1. HOURS OF OPERATION: All Deerfield Township Parks
shall be open from daylight to dusk or at such other times as the
Township Administrator authorizes.
2. PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY AND NATURAL FEATURES
No person shall injure, deface, disturb or befoul any
part of the park nor any building, sign, equipment or other property
found therein; nor shall any tree, flower, shrub, rock or other
mineral be removed, injured or destroyed.
3. GARBAGE, REFUSE, ASHES, SEWAGE AND WASTE MATERIAL
No person shall deposit, permit or suffer to be
deposited, in any of the park, any garbage, ashes, sewage, refuse or
any waste material whatsoever, otherwise than in receptacles or pits
provided for such purposes; nor dump any earth within the park
without specific written permit from the Township Administrator.
No person shall bring into or cause to be brought
into the parks from outside park boundaries, any garbage, ashes,
sewage, or refuse or depositing in any manner within the park.
No person shall, within the park, discharge into,
throw, cause, lay, drop or leave in any pond, lake, river, brook,
stream, storm sewer, or drain flowing into or through the park, or
into any pond, lake, river, brook or stream which may be tributary
to any river, brook, or stream flowing into or through the park, any
substance, matter, or thing whether liquid or solid, which may or
shall result in the pollution of the pond, lake, river, brook or
stream within the park.
4. HUNTING, FISHING AND MOLESTING WILDLIFE
No person within the confines of the park, unless
authorized by written permit of the Township Administrator, shall
hunt, pursue with dogs, trap, molest, harm, harass, injure, or take
wild bird or animal found within the confines of the park, or
therein rob or molest any bird nest or take the eggs of any bird.
Fishing is permitted at Deerfield Township Parks
during the park's normal hours of operation. Deerfield Township has
adopted a "Fish and Release" policy. Unless authorized by the
Township Administrator, no fish may be removed from any lakes or
streams. A State of Ohio fishing license is required. Exemptions to
the licensing requirement are granted as follows: persons under the
age of 16; persons 66 years old or older; persons who are unable to
engage in fishing without the assistance of another person due to a
physical disability and the person who is assisting the disabled
person.
5. FIRES
No person shall start a fire in the park except small
fires for cooking purposes in park grills, or privately owned
grills, or fires in places or designated areas approved for such
purposes without written permit from the Board and/or the Township
Administrator. The Township Administrator at his/her discretion
shall prohibit fires or smoking for limited periods at any location
or for any purposes then necessary for the protection of park
property. All fires shall be put out by the person or persons
starting or using the same before leaving the immediate vicinity of
the fire.
6. CAMPS
No person shall establish or maintain any camp or
other temporary lodging place within the park, without specific
written permit from the Board and/or Township Administrator, except
in locations especially set aside by the Board and/or Township
Administrator as camps.
7. DISORDERLY CONDUCT
No person shall remain in the park who does not abide
by the BYLAWS AND RULES FOR PARK GOVERNMENT. In addition, no
individual shall remain in the park who does not abide by
instructions and directions of duly authorized peace officers or
agents of the Board of Trustees of Deerfield Township in the lawful
performance of their duties. Any person ordered to leave the park
shall do so promptly and peaceably.
The following activities shall be a proper basis for
the forcible removal of any individual from the Park or the
imposition of fines and penalties as set forth below:
A. Violation of any BYLAW OR RULE FOR PARK
GOVERNMENT.
B. Violation of any Section of the Ohio Revised Code.
C. Use, sale, or possession of intoxicating liquor or
beer as defined in Section 4301.01 or as authorized by special
permit of the Board of Trustees of Deerfield Township.
D. Use, sale or possession of any controlled
substance or harmful intoxicant as defined by Section 2925.01 of the
Revised Code.
E. Any person deemed to be under the influence of
beer, intoxicating liquor, or other controlled or harmful substances
shall be removed.
F. Being in the Park after dark.
G. Trespassing in Park areas that are under
construction or specifically prohibited and identified by proper
signage.
8. TRAFFIC RULES
A. No person shall drive or propel or cause to be
driven or propelled along or over any road within the park, any
vehicle at a greater rate of speed than fifteen (15) miles per hour.
B. No person shall park or store any motor car,
motorcycle, bicycle, wagon or other vehicle within the park, except
in places and at such times designated by the Board and/or Township
Administrator for such purposes.
C. The state laws regulating equipment on vehicles
shall apply to vehicles within the park.
D. No portion of the park shall be used for a roadway
except paved or graveled drives. Roadways, paths, walks and trails
established for pedestrian travel, shall not be used for vehicular
travel.
E. No person shall drive or propel any vehicle along
or over any park road in a reckless manner without due regard for
the safety of pedestrians and drivers and all other occupants of any
vehicle.
F. No person shall drive or propel or cause to be
driven or propelled along or over any park road, any truck,
commercial car, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer, bus or
commercial tractor, unless authorized by the Board and/or Township
Administrator to make deliveries within the park, or unless engaged
in work in the park that has been contracted for with the Board
and/or Township Administrator, or unless delivering or picking up
persons using a truck or trailer as transportation to or from the
park area. No vehicles in excess of five (5) tons gross vehicular
weight will be used to transport people to or from a park area
without prior written permit from the Board and/or Township
Administrator.
G. No person shall drive or propel any vehicle along
or over any park road without complying with all traffic signs and
all posted traffic regulations.
H. No person, except authorized agents of the Board
and/or Township Administrator, shall ride any horse or other animal
within the park.
I. The use of skateboards, bicycles, or in-line
skates shall be limited to pathways and parking lots within the
park. Skateboards, bicycles, or in-line skates are expressly
prohibited in playgrounds and shelters.
9. MISCELLANEOUS RULES
A. No person shall drive or propel or cause a golf
ball to be driven or propelled within the park.
B. RESERVED AREAS: Certain sections of the parks may
be reserved. Reserved areas of the park will be conspicuously marked
and may only be reserved via a permit issued by the Township
Administrator or his designee. Deerfield Township has adopted a
separate policy that governs the use of facilities that may be
reserved. A copy of the “DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP FACILITY USE POLICIES”
is available upon request.
C. ATHLETIC FIELDS: Deerfield Township has adopted a
separate policy that governs the use of athletic fields. Priority is
given to individuals and/or organizations that have obtained a field
use permit. A copy of the “DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP FIELD USE POLICIES” is
available upon request.
No person shall sell or offer for sale any article,
thing, privilege or service within the park without a permit from
the Board and/or Township Administrator, and no person shall do any
begging, hawking, peddling or soliciting therein.
D. SIGNS: No person shall distribute or place any
sign, advertisement, circular or notice, or display any banner,
emblem or design, within the park, without specific permit from the
Board and/or Township Administrator.
E. NOISE: No loud noises from vehicle stereos,
portable radios, and other music players shall be permitted. A noise
is determined “loud” if it can be heard at a distance exceeding one
hundred (100) feet from its source.
F. DOMESTIC ANIMALS GRAZING: No person shall herd,
graze, drive or permit to run at large within the park, any cattle,
horse, mule, donkey, goat, swine, sheep, or other animal, or any
poultry or other fowl, without the specific permit of the Board
and/or Township Administrator.
G. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, LEASH, EXCLUSIONS: No person
shall bring into, have or keep in the park, any animal destructive
of wildlife, nor shall any person bring into or permit within the
park a domestic dog or a domestic cat unless such is under constant
control and supervision and held on a leash no longer than six feet
in length. This section does not assure admittance of park visitors
with their pets to such locations and at such times as may conflict
with Board of Health requirements or preservation of public safety
and order within the park. This section does not apply to dogs
within the Dog Park.
H. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, SUPERVISION: No pets or other
animals shall be allowed to disturb or become a nuisance to other
users of the park. The determination of disturbing animal behavior
shall be within the sole discretion of the Township Administrator or
his/her designated representative.
I. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, REMOVAL OF FECAL MATTER: It
shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner, keeper, or person
in control of any pet which has deposited any fecal matter on Park
trails or in Park recreation areas, to immediately cause said fecal
matter to be removed and deposited in a suitable container or
receptacle under the immediate control of the owner, keeper, or
person in control of the pet.
J. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, PETS IN PLAY AREAS: Pets are not
permitted in play equipment areas.
K. DOG PARK RULES:
1) Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and
any injury caused by them. If your dog becomes unruly or aggressive,
leash immediately and leave the dog park. In case of an incident,
owners are required to provide personal information to all involved
parties.
2) Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, and wearing
a collar with current tags.
3) Dogs less than four (4) months old are not
permitted in the large dog area.
4) Female dogs in season are not permitted.
5) Dog owners must keep their dog(s) in view at all
times. No dog will be left in the dog park area unattended.
Unattended dogs will be removed by the Humane Society.
6) There is a limit of three (3) dogs per owner at
any given time.
7) Owners are responsible for the clean up and
disposal of feces left by their dog.
8) Owners must carry a leash at all times. All dogs
must be leashed in all other areas of the Deerfield Township Parks.
9) Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied
by an adult.
10) Please maintain the safety of the corral gate
system. Do not enter if another dog is in the corral area.
11) Food, dog treats and chew toys are not permitted
inside the dog park area.
12) Glass containers and alcoholic beverages are
prohibited in the dog park area.
13) Failure to follow the dog park rules subjects a
violator to criminal prosecution per Section 13 below and will
result in a ban from any future use of the dog park.
14) Deerfield Township is not, by adopting these
rules, stating that the users of the dog park are in compliance with
these rules. All users of the dog park acknowledge that the township
is not a guarantor of the physical health and fitness of any dog
park user or the safety of any person or animal using the dog park.
All users of the dog park use the dog park at their own risk,
without any guaranty or warranty whatsoever.
10. PRESERVATION OF GOOD ORDER IN THE PARKS
No individual or organization shall conduct, sponsor
or promote any public meeting, concert, theater, athletic event or
other public activity in the parks without prior authorization of
the Board of Trustees. No event or activity sponsored or promoted by
an individual or organization shall be permitted if, in the opinion
of the Board, it will constitute hazards and dangers to the personal
safety of the participants or other park visitors; endangers peace
and good order in the parks; interferes with the regular and normal
use of the facilities and activities by park visitors; or which is
inconsistent with the use of the park for park purposes.
11. TERMS
The term "park" as used herein, means any land owned
or controlled by the Board of Trustees of Deerfield Township that
has been designated for parks, recreation, or open space.
The term "Board" as used herein, means the Board of
Deerfield Township Trustees.
The term "person" includes natural person and
corporations.
The term "pet" shall mean any privately owned animal,
whether domestic or wild.
12. PENALTIES
Any person violating any of the foregoing rules and
regulations and any amendments or additions thereto shall subject to
prosecution and upon conviction shall be fined in any sum not
exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first offense, nor
more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each second or further
offense; Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 505.261 and
applicable Resolutions of the Deerfield Township Trustees. Persons
engaging in criminal activity in the parks maintained by Deerfield
Township are also subject to criminal prosecution.
13. EFFECTIVE DATE
These rules and regulations shall take effect and be
in force as of November 1, 2008. The Deerfield Township Board of
Trustees reserves the right to modify the bylaws and rules for park
government as needs arise.
14. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
All Deerfield Township facilities are open to the
public. The Deerfield Township Board of Trustees does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin,
age, sex, or disability.
