Tuscaloosa, AL Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Sec. 18-23(a) requires the city to post opening and closing hours at each individual park, since hours vary by location rather than following one citywide schedule; using a park outside its posted hours is unlawful, subject to the ordinance's own exception for unusual and unforeseen emergencies. Sec. 18-23(b) separately lets the director close any section of any park, temporarily or on a recurring basis, whenever the director finds it reasonably necessary, and it is unlawful to use a posted closed area regardless of the park's normal hours.

Enforcement runs through Sec. 18-22, which authorizes police officers, the director, and duly authorized park attendants and rangers to direct anyone violating a park rule, including the posted-hours rule, to leave. Only sworn police officers may actually make an arrest, but any person who fails or refuses to promptly leave after being told to do so by an attendant, ranger, or officer commits a separate city offense.

The park chapter applies inside the city, inside the police jurisdiction, and on any land the city owns for park purposes, per Sec. 18-21. Because hours are set park-by-park through posted signage rather than a single ordinance-wide clock, the practical closing time for any specific Tuscaloosa park, from Snow Hinton Park to the boat landings on Lake Tuscaloosa, is whatever schedule the parks and recreation authority has posted on-site.