Town Of Cape Elizabeth
Tourism

Fort Williams Park

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Statement of Group and Commercial Uses

 

Revised 11/2003

Fort Williams Park (the Park) is a municipally owned park created from the military post that once flourished there. It is a unique community resource that has irreplaceable scenic, natural and historic qualities. The Town of Cape Elizabeth has dedicated it to predominantly park, recreational and cultural uses, which uses preserve or enhance or are otherwise fully compatible with its unique qualities. It exists for the residents of the town and others who may wish to join the enjoyment of this community park.

Rationale

As the Fort has wide-open spaces and is a desirable location for activities, the town is often approached by groups for permission to use Fort Williams Park for special activities. This statement outlines the procedures for handling these requests as well as guidelines that will be followed for groups who neglect to make a formal request.

Criteria for Approval

Groups of fewer than 50 people

Groups of fewer than 50 people may use areas in the Park without prior approval. If a group wishes to assure they will have a reserved area, they should follow the procedures for reserving one of the designated picnic areas.

Groups of 50 to150 people

Groups of 50 to 150 people shall apply to the Director of Public Works or his/her designee for permission to use areas of the Park. The Director shall approve or deny the requested use in accordance with the following criteria:

· Whether a large group has already been approved for the same day.

· Whether the proposed use is not in keeping with the desired recreational and cultural uses of the Park.

· Whether the proposed use is compatible with the enjoyment of the Park by others.

· Whether the proposed use would expose the Town to safety related liabilities.

· Whether the proposed use is commercial in nature.

· Whether the group has a past history of not using the Park in an appropriate manner.

· Whether the group plans to advertise their activity in advance to the general public.

Any such group use shall be in accordance with any additional restrictions that the Director of Public Works or his/her designee may deem appropriate.

Groups of 150 or more people

Groups of 150 or more people shall apply to the Town Manager or his/her designee for permission to use areas of the Park. The Town Manager may deny such requests if the proposed activity would have an anticipated daily audience exceeding 6,000 persons or, in the judgment of the Town Manager or his/her designee, would inappropriately dominate the Park.

Any such request shall be made in writing and should be submitted at least four months before the proposed use. The Town Manager shall notify the chairman of the Fort Williams Advisory Commission (the Commission) of the request. The chairman shall then schedule consideration of the request for a future Commission meeting.

The Commission shall determine if the requested event is in compliance with the Fort Williams Policy adopted by the Cape Elizabeth Town Council on October 25, 1976 and reaffirmed on August 28, 1978. If the request is not within the confines of the policy, it shall be denied.

The recommendations of the Commission shall be forwarded to the Cape Elizabeth Town Council, which may make independent findings in approving or denying any request.

The applicant shall not advertise the proposed event externally until after the Cape Elizabeth Town Council' s approval of the event.

Guidelines to be used by the Commission when developing a recommendation

The Commission shall consider the following scheduling priorities:

1. Town of Cape Elizabeth and Cape Elizabeth School Department events

2. Events and activities of Cape Elizabeth-based organizations

3. Traditional events that have been held at Fort Williams Park

4. Other special activities and events

The Commission shall review the following information:

· The experience of the requesting group handling large crowds

· The financial capability of the group to undertake the planned event

· The number of vehicles anticipated, and the availability of parking and traffic impacts as a result of the activity

· The insurance coverage that the group has for the event

· The exact location within the Park for the event

· The availability of public safety personnel for event security

· The planned use of sanitary facilities

· The planned use of outside vendors

· Advertising planned for the event

· Adequacy of electrical service

· Planned refuse disposal and recycling activities

· Extent of wear to the Park in the context of all planned events at the Park for the year

· Potential impacts of noise and traffic to adjacent properties

The Commission may recommend that any event be denied if one of the following findings may be made:

· The use is not compatible with the Fort Williams Park Policy

· The group does not have adequate financial capability

· The group has a record of not conforming with Park policies in the past

· The group does not have insurance coverage as required by the Town of Cape Elizabeth

· There is insufficient parking within the Park

· The group has no accurate method to estimate the anticipated crowd

· The event's scheduling conflicts with a previously approved activity

· Other uses in the same general time period as this one will result in significant wear and tear to Park grounds

· The Town has inadequate public safety and/or public works services to handle the event

· The group will not agree to provide required sanitary facilities

· Utilities in the Park are insufficient

· There are inadequate plans for refuse disposal or recycling activities

· The use will unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of the area by other Park users and neighbors

· The proposed use is inappropriate in the context of other planned events or overall uses of the Park.

Reservation Process

Users of picnic areas: The picnic shelter, bandstand or gazebo can be reserved by contacting Cape Elizabeth's Community Services Department. Fees are assessed in accordance with the schedule of Reservation Fees and Regulations.

School outings: The Director of Public Works or his/her designee may approve the use of the Park for school outings, typically held in the spring of each year. All school groups exceeding one full-sized bus load shall give prior notice to Public Works of their planned use of the Park at least one week prior to the planned use. The Director may deny such requested uses if other activities have been planned for the Park on the requested date or if five bus loads of school children have already notified the Director of their planned use for the same day. Priority will be given to Cape Elizabeth schools. There are no fees for school outings unless they reserve the picnic shelter.

Bus/museum tours: Tours of The Museum at Portland Head Light shall be arranged with museum personnel.

Fees and expenses

If a request for group use is approved by the Town Council, at the time of approval a fee may be levied for non-town sponsored events. The Commission shall recommend whether the event should be considered to be vehicle intensive or people intensive. The fee for vehicle intensive use is $8.00 per vehicle. The fee for people intensive use is $1.00 per person. In special circumstances the fee may also be a percentage of gross ticket sales, not to exceed 5 percent of gross receipts. The cost of collection of fees shall be borne by the group.

Except for funds received to reimburse Town expenses, all revenue generated from this policy shall accrue to the Fort Williams Park capital fund at the direction of the Cape Elizabeth Town Council.

Commercial uses

Area fees: An area fee will be charged whenever an activity requires the exclusive or near-exclusive use of one of the major areas in the Park - Battery Knoll, the Meadow, the Parade Ground, etc. This does not apply to events where a vehicle intensive or people intensive fee is assessed.

Location fees: A location fee will be charged whenever the Park is used as a site for commercial photography or filming. If filming activities require the exclusive or near-exclusive use of any space, inhibits others' use of the Park or if town services are required, permission must be requested from the Town Manager before any such use, and the Town Manager or his/her designee shall negotiate a contract for this use. The terms of the agreement should include: the time, duration and location of the use, the impact that the use will have on the Park and others' access, and the fees to be charged.

Any other commercial use of the Park, including but not limited to advertising, selling of goods and services, and product demonstrations, is prohibited unless specifically approved by the Town Manager or his/her designee.

Amendment

The Cape Elizabeth Town Council may amend this policy at any time, after consultation with the Fort Williams Advisory Commission.

Approved by Town Council 12/08/2003