Rules and Regulations for Use of Town of Reading Conservation Lands

Rules and Regulations for Use of Town of Reading Conservation Lands 

Effective Date: August 16, 2008

1. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the Reading Conservation Lands at no charge from dawn to dusk. 
2. Hours of use may be extended for a specific event or use if written permission has been obtained from the Conservation Commission for the specific extended time. Applications for the extended time must be made at least 21 days in advance of the event or use. The written permission shall be carried by the person in charge of the event at all times during the event. 
3. Organized commercial or group activities on Conservation Land require prior written permission by the Conservation Commission. Applications for the activity must be made at least 21 days in advance of the activity. The written permission shall be carried by the person in charge of the activity at all times during the activity. 
4. No work of any type shall be carried out on Conservation Land without prior written permission from the Conservation Commission. “Work” includes but is not limited to trail clearing, trail maintenance, excavation, filling, building structures, and posting signs. 
5. Smoking is prohibited. Fires and camp stoves are prohibited. 
6. No person shall cut, break, remove, deface, defile, or ill-use any structure, fence, or sign, or have possession of any part thereof. No plants (including trees, bushes, grasses, or flowers) shall be defaced or cut. This prohibition applies to dead as well as living vegetation. 
7. Discharge of firearms is prohibited in the Town of Reading, including Conservation Land. Discharge or carrying of BB guns, pellet guns, paintball guns, airsoft guns, and similar non-lethal weapons is prohibited in Conservation Land. 
8. Hunting of deer with bow and arrow by persons licensed by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is allowed only during deer hunting season (except Sundays) and only in the following Reading Conservation Lands: North and South Cedar Swamp and the northern parts of Bare Meadow Conservation Land as shown on the attached map. Hunting as allowed above must also comply with the following: 
   1. Hunting shall be conducted in compliance with Massachusetts law. 
   2. No hunting is allowed within 500 feet of any structure or within 150 feet of any road (per Massachusetts law).
   3. Only deer hunting is allowed. 
   4. Hunting is allowed during deer hunting seasons only. 
   5. No hunting is allowed on Sundays (per Massachusetts law).
   6. Portable tree stands may be used under the following conditions: 
      1. No tree stand may be attached to any Atlantic White Cedar tree; 1 2 
      2. Trees stands and steps shall be installed in a manner to avoid or minimize damage to tree bark and limbs; 
      3. Tree stands shall be secured to trees with no more than one locking tee-nut; 
      4. Tree stands and steps shall be removed at the end of deer hunting season; and 
      5. The Conservation Commission and the Town of Reading are not responsible for use of tree stands or steps, or for their loss or damage, or for any injuries resulting from their use. 
9. Conservation Land is closed to any type of motor-powered vehicle except in prepared driveways and parking areas, or vehicles necessary for emergency response by the Reading Police and Fire Departments, or with prior written permission of the Conservation Commission. 
10. Use of bicycles is prohibited on Conservation Land, except in prepared driveways and parking areas, or bicycles necessary for emergency response by the Reading Police and Fire Departments, or with prior written permission of the Conservation Commission. 
11. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Town property, including Conservation Land. Glass containers for any purpose are prohibited on Conservation Land. 
12. Dumping, littering, filling or any other deposition of imported materials, including but not limited to garbage, debris, earth, leaves or brush is prohibited in Conservation Land. (Please use the town compost area for yard wastes. Call the Public Works Department for information.) Users must carry out everything that they carry in. 
13. Dogs may enter Town Conservation Land provided that they are accompanied by and under the effective control of some person. The person accompanying the dog shall promptly remove feces deposited by the dog on Town Conservation Land. 
14. Violations of these rules and regulations may be punished by fines up to $100 per violation under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 8C, which is administered by the Reading Conservation Commission or its agents, including the Reading Police and Fire Departments.