Appleton, WI Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Default park hours
- 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily
- Trails exemption
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Overnight vehicle ban
- No parking 11 p.m.-5 a.m. (§13-10)
- Director's authority
- Can close parks for safety or construction
- Penalty
- Forfeiture under §1-16 plus possible eviction
- Appeal window
- 21 calendar days to appeal an eviction
Summary
Appleton parks and Special Use Areas close to the public between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. under Section 13-6 of the Municipal Code, though trails stay open 24 hours daily. The Parks and Recreation Director can adjust hours seasonally or for safety, and violators face a forfeiture and possible removal from the park.
Sec. 13-6. Park hours. (a) Unless otherwise specified, parks, with the ... exception of trails, and Special Use Areas shall be open to the public from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (b) Unless otherwise specified, trails shall be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (c) Persons launching or transporting a watercraft from park property may do so only within the park hours. (d) The Director shall have full authority to open and close any park, Special Use Area, or any part thereof, because of season, condition, construction, or when in the interest of public safety if it is deemed necessary by the Director. ( ... e) A person violating this section may be subject to a forfeiture pursuant to Sec. 1-16 and Sec. 13-11 et. seq.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
unless a different schedule is posted. Section 13-6(b) exempts trails from the curfew entirely, keeping them open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pedestrian and bicycle travel. Section 13-6(c) narrows the exception for boaters: a person may only launch or transport a watercraft from park property during the posted park hours, even where trail access runs later. Section 13-6(d) gives the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department or Public Works broad discretion to open or close any park, Special Use Area, or part of one, because of the season, site conditions, ongoing construction, or public safety, without needing Common Council action for a temporary closure. unless it is posted otherwise or registered for overnight parking with the Director. and, separately, for leaving a vehicle there overnight without authorization.
Violations & Fines
Section 13-6(e) subjects anyone violating the park hours rule to a forfeiture under Section 1-16, Appleton's general penalty ($1 to $200 for a first offense, $10 to $500 for a repeat), and to the eviction procedure in Section 13-11. An evicted person receives written notice of the eviction's duration and area from the Director or the Appleton Police Department, and may appeal to the Director in writing within 21 calendar days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Appleton's parks close?
Can the city close a park early or for the season?
Can I leave my car in a park overnight?
What happens if I'm caught in a park after hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Appleton
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Outagamie County handle park curfew.