Willard City Council Establishes Park Curfew Hours and Prohibits Camping on Public Property and Rights-of-Way
Box Elder News Journal · Willard, Utah
The Willard City Council has unanimously approved a municipal ordinance establishing clear overnight operating restrictions for city parks and the municipal cemetery, alongside explicit prohibitions against unauthorized camping and long-term vehicle parking on public properties and rights-of-way.
### Protecting Public Facilities & Enhancing Neighborhood Safety
Adopted during the council's late October meeting, the measure responds to resident feedback regarding unmonitored overnight parking, unauthorized encampments, and increased wear on municipal amenities. City officials emphasized that establishing well-defined park hours ensures local law enforcement and public works crews have clear enforcement authority to keep community recreational spaces clean, secure, and accessible for families.
Under the adopted ordinance:
* **Operating Hours**: Willard municipal parks and the Willard Cemetery are closed to the public from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM daily, except for city-sanctioned events or authorized maintenance.
* **Prohibition on Public Camping**: Pitching tents, erecting makeshift shelters, or occupying temporary dwellings is strictly prohibited on public parks, city-owned open space, and road rights-of-way.
* **Recreational Vehicle Restrictions**: Council members amended initial draft text to add specific provisions prohibiting the unauthorized overnight parking, living in, or extended curbside storage of campers, travel trailers, and recreational vehicles (RVs) on public roadways.
### Community Impact & Implementation
Willard city administrative staff and code compliance officers noted that the ordinance balances proactive neighborhood preservation with humane enforcement protocols, focusing on voluntary compliance while giving the city legal mechanisms to address nuisance parking along narrow corridors near Willard Bay and mountain access routes.
Updated signage detailing park hours and camping restrictions will be installed across all municipal recreational sites over the coming weeks.