Owensboro, KY Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Default hours
- 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., Sec. 19-5(b)
- Legion Park courts
- open 24 hours for basketball/soccer
- English Park shoreline/ramp
- open 24 hours for fishing/boating
- Smothers Park hours
- 5:00 a.m.-12:30 a.m.
- Adkisson Green Belt hours
- 5:00 a.m. to dusk
- Max penalty
- $500 fine and/or 90 days jail, Sec. 19-8
Summary
Owensboro Municipal Code Sec. 19-5 sets default park hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. citywide, bars entering or driving in a park outside those hours without a permit or scheduled activity, and carves out longer hours for specific parks like Legion Park's courts and Smothers Park.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person or vehicle except law enforcement officers, authorized city personnel, or other authorized agents or contractors employed by the city for a specific purpose, to enter, remain within, drive a vehicle in or attempt to park within a park outside of the posted hours of operation unless approved by permit, or unless such person is participating in authorized and scheduled activities.(b)Park hours of operation are 5:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. unless otherwise designated and posted by the parks and recreation director.(c)Exceptions.(1)Legion Park. The basketball court and street soccer court within this park shall be open on a twenty-four (24)-hour basis solely for the purpose of playing basketball and street soccer. ... (3)Smothers Park. With the exception of the Lazy Dayz Playground and Ronald L. Logsdon Spray Park, Smothers Park shall be open 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.(4)Adkisson Green Belt Park. 5:00 a.m. to dusk.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 19-5(a) makes it unlawful for any person or vehicle, other than law enforcement officers, authorized city personnel, or authorized city agents or contractors, to enter, remain within, drive in, or attempt to park within a city park outside its posted hours, unless approved by permit or participating in an authorized, scheduled activity. Subsection (b) sets the default hours at 5:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., unless the parks and recreation director designates and posts different hours for a specific park. Subsection (c) lists exceptions: the basketball and street soccer courts at Legion Park operate 24 hours solely for those two activities, English Park's accessible shoreline and boat ramp operate 24 hours for lawful fishing, barge repair, temporary tie-ups, and launching or loading a licensed boat or personal watercraft, Smothers Park stays open from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. except for its Lazy Dayz Playground and Ronald L.
Logsdon Spray Park, and Adkisson Green Belt Park runs from 5:00 a.m. to dusk. The Parks and Recreation Department and Owensboro Police Department enforce these hours, and someone found in a park after hours without a qualifying exception or permit is subject to the penalty in Sec. 19-8.
Violations & Fines
Being in, or driving into, a city park outside its posted hours without a permit or authorized activity violates Sec. 19-5 and is punishable under Sec. 19-8 by a fine not to exceed $500, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, for each violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Owensboro city parks close?
Are any Owensboro parks open 24 hours?
What's the penalty for being in an Owensboro park after hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Owensboro
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