Chapter 42 PARKS AND RECREATION* Revised 3-1-06

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*Cross references: Offenses and miscellaneous provisions, ch. 38.

State law references: Township parks, MCL 41.441 et seq.; recreation and playgrounds, MCL 123.51 et seq.; public recreation facilities, MCL 318.231 et seq.

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Sec. 42-1. Definitions.

Sec. 42-2. Rules and regulations.

Sec. 42-3. Penalty for violation of chapter.

Sec. 42-1. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alcoholic beverages means any spirituous, vinous, malt or fermented liquor, liquids and compounds, whether or not medicated, proprietary, patented, and by whatever name called, containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume which are used for beverage purposes.

Child or children means any person less than nine years of age.

Firearms means any instrument used in the propulsion of a shot, shell or bullet by action of gunpowder exploded within the instrument.

Hunting or hunt means the act of pursuing wild animals, including all animals other than domestic pets, for the purpose of killing or shooting.

Motor vehicles means any car, van, truck, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, motorbike, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle or other track or wheeled vehicle, propelled or powered by a motor.

Motorboat means any boat powered by an inboard or outboard motor, jet ski, motorized watercraft or waterboard.

Swimming pool means any artificially constructed outdoor pool capable of being used for swimming or bathing, having a depth of two feet or more at any point.

Township park means an area or parcel of property, including lake waters within such parcel, owned or controlled by the township for the specific use as a park or for public recreational purposes in the township, and specifically marked as a township park.

(Ord. No. 148, art. I, 11-26-90)

Cross references: Definitions generally, § 1-2.

Sec. 42-2. Rules and regulations.

(a) Hours of use. No person shall use, occupy or be present in any township park or shall traverse, park or use any motor vehicle in any township park after 10:00 p.m. in the evening and before 8:00 a.m. the following morning, unless otherwise posted.

(b) Alcoholic beverages. No person shall bring any alcoholic beverage into a township park, and no person shall possess, store, use or consume any alcoholic beverage in a township park at any time.

(1) Litter. No person shall throw away or discard litter, or deposit any trash, cans, garbage, refuse, papers or waste material of any kind or nature in a township park, except in containers provided for such purpose.

(2) Motor vehicles. Motor vehicles shall be regulated as follows:

a. No person shall drive or operate a motor vehicle within any township park or within any area used by the township for recreational or park purposes that is not specifically prescribed for such use of motor vehicles, such as highways, roadways, trails, paths, driveways or parking areas.

b. No person shall operate, ride in or on, or otherwise use any snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, motorboat, or motorized watercraft including, but not by way of limitation, any outboard motor, jet ski, or other motorized craft or waterboard.

(3) Fires. No person shall build, use or maintain, or allow to be built, used or maintained any fires or shall not burn wood or other substances, except in portable grills specifically designed for cooking purposes.

(4) Noise. No person shall disturb the public peace and quiet by loud, boisterous or vulgar conduct or make, aid, give countenance to, or assist in making any improper noise, disturbance, breach of peace or diversion tending to a breach of peace, including the use of loud or vulgar language within the park.

(5) Property. No person shall willfully destroy or damage in any manner, or deface, destroy, injure or tamper with any property not his own, or without proper authority, or in any manner mar the walls of any building or any fence, tree, sign or pole or other property within the park, or take or meddle with any property belonging to the township or remove the same from the building or place where it may be kept, placed, standing or stored without authority from the official custodian of such property.

(6) Animals. No person shall bring or allow any animal or household pet owned by him, or under his supervision or control, within park property, unless such animal is secured to a leash not more than ten feet in length, and provided further that no such animal shall be allowed, in any event, in the bathing beach area.

(7) Motor vehicles. No motor vehicles shall be driven in the park at a speed in excess of ten miles per hour.

(8) Clothing changes. No person shall undress for the purpose of changing clothes or for the purpose of changing in and out of bathing suits or for any other purpose within the park or within any car, motor vehicle or toilet facility within the township park at any time.

(9) Firearms. No person shall bring into the park, possess or control, within the park, any bow and arrow, pistol, rifle, gun, shotgun or other firearm, unless such item is disassembled and contained in a locked or sealed container.

(10) Hunting. No person shall hunt within the township park or shall fire or shoot or prepare to fire or shoot any rifle, gun, pistol, or other firearm, and bow and arrow within the township park at any prescribed, stationary, or moving target, or carry on the activity commonly known as target practice.

(11) Use of motor trails. No person shall walk, hike, ski, bicycle, run or jog, except for emergency purposes, on or along a trail or path within any township park, or within any property owned by the township, or used by the township for recreational purposes or for park purposes that is specifically marked and prescribed for use of motorized vehicles only.

(12) Swimming hours. No person shall swim, wade, or play in the lake waters except during a period when only such hours that such swimming facilities are in normal operation.

(13) Swimming area. No person shall swim, float, or otherwise go beyond the barriers marking and identifying the allowable swimming areas adjoining each park within a lake.

(14) Winter use. No person shall ice skate, slide or play on any pond or lake during the winter season except when and where authorized by the township.

(15) Children. Children shall not be allowed in the parks or recreation areas, or in the lake waters, unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other person who shall assume responsibilities and control over such child.

(16) Lifejackets. All persons operating, riding in or using sailboats, canoes, sailboards, or other nonmotorized watercraft shall wear lifejackets or lifesaving devices approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

(17) Waste. Persons using the township parks shall deposit all waste and trash, excess containers, and papers in the trash barrels located on the park premises.

(18) Fire. No person shall build or ignite, or allow the burning of any open fire within the park area.

(Ord. No. 148, art. II, §§ 201--203, 11-26-90)

Sec. 42-3. Penalty for violation of chapter.

Any person who violates this chapter shall be responsible for a municipal civil infraction and shall be punished by a fine as set forth in the Schedule of Civil Fines [Appendix C] and court costs. Equitable relief may also be awarded as permitted by Michigan law.

(Ord. No. 2000-03, 8-28-2000)