NOTICE TO ALL USERS: ALL MIAMI TOWNSHIP PARKS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR USE WITHOUT FEE. ANYONE ENTERING INTO THE PARK AND/OR USING THE PARK AND THE FACILITIES CONTAINED WITHIN ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES, THEIR HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ASSIGNS, DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK. ANYONE ENTERING INTO THE PARK AND/OR USING THE PARK AND THE FACILITIES CONTAINED WITHIN ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES, THEIR HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ASSIGNS AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS MIAMI TOWNSHIP, ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, INSURERS, ATTORNEYS, AND ASSIGNS FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY ARISING FROM THEIR ENTRY INTO THE PARK OR THE USE OF PARK FACILITIES.
1. HOURS OF OPERATION: All Miami Township Parks shall be open from 6:00 A.M. to dusk or at such other times as the Township Administrator authorizes.
2. PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY AND NATURAL FEATURES
No person shall injure, deface, disturb or befoul any part of the park nor any building, sign, equipment or other property found therein; nor shall any tree, flower, shrub, rock or other mineral be removed, injured or destroyed.
3. GARBAGE, REFUSE, ASHES, SEWAGE AND WASTE MATERIAL
No person shall deposit, permit or suffer to be deposited, in any of the park, any garbage, ashes, sewage, refuse or any waste material whatsoever, otherwise than in receptacles or pits provided for such purposes; nor dump any earth within the park without specific written permit from the Township Administrator.
No person shall bring into or cause to be brought into the parks from outside park boundaries, any garbage, ashes, sewage, or refuse or depositing in any manner within the park.
No person shall, within the park, discharge into, throw, cause, lay, drop or leave in any pond, lake, river, brook, stream, storm sewer, or drain flowing into or through the park, or into any pond, lake, river, brook or stream which may be tributary to any river, brook, or stream flowing into or through the park, any substance, matter, or thing whether liquid or solid, which may or shall result in the pollution of the pond, lake, river, brook or stream within the park.
4. HUNTING, FISHING AND MOLESTING WILDLIFE
No person within the confines of the park, unless authorized by written permit of the Township Administrator, shall hunt, pursue with dogs, trap, molest, harm, harass, injure, or take wild bird or animal found within the confines of the park, or therein rob or molest any bird nest or take the eggs of any bird.
Fishing is permitted at the Miami Meadows Park during the park's normal hours of operation. Miami Township has adopted a "Fish and Release" policy. Unless authorized by the Township Administrator, no fish may be removed from the lake. A State of Ohio fishing license is required. Exemptions to the licensing requirement are granted as follows: persons under the age of 16; persons 66 years old or older; persons who are unable to engage in fishing without the assistance of another person due to a physical disability and the person who is assisting the disabled person.
5. FIRES
No person shall start a fire in the park except small fires for cooking purposes in park grills, or privately owned grills, or fires in places or designated areas approved for such purposes without written permit from the Board and/or the Township Administrator. The Township Administrator at his/her discretion shall prohibit fires or smoking for limited periods at any location or for any purposes then necessary for the protection of park property. All fires shall be put out by the person or persons starting or using the same before leaving the immediate vicinity of the fire.
6. WEAPONS
No person, except authorized employees or agents of the Board and/or Township Administrator shall possess a deadly weapon, dangerous ordnance, or air rifle, sling shot, or missile throwing device, within the park, or discharge any firearm, deadly weapon, dangerous ordinance, or air rifle therein without specific permit from the Board and/or Township Administrator.
7. CAMPS
No person shall establish or maintain any camp or other temporary lodging place within the park, without specific written permit from the Board and/or Township Administrator, except in locations especially set aside by the Board and/or Township Administrator as camps.
8. DISORDERLY CONDUCT
No person shall remain in the park who does not abide by the BYLAWS AND RULES FOR PARK GOVERNMENT. In addition, no individual shall remain in the park who does not abide by instructions and directions of duly authorized peace officers or agents of the Board of Trustees of Miami Township in the lawful performance of their duties. Any person ordered to leave the park shall do so promptly and peaceably.
The following activities shall be a proper basis for the forcible removal of any individual from the Park or the imposition of fines and penalties as set forth below:
A. Violation of any BYLAW OR RULE FOR PARK GOVERNMENT.
B. Violation of any Section of the Ohio Revised Code.
C. Use, sale, or possession of intoxicating liquor or beer as defined in Section 4301.01 or as authorized by special permit of the Board of Trustees of Miami Township.
D. Use, sale or possession of any controlled substance or harmful intoxicant as defined by Section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.
E. Any person deemed to be under the influence of beer, intoxicating liquor, or other controlled or harmful substances shall be removed.
F. Being in the Park after dark.
G. Trespassing in Park areas that are under construction or specifically prohibited and identified by proper signage.
9 . TRAFFIC RULES
A. No person shall drive or propel or cause to be driven or propelled along or over any road within the park, any vehicle at a greater rate of speed than fifteen (15) miles per hour.
B. No person shall park or store any motor car, motorcycle, bicycle, wagon or other vehicle within the park, except in places and at such times designated by the Board and/or Township Administrator for such purposes.
C. The state laws regulating equipment on vehicles shall apply to vehicles within the park.
D. No portion of the park shall be used for a roadway except paved or graveled drives. Roadways, paths, walks and trails established for pedestrian travel, shall not be used for vehicular travel.
E. No person shall drive or propel any vehicle along or over any park road in a reckless manner without due regard for the safety of pedestrians and drivers and all other occupants of any vehicle.
F. No person shall drive or propel or cause to be driven or propelled along or over any park road, any truck, commercial car, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer, bus or commercial tractor, unless authorized by the Board and/or Township Administrator to make deliveries within the park, or unless engaged in work in the park that has been contracted for with the Board and/or Township Administrator, or unless delivering or picking up persons using a truck or trailer as transportation to or from the park area. No vehicles in excess of five (5) tons gross vehicular weight will be used to transport people to or from a park area without prior written permit from the Board and/or Township Administrator.
G. No person shall drive or propel any vehicle along or over any park road without complying with all traffic signs and all posted traffic regulations.
H. No person, except authorized agents of the Board and/or Township Administrator, shall ride any horse or other animal within the park.
I. The use of skateboards, bicycles, or in-line skates shall be limited to pathways and parking lots within the park. Skateboards and in-line skates are permitted in the skate park at Miami Meadows Park. Skateboards, bicycles, or in-line skates are expressly prohibited in playgrounds and shelters.
10. MISCELLANEOUS RULES
A. No person shall drive or propel or cause a golf ball to be driven or propelled within the park.
B. RESERVED AREAS: Certain sections of the parks may be reserved. Reserved areas of the park will be conspicuously marked and may only be reserved via a permit issued by the Township Administrator or his designee. Miami Township has adopted a separate policy that governs the use of reserveable facilities. A copy of the “MIAMI TOWNSHIP FACILITY USE POLICIES” is available upon request.
C. ATHLETIC FIELDS: Miami Township has adopted a separate policy that governs the use of athletic fields. Priority is given to individuals and/or organizations that have obtained a field use permit. A copy of the “MIAMI TOWNSHIP FIELD USE POLICIES” is available upon request.
D. COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES: No person shall sell or offer for sale any article, thing, privilege or service within the park without a permit from the Board and/or Township Administrator, and no person shall do any begging, hawking, peddling or soliciting therein.
E. SIGNS: No person shall distribute or place any sign, advertisement, circular or notice, or display any banner, emblem or design, within the park, without specific permit from the Board and/or Township Administrator.
F. NOISE: No loud noises from vehicle stereos, portable radios, and other music players shall be permitted. A noise is determined “loud” if it can be heard at a distance exceeding one hundred (100) feet from its source.
G. DOMESTIC ANIMALS GRAZING: No person shall herd, graze, drive or permit to run at large within the park, any cattle, horse, mule, donkey, goat, swine, sheep, or other animal, or any poultry or other fowl, without the specific permit of the Board and/or Township Administrator.
F. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, LEASH, EXCLUSIONS: No person shall bring into, have or keep in the park, any animal destructive of wildlife, nor shall any person bring into or permit within the park a domestic dog or a domestic cat unless such is under constant control and supervision and held on a leash no longer than six feet in length. This section does not assure admittance of park visitors with their pets to such locations and at such times as may conflict with Board of Health requirements or preservation of public safety and order within the park. This section does not apply to dogs within the Bark Park.
G. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, SUPERVISION: No pets or other animals shall be allowed to disturb or become a nuisance to other users of the park. The determination of disturbing animal behavior shall be within the sole discretion of the Township Administrator or his/her designated representative.
H. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, REMOVAL OF FECAL MATTER: It shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner, keeper, or person in control of any pet which has deposited any fecal matter on Park trails or in Park recreation areas, to immediately cause said fecal matter to be removed and deposited in a suitable container or receptacle under the immediate control of the owner, keeper, or person in control of the pet.
I. DOMESTIC ANIMALS, PETS IN PLAY AREAS: Pets are not permitted in play equipment areas.
J. BARK PARK RULES:
1) Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injury caused by them. If your dog becomes unruly or aggressive, leash immediately and leave the Bark Park. In case of an incident, owners are required to provide personal information to all involved parties.
2) Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, and wearing a collar with current tags.
3) Dogs less than four (4) months old are not permitted in the large dog area.
4) Female dogs in season are not permitted.
5) Dog owners must keep their dog(s) in view at all times. No dog will be left in the Bark Park area unattended. Unattended dogs will be removed by the Humane Society.
6) There is a limit of three (3) dogs per owner at any given time.
7) Owners are responsible for the clean up and disposal of feces left by their dog.
8) Owners must carry a leash at all times. All dogs must be leashed in all other areas of the Miami Township Parks.
9) Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
10) Please maintain the safety of the corral gate system. Do not enter if another dog is in the corral area.
11) Food, dog treats and chew toys are not permitted inside the dog park area.
12) Glass containers and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the dog park area.
13) Failure to follow the bark park rules subjects a violator to criminal prosecution per Section 13 below and will result in a ban from any future use of the dog park.
14) Miami Township is not, by adopting these rules, stating that the users of the Bark Park are in compliance with these rules. All users of the Bar Park acknowledge that the township is not a guarantor of the physical health and fitness of any Bark Park user or the safety of any person or animal using the Bark Park. All users of the Bark Park use the Bark Park at their own risk, without any guaranty or warranty whatsoever.
11. PRESERVATION OF GOOD ORDER IN THE PARKS
No individual or organization shall conduct, sponsor or promote any public meeting, concert, theater, athletic event or other public activity in the parks without prior authorization of the Board. No event or activity sponsored or promoted by an individual or organization shall be permitted if, in the opinion of the Board, it will constitute hazards and dangers to the personal safety of the participants or other park visitors; endangers peace and good order in the parks; interferes with the regular and normal use of the facilities and activities by park visitors; or which is inconsistent with the use of the park for park purposes.
12. TERMS
The term "park" as used herein, means any land owned or controlled by the Board of Trustees of Miami Township that has been designated for parks, recreation, or open space.
The term "board" as used herein, means the Board of Miami Township Trustees.
The term "person" includes natural person and corporations.
The term "pet" shall mean any privately owned animal, whether domestic or wild.
13. PENALTIES
Any person violating any of the foregoing rules and regulations and any amendments or additions thereto shall subject to prosecution and upon conviction shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first offense, nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each second or further offense; Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 505.261 and applicable Resolutions of the Miami Township Trustees.
14. EFFECTIVE DATE
These rules and regulations shall take effect and be in force as of August 27, 1991. The Miami Township Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify the bylaws and rules for park government as needs arise.
15. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
All Miami Township facilities are open to the public. The Miami Township Board of Trustees does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, or disability.
Original document approved August 27, 1991
Revision approved September 8, 1999
Revision approved March 20, 2007