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Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh City Code, Title Four: Public Places and Properties, Article XI Parks and Playgrounds, Chapter 473: Use Regulations, Section 473.05 Behavior by prohibiting the uncasing, possession, and use of firearms capable of discharging or propelling a projectile in City parks and playgrounds.
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WHEREAS, Pittsburgh’s world-class parks and playgrounds provide a place of solace, recreation, and free play to thousands of adults and children each year; and,
WHEREAS, children participate in hundreds of sanctioned sporting events and activities in our City parks every year; and,
WHEREAS, in Section 11.215 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Conservation and Natural Resources code, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources prohibits the uncasing, possession, and use of firearms in all state parks, including Point State Park within the city of Pittsburgh; and,
WHEREAS, similar to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Pittsburgh has a vested interest in ensuring that park visitors enjoy a safe and peaceful experience.
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
§ 473.05 - BEHAVIOR.
(a) Intoxicating beverages. No person in a park shall have brought in, possess or consume any beer or alcoholic beverages at any time except where designated by the Director of Parks and Recreation.
(b) Dogs and domestic animals. Dogs or any domestic animals are not permitted on playgrounds and courts at any time. Dogs are not permitted in parks, except when held on leash and under the control of the owner or other person having the dog in charge. The Director may prohibit dogs entirely in designated areas of parks. No dog or other domestic animal shall be permitted to be at large, except in areas specifically designated by the Director as Off Leash Exercise Areas (See City Code at 633.22), and any owner or person in charge of the animal shall be responsible for the control thereof. The Director may ban dogs and other pets, or a specific dog or other pet, from areas of any park or greenway where the Director determines the same may be a nuisance.
(c) Fires. No person in a park shall build or attempt to build a fire except in such areas and under the regulations as may be designated by the Director. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other flammable material, within any park area or on any highway, road or street abutting or contiguous thereto.
(d) Closed area. No person in a park shall enter an area posted as "Closed to the Public," nor shall any person use, or abet the use of any area in violation of posted notices.
(e) Going onto ice. No person in a park shall go onto the ice on any of the waters except the areas as are designated, and provided a safety signal is displayed.
(f) Exhibit permits. No person in a park shall fail to produce and exhibit any permit from the Director he or she claims to have upon request of any authorized person who desires to inspect the same for the purpose of enforcing compliance with any ordinance or rule.
(g) Interference with permittees. No person in a park shall disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person or party occupying any area, or participating in any activity, under authority of a valid permit.
(h) Smoking and tobacco usage. All park facilities, as that term is defined in Section 477.01(b)(2), and including but not limited to parks, playgrounds and pools in the City of Pittsburgh, are hereby designated as tobacco-free. This prohibition shall apply to the consumption of all tobacco products including smokeless tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and/or any other tobacco substitute product that creates smoke or other vapors and regardless of whether it produces an odor of any kind.
(i) Firearms. No person in a park, except law enforcement officers, shall uncase, possess, or use a firearm capable of discharging or propelling a projectile.
(i) (j) The Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation shall post appropriate signage designating smoke-free and tobacco-free areas and promulgate provisions for enforcement.
(j) (k) The residents shall be notified, in writing, of this Ordinance.
(k) (l) The Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation and his/her designated representatives, including but not limited to park rangers, are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this Article or any other provisions in the City of Pittsburgh Code pertaining to conduct in City parks, any regulations and policies issued thereunder and to issue citations for any violations thereof in accordance with City Code Section 101.09.