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The Somerset County Park Commission hereby establishes the following
regulations to ensure public safety and pleasure, as well as the
protection and control of the parks, and all facilities contained
within and upon property controlled by the Somerset County Park Commission.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1. Definition of Terms
Whenever used in any Somerset County Park Commission Regulations, the
following respective terms, unless otherwise therein expressly defined,
shall mean and include each of the meanings herein respectively set
forth:
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a. "Borough," "City," "Town," or "Township," or "Borough":
Respectively any borough, city town, township or borough within
which any portion of said park system is situated.
b. "Bridle Path" or "Equestrian Trail":
Any path maintained for equestrians.
c. "Dusk": Sunset
d. "Municipality": Respectively
any township or borough within which any portion of said park
system is situated.
e. "Off Road Vehicles": Any
powered vehicle designed for cross-country travel on or immediately
over land, water,
sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other terrain which would
include, but not limited to, such vehicles as all terrain vehicles,
dirt bikes, snowmobiles, amphibious and air cushion vehicles;
except those vehicles utilized for fire, emergency or law enforcement
purposes and any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by
the Commission.
f. "Official Opening": The time
when gates, entrances or doors to facilities are opened to
allow entrance to the public.
Signs indicating an opening time are posted.
g. "Owner": Any person, firm,
association, corporation or entity owning, operating or having
the exclusive use of a
vehicle, under a lease or otherwise.
h. "Park Commission" or "Commission" or "SCPC":
The Somerset County Park Commission, or its authorized representative
R.S. 40:37:95.1-25.
i. "Park Ranger" or "Ranger":
Any person employed by the Commission as a Somerset County
Park Ranger.
j. "Parking Place": Any part
of the drive or space designated as a place for the standing
of vehicles.
k. "Path": Any footpath, walk,
or any path maintained for pedestrians.
l. "Pedestrian": A person afoot.
m. "Permit": Any written license
issued by or under the authority of the Commission, permitting
a special event or
activity on Park facilities and grounds.
n. "Person": Any person, corporation,
company, LLC, association, joint stock association, firm or
entity.
o. "Private Road or Drive":
Every road or lane or driveway not open to the use of the public
in general.
p. "Regulations": Any regulation
duly adopted, posted, and published by the Somerset County
Park Commission.
q. "Right of Way": The privilege
of the immediate use of the roadway, drive, and path.
r. "Safety Zone": Any space
(within a drive) established for pedestrians.
s. "Secretary-Director": The
Director of the Somerset County Park Commission.
t. "Somerset County Parks" or "Parks," "Parkways," "Park
Areas," "Recreation Area", "Golf Course," "Reservation", "Preserve", "Facility":
All the real property acquired by or under the jurisdiction and
care of the Somerset County Park Commission; or which may be
hereafter acquired by it or come under its jurisdiction.
u. "Stopping or Standing": When
prohibited means any cessation or movement of a vehicle occupied
or not except when
necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic; including horses.
v. "Traffic": Means pedestrians,
ridden animals, vehicles, either singly or together, while
in the confines of the Parks
jurisdiction.
w. "Vehicle": Any motor vehicle;
any vehicle propelled by muscular or other power.
x. "Walk", "Walkway" or "Path":
Any path maintained for pedestrians. |
CONSTRUCTION
In the interpretation of the Somerset County Park Rules and Regulations,
their provisions shall be construed as follows:
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a. Any term in the singular shall
include the plural.
b. Any term in the masculine shall include the
feminine and neuter.
c. Any requirement or prohibitions of any act
shall, respectively, extend to and include the causing and procuring,
directly or indirectly, of such act.
d. No provision hereof shall make unlawful any
act necessarily performed by any officer or employee of the Commission
in line of duty or work as such, or by any person, his agents
or employees, in the proper and necessary execution of the terms
of any agreement with the Commission.
e. Any act otherwise prohibited by Federal,
State, County or Local law or local ordinance shall be lawful
if performed, under, by virtue of and strictly within the provisions
of a permit to the extent that it thereby authorizes such act. |
TERRITORIAL SCOPE
All Somerset County Park Commission Rules & Regulations shall
be effective within all Parks, under the administration of the Somerset
County Park Commission and regulate the use thereof by all persons.
PROHIBITED USES OF THE PARK
Section 1. Advertising
No person shall post, paint, affix, distribute, handout, deliver,
place, cast or leave about, any bill, billboard, placard, ticket, handbill,
circular, or advertisement or any of the following without written
permission of the Commission. Accordingly, any person who has not received
written permission from the Commission shall not be permitted to:
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a. Display any flag, banner, transparency,
target, sign, placard, or any other matter for advertising purposes.
b. Operate any musical instrument or soundtrack
for advertising purposes or for the purpose of attracting attention
to any exhibition, show performance or other display.
c. Conduct public speeches or rallies. |
Section 2. Soliciting
Solicitation for any purpose, by a person or group is prohibited.
Section 3. Domesticated Animals and Wildlife
Domesticated Animals
No person shall cause or permit any animal owned by him, in his custody
or under his control, to roam unconstrained, with the exception of
supervised dogs within the confines of the Commission designated area
of the Park.
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a. Dogs and cats must be restrained
by a leash of up to six feet in length, and kept under control
at all times.
b. No person shall ride, drive, or lead a horse
unless it is well broken and constantly held in such control
that it may be easily or quickly turned and stopped.
c. Horses may not be left unbridled or unattended
in any unenclosed area without being securely fastened.
d. No horse shall be driven, ridden or led,
in the Parks except at such locations designated for this purpose
by the Commission. |
Wildlife
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a. No person shall feed, hunt,
harm, kill, wound, trap, take, chase, throw objects at, or intentionally
disturb, remove, or have in his possession any animal, reptile
or have in his possession, sell, or give away any such animal,
reptile, bird or eggs so taken.
b. No person shall fish in any of the Park waters,
unless adhering to rules and regulations established by New Jersey
Division of Fish and Game.
c. No person shall kill, wound, discharge, harm
or intentionally disturb any fish in such waters; or place therein
any piscivorous fish, poison or any other substances injurious
to fish.
d. No person shall dispose/drop off wildlife. |
Section 4. Disorderly Persons and Conduct — N.J.R.S. 2A:l70-l
to 96
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a. No person or group of persons shall engage
in such loitering conduct, which will obstruct, molest or interfere
with any person lawfully enjoying the park.
b. No person shall engage in such loitering conduct as will clearly cause an
immediate, actual, physical violent reaction from any person, or persons,
which violent reaction will cause a threat to the peace and order of the
public.
c. No person or any group of persons shall engage
in such loitering that obstructs the free passage of pedestrians
at or near any walkway, pathway, building, parking lot or vehicle.
d. No person shall use threatening, abusive,
boisterous, insulting or indecent language or gestures within
the Park or Recreation Area.
e. No person shall appear in the Park in a state
of nudity or commit, perform, or engage in lewd, lascivious,
obscene, illicit, carnal or indecent act or behavior, and no
person shall make any indecent exposure of his or her person.
f. No person shall climb or stand upon any wall,
fence, shelter, seat, statue or other erection.
g. No person shall litter in the park, or deposit
on the ice or in the ponds any matter that would tend to damage
the ice for skating or pollute the ponds. Recycling shall be
in effect in all parks.
h. No person shall fail to obey or interfere
with a Ranger in the proper performance of his duties.
i. No person shall remove or open permanent
or temporary barriers, signs, directionals, gates or fences.
j. No person shall bring, carry or cause to
be brought into the parks and recreation areas any glass bottles
or other glass containers except upon special written permission
of the Commission.
k. No person shall be allowed to remain inside
the Park or Recreation Area who does not abide by the conditions
adopted and posted by the Commission for the preservation of
good order and the protection of property within the Park and
Recreation Area.
l. No person shall resist any Ranger, agent
or officer of the Park or Commission in the discharge of their
duty. Any person directed to leave the Park or Recreation Area
by a Ranger or Commission agent or representative shall do so
promptly and peaceably. |
Section 5. Fireworks and Explosives
No Person shall have in his possession, bring into, or discharge in
the Park, any explosives, firecrackers, torpedoes, rockets, or other
fireworks, including any substance, compound, mixture, or article having
properties of such a character that alone or in combination or conjunction
with other substances or compounds, may decompose suddenly and generate
sufficient heat, gas or pressure, of any or all of them to produce
rapid flaming, combustion, or administer a destructive blow to surrounding
objects.
Section 6. Firearms, Weapons, and Tools
No person shall discharge any weapon or firearm within or into the
Park or Recreation area. Concealed weapons according to NJRS 2A: 151-41
to 43 are not allowed. Accordingly, no person shall bring into or have
in his possession:
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a. Any pistol
or revolver or objects upon which loaded or blank cartridges
may be used.
b. Any tools, instruments, skeleton keys, picklocks,
jimmies or other things known as burglar tools, except when authorized
by law.
c. Any rifle, shotgun, air gun, spring gun,
slingshot, bow, or other instrument or weapon in which the propelling
force is a spring or air, excepting the lawful uses of such weapons
at places and times prescribed by special permission of the Commission. |
Section 7. Fires
No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire, except in places
provided for such purposes unless a permit has been issued.
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a. All fires shall
be continuously under the care and direction of a competent adult
person from the time it is kindled until it is extin¬guished.
b. No fire shall be built within ten feet of
any tree or building or beneath the branches of any tree or in
any underbrush.
c. No cigar, cigarette, lighted match, charcoal
or flammable material(s)shall be discarded carelessly or in a
manner that may start a fire. |
Section 8. Operating Hours
The Park Commission reserves the right to establish operating hours,
as well as the closing of park areas specifically to address use and
maintenance issues. Trail systems may be closed and rested, even re-routed
for a number of years, if necessary, when degradation symptoms become
evident. Some activities and uses may be restricted or prohibited in
the interest of public safety or natural resource protection.
Section 9. Opening Hours
All Park areas will open at one-half hour prior to Sunrise as defined
by the U.S. Weather Bureau for the Somerville Area unless otherwise
specified or designated by signs.
Section 10. Closing Hours
All Parks will close one half-hour after sunset as defined by the
U.S. Weather Bureau for the Somerville area except where and when specific
closing hours are designated.
Section 11. Vending
No person shall sell or offer for sale any object(s), merchandise,
or other items, within the parks, without obtaining a special permit
from the Commission.
Section 12. Minors
No parent or guardian or custodian of any minor shall permit or allow
him to do any act prohibited by any Somerset County Park Ordinance.
Section 13. Urinating or Defecating
No person shall urinate or defecate except in facilities provided
for such use.
Section 14. Changing/Disrobing in Unauthorized Areas
No person shall change in or out of any clothing or bathing attire
except in areas designated or customarily provided for such use.
Section 15. Spitting
No person shall spit within the park system except into sinks, containers
or materials customarily provided for such purposes, and any such spitting
which is allowed shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner.
Section 16. Tobacco
No person shall smoke cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products
where the smoking of such tobacco products is prohibited by the Park
Commission.
Section 17. Camping
No person shall erect or maintain a tent or shelter and/or camp in
any area except in designated sites provided for such usage and within
the occupancy limit approved for each site (Any persons visiting such
campers must leave the Park area by the time of park closing.)
Section 18. Alcoholic Beverages
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a. No person shall drink, take,
use or have in their possession or be under the influence of
any intoxicating liquors, opiates, or narcotics on or within
the Park or Recreation Area.
b. No person intoxicated by alcohol, drugs or
narcotics, shall be allowed to either enter or remain in the
Park or Recreation Area.
c. The Commission may designate specific areas
for use for, or approve special events where alcoholic beverages
may be consumed. |
VEHICLES
Section 1. Motor Vehicle Act and Traffic Laws
All the provisions of the New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Act and Traffic
Laws shall apply in the parks and shall be strictly enforced with such
further restrictions as may be hereinafter stated.
Section 2. Vehicles Where Prohibited
No person shall ride or drive any type of vehicle within or upon a
walk, bridle path, or any part of the park not designated or customarily
used for such purpose except or unless authorized by a specific permit
issued by the Park Commission.
Section 3. Obeying Officers
When a Park Ranger is directing traffic, all drivers of vehicles and
pedestrians shall obey his orders and directions whether by hand, voice,
or other manner.
Section 4. Parking
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a. Parking
is permissible in the parks only to those who are using the
park and its facilities. No owner or driver shall park any vehicle anywhere outside of
designated parking spaces, or leave the vehicle parked anywhere
on Park Commission property after sunset except at such times
and in such places as the Park Commission may designate. Any
vehicle parked or standing as to obstruct or impede a normal
flow of traffic; blocking entrances or exit ways, loading zones,
oil or gas fills, any grass area, fire zone, pedestrian walkways,
after dusk or presenting in any way a safety or traffic hazard,
may be removed by towing. The cost of towing and storage shall
be borne by the owner and shall be paid before regaining possession
of the vehicle.
b. No person shall use any portion of the Park or Recreation
Area for a purpose of way, except drives, parking areas,
roadways, paths, walks, and trails
established for such purpose by the Commission. 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 open to all other vehicular traffic.
c. No person shall drive or propel, or cause
to be propelled, along or over any road within the park or Recreation
Area, any vehicle at any rate of speed greater than twenty-five
(25) miles per hour or the limits as established by the Somerset
County Park Commissioners and/or municipality (i.e. Colonial
Drive) indicated by speed limit signs erected along the right-of-way.
d. No
person shall drive or propel, or cause to be propelled, along
or over any road within the park or Recreation
Area, any motor vehicle in a careless 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 the
Park or Recreation Area. The motor vehicle operator, and the
vehicle being operated, must be in compliance with New Jersey
State Motor Vehicle License and Safety Laws. |
REGULATED USES
The following activities are permitted only at times and in areas
so designated for that purpose by the Commission and are otherwise
prohibited within the parks:
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a. Swimming, bathing, wading in rivers
or ponds
b. Ice Skating, sledding, skiing
c. Model airplane flying
d. Boating on ponds/water bodies
e. Horseback riding
f. Golfing
g. Archery
h. Snowmobiling
i. Mini bikes and other vehicles
j. Mechanical sound amplification
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All persons using the facilities of the Commission must obey the posted
rules and regulations established for the proper, effective, and safe
utilization of the said facility.
PROTECTION OF PROPERTY
Section 1. Natural Resources and Vegetation
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
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a. Discharge any foreign or waste
substance in any lake, river, lagoon, or stream that may or shall
result in the pollution of said waters.
b. Throw, deposit or leave litter in the Park
or Recreation Area, except in the designated receptacles provided.
c. No person shall excavate, pick, destroy,
deface, remove, fill-in, cut or create any disturbance to vegetation
without specific permission from the Commission. |
Section 2. Defacing or Destruction of Property
No person shall injure, deface, cut out displace, remove, fill in,
raise, destroy, excavate, tamper, or create any disturbance to Property
contained within the Park or the Recreation Area whether it be natural
or manmade.
No artifact or any other organic or inorganic material may be removed
from any historical area of the Park.
Section 3. Rubbish and Refuse Matter
No person shall take into, carry through, leave in, or throw, cast,
lay, drop or discharge into or on, or suffer or permit any servant,
agent, employee or person, in his or her charge, to do the same, into
or on said parks, any rubbish, refuse, garbage or other materials.
PERMITS
A permit authorizing a person or organization to hold a meeting, athletic
event or otherwise use a facility of the Commission for any special
event may be granted upon receipt and review of a written application
to the Commission. The Commission is not deemed to have approved the
permit request until the applicant is in receipt of such approval in
writing, at least seven (7) days prior to the event. All conditions
of the permit approval must be adhered to. Any violation of the terms
and conditions, rules, regulations, or falsifications shall constitute
grounds for revocation of the permit by the Commission or its authorized
representative.
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a. Requests to utilize facilities
for events must be received by a set minimum number of days in
advance of the requested date, ranging from a minimum of 14 days
for picnics to 45 days for special events. An area can be permitted
for a maximum of 12 consecutive days.
b. No event will be permitted on any Park Commission property unless a written
permit has been granted by the Park Commission. The permittee must have the
original approved permit in his/her possession at the site and time of the
event.
c. Permit applicant may be asked to provide
satisfactory evidence of liability and personal property damage
insurance in the aggregate amount of at least $1,000,000 combined
single limit.
d. A permit will only be issued upon receipt of the signed Confirmation of
Reservation Request, all applicable fees, and required documents.
e. Permits will be issued in accordance with
Somerset County Park Commission established maximum carrying
capacity limits.
f. The Park Commission reserves the right to
void or alter a permit when it is in the best interest of the
health, safety or welfare of the general public.
g. Admission fees may not be charged within
the park system.
h. Any and all concessions
associated with an event must be approved in advance, in writing,
by the Commission.
All food concessions must have a permit granted by the respective
Municipality’s Health Department in which the event will
be conducted, in addition to the Park Commission Permit. Both
permits must be displayed.
i. Tents and/or temporary
structures must have a permit granted by the respective Municipality’s
Fire, Building or Safety Departments in which the event will
be conducted.
j. Amusement rides/games are prohibited within
the park system. |
PENALTIES
Any person violating any provision of these Rules and Regulations
shall forfeit and pay a fine or penalty therefore, not exceeding five-hundred
($500.00) Dollars for each offense or less than twenty-five ($25.00)
Dollars as may be fixed by the court in its discretion within said
limits. In addition to any penalties provided thereof, restitution
for the cost of labor can be ordered by the Judge or Magistrate.
REPEAL
All Regulations or parts thereof and all amendments thereto, heretofore
adopted inconsistent with these amendments are hereby repealed. The
foregoing repeal shall not affect or impair any act done, offense committed,
right accruing or acquired or liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment
incurred prior to the time these Regulations take effect; but the same
may be enjoined, asserted, enforced, prosecuted or inflicted as fully
and to the same extent as if these amendments to the Regulations have
not been adopted.
VALIDITY
The invalidity of any of the aforesaid rules and regulations shall
not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining rules and
regulations. These Regulations shall take effect after final adoption,
and publication according to the law shall be made in at least two
(2) newspapers circulating the County of Somerset once, commencing
not later than seven days after adoption by the Somerset County Park
Commission If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or regulations
thereof shall be adjudged invalid, the remainder of the Regulations
shall not thereby be invalidated but shall continue in full force and
effect.
SITE SPECIFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS
In addition to the General Park Rules and Regulations described herein
this paragraph provides for Specific Rules and Regulations which have
been duly adopted and are fully enforceable on a location and facility
basis.
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a. No person shall
fail to comply with any site-specific rules that have been adopted
and promulgated by the Park Commission.
b. No person shall fail to comply with any temporary
restrictions that have been approved by the Park Commission or
its designee to which adequate notice to the public has been
given.
c. Any person who fails to comply with either
a site-specific rule or temporary restriction may be directed
to leave the park system and may be subject to further penalties
as determined by the Park Commission or local or state statute
or regulation. |
The following park facilities and locations have specific
use guidelines:
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a. Buck Garden
b. Colonial Park Gardens
c. Colonial Park Leash-Free Dog Area
d. Environmental Education Center
e. Lord Stirling Stable
f. Green Knoll Golf Course
g. Green Knoll Tennis Center
h. Quail Brook Golf Course
i. Spooky Brook Golf Course
j. Warrenbrook Golf Course
k. Warrenbrook Pool
l. Neshanic Valley Golf Course
m. Athletic Field Permits
n. Dog and Horse Show Permits
o. Natural Area Permits
p. Picnic Permits
q. Rocket Launch and Flying Field Permits
r. Public Assembly Area Permits
s. Showmobile Permits |
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