Hours Change at Seven Cinnaminson Parks

The football equipment is being destroyed. The lacrosse equipment is getting damaged. Park benches are being vandalized and portable toilets are found flipped over.

Mayor Don Brauckmann, who also serves as the director of parks and recreation, said there’s been too much occurring at the township’s parks. So Cinnaminson committee members voted last week to approve new park hours and pass an ordinance that would allow here to take action if needed.

“I want people in our parks, but I want to take care of our property,” Brauckmann said. “I want to create a safe environment that our families, our kids and everyone can enjoy.”

All of the township’s seven parks will now be open from dawn until dusk. The previous ordinance read parks closed at 10 p.m. in the summer, 8 p.m. from November to March. And police here are made aware that all parks should be clear of activity no later than a half hour after the lights are turned off.

“A lot of other parks in a lot of other towns do this,” Brauckmann said. “It’s that way for a reason. I think this especially makes sense for our pocket parks where we have a high frequency of things happening after dark.”

A resident at last week’s committee meeting voiced his concern over the new park hours, saying if they close too early, kids won’t have a place to go.

Brauckmann said he’s just trying to cut down on the after-hours mischief and most likely, will leave the basketball lights on a little later during summer hours as long as kids are abiding by rules.

“We have the ability to leave the lights on at and that allows our kids to stay in the park until 9:30 or 10 p.m.,“ Brauckmann said. “That is pretty much consistent with what it was last year.”

Brauckmann also said township cops aren’t going to kick kids out the minute the sun goes down or exactly a half hour after lights are off.

“We have a mature police department that uses an incredible amount of discretion on a daily basis,” Brauckmann said. “They are going to know when the situation at the parks needs to be enforced and when it doesn’t.”

The mayor said township committee will work with the township on the issue of leaving the lights on, but if it becomes a problem, they will turn off sooner.

“We’re just looking to make it enjoyable for everyone who wants to use our parks,” he said.

New signage will be up at the parks soon. 

The seven Cinnaminson parks are , , , , , and . Click on the links to visit the parks' Patch pages and leave reviews.