HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – The Holland City Council approved a change in parks hours and the resolution establishes a daily 11 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew for all city parks outside of special events.
City Manager Ryan Cotten said that you can be in parks up until midnight now and anytime after 3 a.m. and that is a very broad number of hours compared to other communities in West Michigan.
“This will also include street ends as well, so the fire dock will have those restricted hours as well. We just think that makes the most sense long term and will reduce some of the problems we’ve had and make it clear that parks are not for being there at odd hours.” Cotten told WHTC News.
The measure would cut down on transients who would camp out in areas such as the gazebo in Centennial Park, creating messes and causing disturbances. Strolling through the park would still be allowed under the new ordinance.
The council also approved prohibiting alcoholic beverages from being served, possessed, consumed or sold at Centennial Park. It would then join Kollen Park, Van Bragt Park, Smallenburg Park and Prospect Park on a list of municipal parks that have such a prohibition.
The council heard the first reading of another law change to allow leashed dogs in city parks. Right now it’s illegal for leashed dogs to be in most city parks. The council will consider allowing leashed dogs in all city parks except for the Matt Urban Sports Complex, Maplewood Youth Complex or Degraaf Nature Center.
