Chesterland/Chester Township Ohio

[AAAP]

http://www.chestertwp.net/park/park2.pdf

Rule 12 of Chester Township Park state's:

"It is Unlawful to carry or have in ones possession a firearm."

Is this regulation unlawful?

[carmen fovozzo]

Are you talking about Pondeson State Park ?

[Tourist]

As written, rule 12 is not a lawful regulation.

[AAAP]

I am talking about Chester Township Park, at the corner of 322 (Mayfield) and route 306 (Chillicothe).

[AAAP]

Assuming it is not lawful, what is the best approach to solve the problem. I have e=-mailed the park administrator, and the town administrator, I will go to the next trustees meeting and voice my concern, I just want to make sure that I do all of my homework and show up prepared. I don't want to be "shot down" because of my lack of knowledge on the subject.

[charben]

Assuming it is not lawful, what is the best approach to solve the problem. I have e=-mailed the park administrator, and the town administrator, I will go to the next trustees meeting and voice my concern, I just want to make sure that I do all of my homework and show up prepared. I don't want to be "shot down" because of my lack of knowledge on the subject.

PM sent

[Tourist]

AAAP, Chris,

The park rules are not handled by the township trustees, but are handled by the park commissioners.

I just had a conversation with the secretary for the park commissioners. She will talk to them, let me know when the next meeting is, and put a change of rule 12 on the agenda.

[charben]

AAAP, Chris,

The park rules are not handled by the township trustees, but are handled by the park commissioners.

I just had a conversation with the secretary for the park commissioners. She will talk to them, let me know when the next meeting is, and put a change of rule 12 on the agenda.

Keep in mind that often these boards want to offer an additional clause to fix the situation. The clause is typically something like "unless the person possesses a valid concealed carry permit." On the surface that looks like a good fix...except it's not. Excluding CHL holders does not avoid conflict with 9.68 because it still prohibits non-licensed people who may be carrying openly.

[jose45]

Are you talking about Pondeson State Park ?

Punderson is in Newbury twnshp and is a state park.

[Tourist]

Chris,

Yep, I know open carry has to be legal too. Heck, we just came from an event where a large percentage of the people were open carrying!

The only thing I am not sure of is the second part of the rule which basically says no shooting. While I agree nobody should shoot anything in a park unless it is self defense, we are a township, and I did not think a township could ban shooting.

I don't think I will fight the no shooting of firearms, bow & arrows, etc. though.

[AAAP]

Aaron,

Answers below to your questions:



Is the Chester Township Park owned and operated solely by Chester Township?

In 1984, the Chester Township Trustees determined that the creation of a park district would be conducive to the residents and transferred the control of the Chester Parks to three appointed park commissioners. Chester Township Park is within the existing Chester Township boundaries pursuant to Chapter 1545 of the Ohio Revised Code and assumes an independent budget from Chester Township.



And is the park ever leased to any private group

Organizations / Residents / Non-residents reserve the Gazebo and Pavilion for family weddings, and various ceremonies.



are the rules and regulations posted at the park up to date and valid

The latest rule revision I am aware of is from 1986.



I have copied the current Commissioners on my reply so they may chime in on this correspondence as necessary.

Otherwise I will include your request to review the park rules at our next meeting this month.



Peggy Vitale, Admin. Assistant

Chester Township Park District

12701 Chillicothe Road

Chesterland, Ohio 44026

440.729.7058

chestertwppark@roadrunner.com

[AAAP]

I still have yet to hear back regarding the below e-mail.

Peggy,

Thank you very much for your detailed response, I appreciate you answering my initial questions. My only remaining concern is that the Chester Township Park is in violation of Ohio law at the moment, specifically ORC 9.68, this law has been affirmed in Cleveland v. State and Ohioans for Concealed Carry, Inc. v. Clyde.

I am glad that Chesterland will be reviewing these park rules this month, and I hope that the decision is made to comply with state law. Will this next meeting regarding the park be open to the public, and if so, when and where will the meeting be held?

Thank you for your continued help.

Respectfully,

{Please do not post personal contact information in the open forum, please use the Private Message system-sabalo}

[AAAP]

This is the response I received to my e-mail:

Aaron,

The next Park Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 15 @ 7pm, taking place at Arabica Café in Chesterland.

The meeting is open to the public and as mentioned earlier I will include the review of the park rules on the agenda.

P.S. the meeting may be moved to the library if anyone is interested.

[AAAP]

Well, we had our meeting last night, it was surprisingly easy. The board and citizens present all seemed supportive of not only complying with ORC 9.68, but also CCW and open carry. Now we'll see how long it actually takes to remedy the situation, but so far there haven't been any problems.

[MyWifeSaidYes]

...The only thing I am not sure of is the second part of the rule which basically says no shooting. While I agree nobody should shoot anything in a park unless it is self defense, we are a township, and I did not think a township could ban shooting.

ORC 9.68 covers the right to own, possess, purchase, sell, transfer, transport, store, or keep firearms (and parts & ammo), but it doesn't cover discharge of a firearm.

I'm glad to hear the commisioners were easy to work with.