The Hillcrest Dog Park in Grand Rapids MI should extend their hours of operation to dusk. A recent rule change made by the city enforces the park to close at 6 p.m until April 30. The city plans to extend the hours to 8 p.m. after April 30. These new rules are too restrictive and should be changed back to the way it was.

The request to restore the park hours is consistent with how the park has been operating since it first opened in 2005.

A 6pm close time is extremely challenging for those that get out of work at 5pm to still have time to use the park.

Patrons of the park are frequently arriving around 7pm when it is sunny and nice out only to find the park is locked.

Often the volunteer is kicking out ten our more people around 6pm from the park each night, showing that the time is too restrictive.

Opening hours of the park are inconsistent and not friendly to people’s routines. For example, the park opens Saturday is 9am and Sunday at 12 verses vs the 8am Monday – Friday.

Other Grand Rapids city parks, including the Covell Dog Park, are not as restricted as the Hillcrest Dog Park.

Only the fenced in Dog Run of the Hillcrest Dog Park closes early.

Once we reach August, when sun sets around 10pm and the heat is too great, many people came to the dog park around 8 to 8:30pm. Specifically this allows dogs and owners to enjoy the park at cooler hours to decrease risk of heat fatigue.

Proper light poles in the parking lot and in the dog park illuminate the park.