[Added 3-26-2018 by Ord. No. 010-2018]
A. The first step to securing a park and/or recreation area is to complete a use of facility application. The allocation of park(s) and recreation area(s) will be determined by the Director of Parks and Recreation according to the priority of use established in Permits Section, Permits, and provided that the criteria listed are met.
(1) The Department of Parks and Recreation may schedule fields and facilities at any time for Town sponsored programs, events and activities.
(2) Category II applicant's facility use of park(s) and recreation area(s). Application for the spring and summer season (February 15 through August 31) is to be submitted by December 31. Field use approvals for Category II will be voted upon at the January Recreation Commission meeting.
(3) Category II applicant's facility use of park(s) and recreation area(s). Application for the fall season (September 1 through November 30) is to be submitted by May 31. Field use approvals for Category II will be voted upon at the June Recreation Commission meeting.
(4) All Categories III through VII applicants may submit a facility use of park(s) and recreation area(s) application no more than 60 days prior to start date of use. Additionally, applications for facility use of fields between April 1 and August 31 will be accepted up to January 31. Permits will be issued for groups that apply according to category rankings. Applications for facility use of park(s) and recreation area(s) between September 1 and November 15 will be accepted up to June 30. Permits will be issued for groups that apply according to category rankings and any policy contained herein.
(5) Field use applications may be submitted past the dates stated above, no later than seven business days prior to date of use requested and will be considered based on remaining park(s) and recreation area(s) availability.
(6) Restrictions include:
(a) Park(s) and recreation area(s) use permits will be issued to all applicants in Categories III through VII between the dates of April 1 and November 30 annually. No use outside of these dates for above category groups will be allowed.
(b) All Hammonton Town park(s) and recreation area(s) will be permitted for use a maximum of six days a week to ensure they receive some rest and reduce wear and tear.
(c) Athletic fields may not be scheduled for more than eight hours of use in a day. The Director of Parks and Recreation may make exception to this rule in case of tournament play. During the months of July and August, all athletic fields will be permitted for use no more than six hours daily, with a maximum use of four consecutive hours. A mandatory rest period of two hours will be imposed between approved use of the field(s) or area(s).
(d) The Town will leave park(s) and recreation area(s) use times open, un-scheduled and available for informal use by the general public.
B. To minimize field wear and maintenance and ensure the safety of participants, park(s) and recreation area(s) may be retired from play after each season to allow rehabilitation/ regrowth of the turf. The Director of Public Works, Director of Recreation or the Recreation Commission may close any Hammonton Town park(s) and recreation area(s) for the upcoming season based upon a review of conditions and required maintenance to ensure playability. The Town may cancel individual activities on any given day depending on weather and current park(s) and recreation area(s) conditions. In case of permitted date of use, canceled due to weather or park(s) and recreation area(s) conditions, the Director of Parks and Recreation will assist the organization in obtaining one alternate date at no additional cost, provided the date of park(s) and recreation area(s) use is not booked previously by any another permitted group.