City Code, ExplainedBetaPardon our dust while we build this out — expect some changes along the way.

This chapter governs conduct, hours, and use of all City of Pottsville parks, playgrounds, recreation areas, tennis courts, pools, and recreation structures, and authorizes the Recreation Commission to make additional rules.

Who this affects

Anyone visiting a city park, playground, pool, or recreation facility, including groups seeking to hold events, sell goods or services, or reserve fields such as the Rotary Field baseball diamond.

Key rules

• Parks are open at hours set by the Recreation Commission or City Council, and no one may be in a park between 10:00 p.m. and sunrise without special permission.
• Prohibited: injuring, defacing, or removing trees, plants, turf, buildings, structures, signs, or fixtures.
• Prohibited: littering except in designated receptacles.
• Prohibited: kindling or maintaining fires except in designated fireplaces or areas.
• Prohibited: removing benches, seats, tables, or other appliances without permission.
• Prohibited: defacing or removing posted notices, rules, or regulations, or posting unauthorized notices.
• Prohibited: setting up booths, tables, or stands for sale of goods or services, or soliciting, without permission.
• Prohibited: operating, stopping, or parking vehicles or bicycles outside designated areas, or operating them recklessly, negligently, or over posted speed limits.
• Prohibited: operating commercial vehicles unless providing authorized services.
• Prohibited: bringing, possessing, or consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, or entering while intoxicated or under the influence.
• Prohibited: carrying or discharging firearms, slingshots, fireworks, explosives, arrows, or other dangerous weapons capable of causing annoyance or injury, unless permitted in designated areas; on-duty police officers are exempt.
• Prohibited: playing ball, swimming, golfing, archery, camping, or other recreation/sporting activities outside areas designated for that purpose.
• Prohibited: disrobing or changing clothing except in designated buildings or facilities.
• Prohibited: disturbing the peace in a way that annoys other park users or neighbors.
• Prohibited: operating snowmobiles, minibikes, motorcycles, or other recreational vehicles except on designated roads, trails, or areas.
• Prohibited: threatening, abusive, insulting, profane, or obscene language.
• Prohibited: disorderly or immoral acts.
• Public meetings or rallies require permission and a statement including the organization's name, purpose, expected attendance, duration, and person(s) in charge.
• Must obey lawful orders of police officers or Recreation Commission members and comply with posted rules, warnings, or instructions.
• Prohibited: hunting, capturing, or killing wild birds or animals, and carrying a shotgun, rifle, pistol, or other firearm in a park without specific permission for a designated area.
• Prohibited: allowing pets to run at large out of control.
• Prohibited: use of tobacco products.
• Park use (except the Rotary Field baseball field) is first-come-first-served unless reserved by annual permission, for school/college athletic events, for regularly scheduled school district or municipal recreation programs, or by specific permission.
• The Rotary Park baseball field may not be used without a permit from the Recreation Commission.
• The Recreation Commission may establish additional rules with City Council approval.
• Recreation facilities may be closed at the discretion of the Recreation Commission or City Council if they become hazardous due to weather, water, fire, or unforeseeable conditions.
• City police officers are charged with enforcing this chapter and related rules.

Penalties

Violators are, upon conviction, subject to a fine of not more than $600 and/or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days.

Notable and archaic details

• The chapter separately singles out the baseball field at Rotary Field/Rotary Park as requiring its own permit, unlike other first-come-first-served park uses.
• The weapons and hunting prohibitions explicitly exempt on-duty police officers.
• The tobacco use prohibition was added later, in 2006, decades after the original 1986 ordinance.