Bayonne officials are moving ahead with an ordinance designed to protect municipal parks from misuse, including attempts to turn them into homeless encampments. The proposal introduces insurance requirements for organized events, limits activities that resemble camping, and creates uniform park hours to support safety and upkeep.
- Bayonne’s proposed ordinance (Agenda No. O-11) would require groups using municipal parks for organized activities to carry at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage and $50,000 in property damage insurance, with public schools exempt from this requirement.
- The ordinance establishes strict rules against camping, cooking devices, landscape alterations, and the accumulation of furniture or debris in parks, while setting uniform park hours from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and limiting overnight presence without special permission.
- Individuals cited for violations related to prohibited structures or sleeping may avoid penalties if they have no outstanding citations and accept Social Services within 30 hours, including housing, substance abuse treatment, outreach services, or medical admission.
Insurance Requirements and Updated Rules for Organized Activities
The ordinance proposes amendments to Chapter 13, Municipal Parks and Playgrounds, of the city’s general ordinances. Under these changes, any group or organization seeking to use a municipal park for a group activity must provide general liability insurance from an insurer licensed in New Jersey. The policy must name the City of Bayonne as an additional insured and include at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $50,000 for property damage.
The Division of Recreation will continue to issue rules for group activities and must post these rules prominently in each park. These notices must state that violations can result in fines up to $1,250, as allowed by Chapter 1, Section 1-5 of the municipal code. Public schools under the City of Bayonne Board of Education remain exempt from the insurance requirement.
Restrictions on Camping, Cooking Devices, and Altering Park Grounds
A major focus of the ordinance is preventing residents from using city parks as living spaces. The proposal states that no person may maintain or inhabit any structure, tent, or object used for housing or camping; it also prohibits constructing or keeping any device used for cooking unless the Division of Recreation gives written permission.
Additional limits bar visitors from modifying the landscape to create shelters or from accumulating items such as household furniture, appliances, or construction debris in any park. The intent is to provide clear rules about what activities cannot occur on park property.
Park Hours and Conditions for Waiving Violations
The ordinance sets uniform hours for all municipal parks: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Remaining in a park for the purpose of sleeping during these hours would not be allowed unless the Division of Recreation grants special permission. Exceptions may be made for people performing security services during restricted hours and for special events that have official approval.
The ordinance also creates a path for avoiding penalties. A person cited for violating the rules on camping or sleeping would not be held in violation if they meet two conditions:
- They have no outstanding citation for the same section.
- They accept Social Services within 30 hours of receiving the citation.
Social Services, as defined in the ordinance, may include temporary or permanent housing, residential substance abuse treatment, homeless outreach, or admission to a hospital or residential facility for medical treatment. An “outstanding citation” refers to one that is unpaid or currently under appeal.
The ordinance specifies that only conflicting portions of previous ordinances will be repealed and that the amendments will take effect upon passage and publication according to law.
