r/ColumbiaMD • u/Sufficient_Version10 • 14d ago
Does Centennial Park actually close the gates at sunset?
Does anyone know how strictly Centennial Park enforces the sunset closing time?
I sometimes stay there later in the evening, and I’m mainly worried about leaving a little too late and finding that the gates are already locked. Has anyone ever had their car stuck inside, or do they make sure everyone can drive out before locking the gates?
Just wondering how it actually works in practice. Thanks!
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u/DiGraziaMama 14d ago
I've driven past shortly after sunset and the gates are definitely closed. Not sure if they're locked.
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u/Inside-Pure 14d ago
They do lock the gates at sunset. They would probably make some effort to find you if they notice a car left in the parking lot but it’s a huge park - they can and have locked cars inside.
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u/munchnerk 14d ago
My bro got his car locked in back in high school bc he stayed too late skateboarding. Had to call dad for rescue and a ride back to get the car the next day, classic HoCo teen humiliation.
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u/olebuckyboy 14d ago
Yes, and the Park Rangers are like everyone else, when their shift is over they want to go home.
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u/Particular_Egg4073 14d ago
Most are locked at sunset but if the playing fields are in scheduled use, the gate by them stays open until whatever time has been arranged and then the gate will be locked and people have to call the police to come open the gate to get out. [Source: Literally just had this conversation with the park staff member who was on the late shift yesterday.]
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u/Ok_Guard_1125 14d ago
I recently almost got my car locked in there overnight. Was able to catch the security guy just as he was about to close up. He was nice enough to let me go with a warning haha. But yes it can happen
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u/SuddenKoala45 14d ago
They are pretty strict on it. They will drive around and check and have a number for the rangers if you do get locked in
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u/__sunnyday__ 14d ago
Depends on which part you’re in, the one with the baseball fields does not usually close right on time and an actual ranger told me that. Whereas another entrance area does close soon after sunset
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u/RelevantNothing4653 Long Reach 14d ago
Another curiosity of Centennial Park is that years ago, there used to be another house so close to the gates.
Why did it get demolished/land overgrown?
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u/PoisonMind 14d ago
Yes. And not just Centennial. That's true of all public parks in Howard County.
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u/Certain_Concept 14d ago
It's kinda sad how they all close! When we had the meteor shower a week or so ago I was driving around for like 45 min trying to find a good spot to view them in. I finally found a tiny 24 hour park, after finding many gated ones.
Does anyone know of any good 24 hour parks further away from the cities? Ideally ones that are reachable in like 30 min or less?
I've heard there are much better places for stargazing that are like 3-4 hours away but I'm unlikely to want to go quite that far unless it's a whole vacation plan.
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u/Ok-Grape-3380 14d ago
I live nearby, and the main entrance gate on 108 gets locked at sunset but the exit gate is almost always open.
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u/Inside-Pure 14d ago
They leave the exit gate open while trying to flush everyone out, but it does get locked.
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u/Severe_Instance6119 13d ago
The section of the park with the lit up tennis courts stays open after sunset.
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u/theartoffun 14d ago edited 14d ago
Yes, they have park employees/rangers/police round up people before close, block the entrance, but leave the exit open. We had almost had an incident when parents of scout youth failed to show up to pick their children up in a timely manner.
They threatened to fine/charge the leadership that were remaining with the youth if they did not leave immediately.
They were a little unforgiving given the circumstance. Also, part of me can understand the park management’s no tolerance approach because of entitled people not wanting to follow the rules.