Stafford Township, NJ Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Section 151-34 sets the hours for every Township park. Chapter 151 defines a park as any public park, beach or recreation or playground area, or building or facility on it, that the Township owns and maintains. Parks are open to the public every day of the year from sunrise to dusk (sunset), and in no case beyond 9:00 p.m. The one exception is athletic events on lighted athletic fields and courts, which cannot extend beyond 11:00 p.m. The Township can extend or contract these hours for any park or a portion of a park by resolution, and park closing must be posted at park entrances. The operative line is flat: no person shall enter, be or remain in any park after closing hours unless a permit has been obtained. Section 151-29 requires a permit holder to produce the permit when a law enforcement officer, park guard or authorized park employee asks.

Several other rules key off closing hours. A vehicle left parked on park property after closing hours needs a permit from the Director (section 151-8C). A vessel on designated park waters during closing hours, and anyone aboard it, needs a Township permit (section 151-14C). Freshwater beaches run on their own clock under section 151-13C: open only between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. each day during the season, with the Township Council setting the season each year. The skateboard park follows section 151-37E: 10:00 a.m. to dark on Saturdays and holidays, 12:00 noon to dark on Sundays, 2:00 p.m. to dark on weekdays during the school year, and 10:00 a.m. to dark on weekdays when school is not in session. Section 151-35 also lets the Township close any section of a park, temporarily or at regular and stated intervals, either entirely or to certain uses.