In an effort to help curb vandalism issues and ensure public safety, the Falls Township Board of Supervisors on Monday night authorized advertisement of an ordinance amendment that, if enacted, would close its parks an hour earlier.
Under the proposed change, Falls Township parks will be open from sunrise to sunset daily. Parks are currently open an hour after sunset each day.
The proposed hours are “more than reasonable,” Supervisors Chairman Jeff Dence said.
The change in closure would be effective every day except for “unusual and unforeseen emergencies and approved special events,” according to the ordinance.
The public is not permitted to be in any of the township’s parks during any hours in which said park is not open to the public unless otherwise specified by permit, according to the proposed amendment.
Anyone who violates the proposed ordinance would be subject to a civil enforcement proceeding and, upon conviction, will be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the township in the enforcement of this rule.
Each day a violation exists constitutes a separate offense, according to the ordinance.
Upon 10- days written notice and after a hearing before the township manager, Falls may penalize any individual who is found to have violated one or more of the provisions in any way appropriate under the law including but not limited to prohibition of future use and enjoyment of the Falls Township parks.
Somehow our park went from closing itself at sunset to closing an hour after sunset which was starting to become a small issue …with people leaving grills The violations and penalties …we’re not so much violating and penalizing people that were here late other than asking them to leave but we did have an issue with someone going in there and cutting down trees, the police got involved, our legal team got involved. I don’t remember the reason he was cutting down trees but it was a bizarre situation so that’s the part where the violations of penalties come in, Dence explained.
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In other business, the Supervisors amended the fee schedule for the fire marshal’s office and parks and recreation department. A new addition for 2025 is a food truck inspection at a fee of $50. A number of food trucks are planned to participate in Falls Township’s annual food truck festival on Sept. 19. All of the trucks participating would need to be inspected in advance of the event.
“We thought it was in our best interest to inspect these trucks,” Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito said, adding that his goal is to “keep everybody safe.”
For the summer season at Pinewood Pool, members and guests alike will be able to try out the pool’s new slide. The Supervisors approved purchasing and installing a new slide to replace the 15-year-old one at a total cost of 87,293.81.
“It’s seen better days,” Falls Parks and Recreation Director Brian Andrews said, adding that he anticipates “good longevity” from the new slide. “This particular model is very similar to what we have.”