Grand Rapids, MI Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Default hours
- Sunrise to sunset, every park
- After-hours status
- Unlawful presence without authorization
- Exceptions set by
- Director of Parks and Recreation
- Pool hours
- Separately set by the Director
Summary
Grand Rapids parks are open only from sunrise to sunset; staying in a park after dark without Parks and Recreation authorization is unlawful under Chapter 41.
The public parks of the City of Grand Rapids shall generally be open to the public between sunrise and sunset of each and every day except as to those parks designated by the Director of Parks and Recreation to be open during other hours to be determined by the Director. It shall be unlawful for any person, except those persons authorized by the Director of Parks and Recreation, to enter, be in or remain within the public parks after sunset on one day or before sunrise on the following day except where other hours are authorized by the Director of Parks and Recreation. Notwithstanding the open hours provided for in this Section, the Director may, to carry out the purposes of this Chapter, to protect the public health, safety and welfare and to improve the fair, safe and efficient use of park and recreation facilities by the public, close parks or portions of parks to public use. The Parks and Recreation Director shall establish hours during which the swimming pools and other specialized recreational facilities and areas are open and such facilities shall not be used except during those open hours.
(Ord. No. 95-39, § 1, 7-11-95)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Section 3.8 of the Grand Rapids City Code sets public park hours at sunrise to sunset every day, unless the Director of Parks and Recreation designates different hours for a specific park. It is unlawful for anyone without the Director's authorization to enter, remain in, or stay within a public park after sunset or before sunrise the next day. The Director can also close all or part of a park at other times to protect public health, safety and welfare, and separately sets the open hours for swimming pools and other specialized recreational facilities.
Violations & Fines
Being in a Grand Rapids park after sunset without authorization is unlawful conduct under Chapter 41; the Director can also exclude or expel violators from park property, with a hearing right for expulsions over ten days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I walk through a Grand Rapids park after dark?
Are all Grand Rapids parks open the same hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
Compare Grand Rapids to another location·View the Michigan curfew laws overview
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kent County handle park curfew.