar accessory vehicles not to exceed 1,000 pounds) are allowed on walking trails. Driving or operating ATVs, snowmobiles, motorbikes or other motor vehicles on trails or park grounds at Foreside Facility is prohibited. Driving or operating ATVs, snowmobiles, motorbikes or other motor vehicles on landfill caps at Solid Waste Facility is prohibited. Additional rules for individual trails will be posted at the trail heads.

[Amended 5-15-2013 STM, Art. 13]

(17)

It is unlawful to gather and burn wood on Town property, unless approved by the Town's Fire Chief. Personal grills in good operating condition may be used in designated picnic areas only. No open fires or campfires will be permitted. Erecting tents, canopies or nailing decorations to park structures is not allowed without permission from the Parks and Recreation Department.

[Amended 5-15-2013 STM, Art. 13]

(18)

Swimming at ponds at Solid Waste Facility is prohibited.

(19)

Open water fishing from the banks of Ponds at Solid Waste Facility is allowed proper Maine license. Observance of Ponds use times must be observed. No ice skating, commercial bait fishing or ice fishing is allowed.

(20)

Hunting of any kind is prohibited at the Foreside Recreational Area.

[Amended 5-15-2013 STM, Art. 13]

(21)

Hitting golf balls is prohibited.

(22)

Flying model airplanes on park property is prohibited, unless at an event approved by the Parks and Recreation Department.

(23)

Activities, flea market, garage sales, etc. are not allowed without proper approval and permit from the Parks and Recreation Department.

(24)

Loitering, indecent conduct or any behavior that interferes with visitors will not be tolerated.

(25)

Use of park areas and facilities is at your own risk. The Town of Topsham assumes no responsibility or liability for misuse of a park or of its facilities.

(26)

The Parks and Recreation Director or any Town employee designated by the Town Manager shall have the authority to eject from any facility any person acting in violation of the rules and regulations posted for the Foreside Recreation Facility and the Pond area at the Solid Waste Facility. The interfering with or hindering in any manner any Town of Topsham employee or contracted individual from performing his or her official duties is prohibited.

(27)

Audio and musical devices should be operated at a volume not to disturb other visitors, with the exception of Parks and Recreation activities and authorized events.

(28)

Benches, picnic tables, etc. shall be first-come, first-served unless otherwise designated by the Parks and Recreation Department.

(29)

[1]Individuals or groups are prohibited from using a site that is officially closed or reserved for a public/private function.

[1]

Editor’s Note: Former Subsection A(29), pertaining to rock or projectile throwing, was repealed and Subsection A(30) through (35) redesignated as Subsection A(29) through (34), respectively, 5-15-2013 STM, Art. 13.

(30)

The Parks and Recreation Department prohibits the using of any area or facility for commercial purposes without prior approval.

(31)

Horseback riding is not permitted at the Foreside Recreational Area unless authorized by the Parks and Recreation Director.

[Amended 5-15-2013 STM, Art. 13]

(32)

Alteration, modifications and or addition to parks and facilities are not permitted without prior approval from the Parks and Recreation Director.

(33)

Temporary housing (i.e., motor homes, RV's, tents, house trailers) may not be parked overnight with occupants inside. Only at the discretion of the Parks and Recreation Director may overnight camping be permitted.

(34)

Climbing on equipment not designated for such climbing is prohibited.