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Ordinance amending and supplementing the City of Pittsburgh Code, Title Four (“Public Places and Property”), Article XI (“Parks and Playgrounds”) by amending Chapter 473 with respect to camping in parks.
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WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh operates a system of City parks and playgrounds that are open and free to the public;
WHEREAS, the City seeks to maximize the public’s enjoyment of its various parks and playgrounds without sacrificing public safety or interfering with public protection activities;
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that in granting permission, the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation will exercise his discretion to establish suitable rules and regulations as provides in 471.02, in keeping with the purpose of the Parks.
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.
City of Pittsburgh Code, Title Four (“Public Places and Property”), Article XI (“Parks and Playgrounds”), Chapter 473 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
ARTICLE XI: - PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
CHAPTER 473: - USE REGULATIONS
§ 473.04 - RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
(a) Bathing and swimming.
(1) Designated areas. No person in a park shall swim, bathe or wade in any waters or waterways in or adjacent to any park, except in waters and at places as are provided therefor, and in compliance with the regulations as are herein set forth or may be hereafter adopted. Nor shall any person frequent any waters or places customarily designated for the purpose of swimming or bathing, or congregate thereat when the activity is prohibited by the Director of Parks and Recreation upon a finding that the use of the water would be dangerous or otherwise inadvisable.
(2) Certain hours. No person in a park shall frequent any waters or places designated for the purpose of swimming or bathing, or congregate thereat, except between the hours of the day as shall be designated by the Director for purposes for each individual area.
(b) Boating.
(1) Designated areas. No person in a park shall bring into or operate any boat, raft, or other water craft, whether motor-powered or not, upon any waters, except at places designated for boating by the Director. The activity shall be in accordance with applicable regulations as are now or may hereafter be adopted.
(c) Picnics.
(1) Duty of picnicker. No person in a park shall leave a picnic area before the fire is completely extinguished and before all trash in the nature of boxes, papers, cans, bottles, garbage and other refuse is placed in the disposal receptacles where provided. If no trash receptacles are available, then refuse and trash shall be carried away from the park area by the picnicker to be properly disposed of elsewhere.
(d) Camping. No person in a park shall camp overnight except with permission of the Director and only for groups of persons under adequate supervision. Except with the permission of the Director, no person shall set up tents, shacks or any other temporary shelter for the purpose of overnight camping, nor shall any person leave in a park after closing hours any movable structure or special vehicle to be used or that could be used for such purpose, such as house trailer, camp trailer or the like. In granting permission, the Director will exercise discretion to establish suitable rules and regulations as provided in § 471.02, in keeping with the purpose of the Parks. These rules may include, but are not limited to: requiring co-sponsorship by the City, specifying level of supervision and security, prohibiting alcohol, setting fees, requiring insurance, providing for hygiene, providing for lighting, and other pertinent matters.
(e) Games and sports. No person in a park shall participate in games, contests and sports except in areas designated for use, and in no case shall the use be permitted in areas where lawns or planting may be injured, or where the activity may interfere with park or playground regulations.
(f) Model airplanes and drones. No person in a park shall operate a motorized model airplane, drone or any other mechanized or motorized devices within, above or in the vicinity thereof.
(g) Horseback riding. No person in a park shall ride a horse except on designated bridle trails. Where permitted, horses shall be thoroughly broken and properly restrained, and ridden with due care, and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended, nor shall they be hitched to any rock, tree or shrub.
(i) Paragliding and other airborne activities. No person within, above or in the vicinity of a park facility shall engage in paragliding, parasailing, skydiving or any other activity involving the airborne movement of persons.
(j) Unreasonable interference with movement or service capability of police, fire or medical services. Any activity that interferes with the movement or service capability of police, fire and/or other medical services may be prohibited within City park facilities at the discretion of the Director of Parks and Recreation or his/her designee and regardless of whether such activity requires a permit pursuant to Chapter 477 or any other chapter of the City Code.