Mount Vernon, NY Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Summer closing hours
- 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., May through October
- Winter closing hours
- 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., November through April
- Park exception authority
- Prior permission from Commissioner of Public Works
- Playground exception authority
- Prior permission from Commissioner of Recreation
- Default penalty
- Up to $250 fine or 15 days jail
Summary
Mount Vernon closes its parks to loitering overnight under § 186-16C: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. from May through October, and 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. from November through April, unless the Commissioner of Public Works gives prior permission. Playgrounds run the same two curfews but under the Commissioner of Recreation's separate sign-off.
During the months of May through October, it shall be unlawful to loiter or remain in any park between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. without the prior permission of the Commissioner of Public Works. It shall be unlawful to loiter or remain in any playground between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. without the prior special permission of the Commissioner of Recreation. ... During the months of November through April, it shall be unlawful to loiter or remain in any park between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. without the prior permission of the Commissioner of Public Works. It shall be unlawful to loiter or remain in any playground between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. without the prior special permission of the Commissioner of Recreation.
Full Breakdown
Section 186-16C sets Mount Vernon's park closing hours by season. without the prior permission of the Commissioner of Public Works. without the prior permission of the Commissioner of Public Works. Playgrounds are governed separately within the same subsection, using identical hours but requiring the prior special permission of the Commissioner of Recreation instead. Subsection C(3) directs the Commissioner of Public Works to install a chain or gate at every park entranceway and post a sign reading the closing hours for both seasons, with a matching sign posted by the Commissioner of Recreation at every playground entranceway.
Chapter 186 carries no penalty section of its own, so a loitering violation under § 186-16C is punished under the City's general penalty, § 1-4: a fine of up to $250, imprisonment of up to 15 days, or both, or up to $500 for a corporation.
Violations & Fines
Loitering or remaining in a City park or playground after closing hours under § 186-16C is a violation punished under the general Chapter 1 penalty, § 1-4, because Chapter 186 sets no penalty of its own: a fine of up to $250, up to 15 days in jail, or both, or up to $500 for a corporation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Mount Vernon's parks close?
Can I get permission to be in a park after closing?
What is the penalty for being in a park after curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Vernon
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Westchester County handle park curfew.