Park Rules

Park Rules

1. Definitions.

 The following words, terms and phrases, when used in these rules, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:  Commission means the township park commission.

 Motor vehicle means every vehicle that is self-propelled, except a motorized wheelchair or other similar vehicle not exceeding 1,000 pounds gross weight operated by a physically afflicted or disabled person

 Parks means areas of land owned or controlled by and within the township that are developed or used for public recreation purposes, including landscaped tracts, picnic grounds, playgrounds, athletic fields, agricultural fields, and nature preserves.

2. Hours of operation.

All parks shall be open daily to the public during the hours from sunrise until dark, and may be kept open to the public after dark to accommodate certain Township approved events. It shall be unlawful for any person to be present in any park during any hours in which the park is not open to the public without first obtaining a permit from the Parks and Recreation Director.

3. Motor vehicles and motorized devices.

No person shall operate a motor vehicle in any park excepting on a street or driveway. No person shall park or leave a motor vehicle any place in a park other than a designated public parking area. No person shall operate a motor vehicle in any park at a speed in excess of 15 miles per hour. Remote-controlled planes may be used provided such use does not interfere with the safety of other occupants in the park. The use of remote-controlled boats, or any other motorized device, except a wheelchair for the disabled, is prohibited.

4. Fires.

No person shall kindle or maintain a fire in any park except in picnic stoves, fireplaces or other outdoor fire containers furnished by the Commission, or in portable stoves or barbecue grills designed and constructed so as not to create a fire hazard. No person shall burn garbage or refuse, nor dispose of any flaming or glowing coals, ashes or substances likely to ignite other substances except by depositing them in containers furnished by the Commission and/or designated for such purpose.

5. Preservation of property, natural resources and wildlife, hunting.

No person shall injure, deface, destroy or cause to be injured, defaced or destroyed any building, structure, facility, equipment, sign or other public property within a park. No person shall injure, damage, remove or attempt to remove any tree, shrub, flower or plant, or any rock, soil or mineral within a park. No person shall hunt, trap, kill, harm, pursue, or disturb any wild bird or animal within a park.

6. Noise

Amplification of music and the use of loud speakers are subject to the Township's noise ordinance.

7. Alcohol

Alcohol is not permitted in any park except as provided by these rules. When the park is open, consumption of wine and beer is permitted except in park drives, parking lots, pools, skating rinks, tennis courts, play apparatus areas, and athletic fields. The Township may issue a Special Events Permit to allow the consumption of wine and beer in areas where such consumption would otherwise be prohibited.

8. Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any park except as provided by these rules. When the park is open, smoking is permitted in parking lots. Smoking is prohibited within 100 feet of any play apparatus area, pavilion, or athletic field, including any portion of a parking lot within 100 feet of such areas.

9. Ponds and lakes

No person shall swim, wade, fly fish, ice skate, or otherwise enter into or on a body of water in a park, nor allow a dog to swim, wade, or otherwise enter into or on a body of water in a park. Fishing without a license or in violation of any Michigan Department of Natural Resources regulation is prohibited. The use of boats or any floating device is prohibited.

10. Animals.

No person shall bring into, harbor, keep or permit a dog or other pet within a park except in a street, driveway, designated picnic area, designated spectator seating area, or designated trail, and only while tethered by a leash and under the immediate control of the person having custody of such dog or pet; but this shall not make unlawful a blind or deaf person being guided by a dog in other areas of a park. All pet owners must promptly pick up and properly discard animal feces. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, no person shall bring into, harbor, keep or permit a horse or a dangerous animal within a park.

11. Firearms, weapons and explosives.

No person shall bring into, possess, discharge, or use within a park, or discharge into or over a park, any bow and arrow, slingshot, airsoft gun, paint ball gun, trap, fireworks, floating lantern, or explosive, except as otherwise authorized by law. No person shall discharge or use within a park, or discharge into or over a park, any rifle, shotgun, pistol, pellet gun, air rifle, or other firearms, except as otherwise authorized by law. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the Director of Parks and Recreation, with the informed consent of the Parks Commission and the Director of the Department of Public Safety, may designate areas within a park in which model rockets may be used.

12. Selling; soliciting; advertising.

No person shall solicit, vend, sell, peddle or offer for sale or advertise by any means any commodity, article or service in a park; but the provisions of this section shall not make unlawful any such activity when conducted by the township or any department or agency of the township, or by persons authorized by contract with the township.

13. Refuse disposal.

No person shall throw, deposit or abandon refuse, garbage, rubbish, trash, or any waste articles in a park excepting in designated receptacles. No person shall destroy glass containers and leave glass pieces on any surface in a park, or bring, possess, or leave glass containers on an athletic field. Dumping hazardous waste, construction debris, furniture, appliances, tires, or any other item not directly related to a permitted park use, is prohibited.

14. Rental of facilities

The Commission shall, together with the Director of Parks and Recreation, determine the procedures for reservation and rental of park facilities. It may also approve regulations for the issuance of permits for individual and group recreational activities which would otherwise be prohibited by these rules. Township programs and other previously scheduled permitted uses shall be given priority over unscheduled park use. Reservation and rental of park facilities may also be made through the Township's Special Events Permit Application process for appropriate events.

15. Signs; handbills.

No person shall glue, tack or otherwise post, erect or distribute in a park any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription, except when advertising an event at the same park for a permitted event. Advertisements for previously approved events shall be limited to two yard signs not larger than 24" x 36", and placed only at the entrance to the park at which the permitted event is to be held. Advertisements may be placed not more than one week in advance of the permitted event, and must be removed not later than 24 hours after the completion of the event.

16. Camping and structures

No person shall camp, construct a sleeping tent, picnic tent, or inflatable bouncers, without first obtaining a special use permit from the Township. No person shall construct a temporary dwelling, tree stand, or any structure in any park. The use of umbrellas and similar portable devices for individual protection from sun and rain does not require obtaining a permit.

17. Athletic Game Fields

A permit must be obtained from the Township prior to making use of any athletic game field at any park.

18. Exemptions.

Nothing in these rules shall make unlawful any act or omission on the part of any peace officer or any duly authorized officers, agents, employees, representatives or contractors of the state, township or the Commission reasonably required in their official duties, as a part of the training of township employees, or in the management, operation and maintenance of a park. Approved by the Park Commission on 4-14-15