City proposes systemwide park rules, plans seasonal park rangers and seeks clearer vaping enforcement

Kyle Kracheski, director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Muskegon, presented a proposed uniform set of rules for all city parks and answered commissioners’ questions about enforcement and exceptions.

Kracheski said the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend the rules in late 2024 and that the draft covers hours (5 a.m. to 11:11 p.m.), leash requirements, no littering, a no‑smoking/vaping prohibition, a general ban on alcohol except in designated social‑drinking districts, limits on open flames except in designated barbecue/bonfire areas, and prohibitions on vandalism and unauthorized motor vehicles. He said the rules are intended to support newly planned park rangers, who will focus on education rather than immediate ticketing.

Kracheski told the commission, “The park ranger will be focusing on education, not ticketing.” He and staff said they had coordinated the draft with the police department and that rangers will be trained with police but are likely seasonal and not fully sworn officers.

Why it matters: the rules will determine what signs and enforcement guidance appear across the park system and how the planned park‑ranger program will operate when it begins in late spring. Commissioners expressed particular interest in enforcement procedures, whether vaping should be included in the smoking ban, where alcohol exceptions apply and whether rangers will have citation authority.

Key points and commission feedback: • Smoking and vaping: the Parks & Rec committee recommended prohibiting vaping along with smoking. Several commissioners asked for public‑health justification and enforcement details; staff said they would consult Public Safety and Muskegon County Public Health and return with more information. • Alcohol: staff noted Hackley Park is within a city social drinking district that allows open‑container consumption there; the draft language will be clarified so exceptions are clear and limited to designated social drinking districts. • Park rangers and citations: staff said rangers would focus on education first; accreditation and seasonal staffing complicate giving rangers citation authority, because citations require later court appearances and a seasonal worker may not be available for court. The commission discussed a preference for warnings and education initially and involving sworn officers for repeated or serious violations. • Pets and beach rules: commissioners asked clarifying language making pets “must” be leashed except in designated off‑leash areas (dog park and dog beach) and requested clearer signage and season‑specific rules (for example, Pier Marquette Beach prohibits dogs during the summer season).

Outcome and next steps: commissioners asked staff to revise wording for clarity (open‑flame/BBQ language, alcohol exceptions, leash language and vaping enforcement) and to provide more information on enforcement, public‑health evidence about vaping and the ranger program’s legal authority. Staff and the city manager agreed to remove the item from tomorrow’s consent agenda; staff will return with revised language and more information, likely at the Feb. 25 meeting.