Johnson County, KS Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 2.1.12, JCPRD Park Code
- Adopted
- Res. No. 060-23, July 20, 2023
- Applies to
- All JCPRD Facilities countywide
- Enforcement
- Johnson County Codes Court citation
- Penalty
- Fine per Appendix A Fine Schedule
- Exceptions
- Permit holders, JCPRD staff, law enforcement
Summary
Johnson County Park and Recreation District (JCPRD) facilities close at posted hours, and Sec. 2.1.12 of the county's JCPRD Park Code makes it unlawful to enter or remain in any JCPRD park after those hours. The rule covers every district property, from Shawnee Mission Park to neighborhood trails, and is enforced through Johnson County Codes Court citations, not just posted signage.
Sec. 2.1.12. - Park hours. No person shall enter or remain within the boundaries of any JCPRD Facility at any time other than the posted hours of operation for that facility. (a)This section shall not apply to persons acting in accord with the provisions of any Special Use Permit, Special Event Contract, or other JCPRD authorized event.(b)This section shall not apply to any District employee or contractor while performing work on behalf of the JCPRD.(c)This section shall not apply to any law enforcement officer while in the performance of official duties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Resolutions: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 12, adopted by Res. No. " The section sets no single countywide closing time; instead, each JCPRD property, from Shawnee Mission Park to Kill Creek Streamway Park, posts its own hours at entrances and gates, and staying past those posted hours is what triggers the violation. Three exceptions apply: subsection (a) exempts anyone acting under a valid Special Use Permit, Special Event Contract, or other JCPRD-authorized event; subsection (b) exempts JCPRD employees and contractors performing district work; and subsection (c) exempts law enforcement officers performing official duties.
Enforcement runs through Sec. 3 of the same Park Code: any violation is declared unlawful, and a conviction is punishable by a fine set under the Code's Appendix A Fine Schedule, which is on file with the county. Multiple or repeated violations are treated as the next most serious violation class and carry a higher fine. The Chief Counsel of Johnson County, or a designee, prosecutes these cases, and the Code's enforcement provisions are cumulative with any other legal remedy available to the county. Because JCPRD is a countywide special district, Sec.
12 applies at district-operated parks regardless of whether the surrounding land sits inside or outside an incorporated city, though city-owned parks run under their own municipal codes rather than this Park Code.
Violations & Fines
Entering or remaining in a JCPRD Facility after posted hours violates Sec. 2.1.12 and is unlawful under Sec. 3.1.3 of the Park Code. A conviction carries a fine set under the Code's Appendix A Fine Schedule, and each repeat violation is bumped to the next, more serious violation class with a higher fine attached. The Chief Counsel of Johnson County prosecutes citations, and JCPRD's enforcement remedies are cumulative with any other legal action the county can pursue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Johnson County parks close?
Is it illegal to be in a Johnson County park after dark?
Who enforces the JCPRD park hours rule?
Are there exceptions to the park curfew for permitted events?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johnson County
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