Watch CBS News

Boulder City Parks To Close Overnight, Occupy Feels Targeted

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- All city parks in the City of Boulder will shut down overnight. Enforcement will begin Wednesday.

Boulder City Council made the decision Tuesday and Boulder City Manager Jane Brautigam planned to sign the new rule Wednesday.

People who remain in city parks between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. may be ticketed for trespassing. The fine does not apply to people jogging or riding bikes through the park during those hours.

Occupy Boulder protesters believe the new rule is aimed at them. They claim it will not stop their movement.

"The rule to close the parks is targeted to the Occupiers because this rule came at the same time and season that the Occupiers had moved their tents," said one Occupy protester.

Boulder Occupiers have been camped out in a city park in front of the municipal building for the past few months.

Some Boulder residents also said they are not happy with the new rule.

"We all know that this is a determined movement engaged in protected speech. This will not stop them," said one Boulder resident.

"Police already have the power and if they can't figure out how to use it, then that might be their situation and problem" said one Boulder resident.

Brautigam proposed the new rule in December 2011, citing trash and health concerns that she said spanned the past several years.

The city already has a law about camping on city property, but Brautigam said it's not working," Our police officers cannot watch the campers at every moment. They are not able to right effective tickets."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.