Matzke Park — Attraction in Texas

We’re a small local LARP group in the Houston area, usually just 4 of us, who have used this park a few times for light practice in the evenings. Every time we’ve checked, the posted hours say the park closes at 10:00 PM. So we’ve always made sure to pack up and head out by 9:50 PM to respect that.

But for the last month, we’ve been harassed by constables enforcing an entirely different (and unposted) closing time of 9:00 PM — with no notice, no signage, and no consistency in how they approach it.

Last night was just the latest incident. At 9:23 PM, while we were still well within the posted time, a constable drove their vehicle up to us and started the conversation with “We’re not going to do what we did last week.” My wife, who was polite and respectful, asked, “I thought the park closed at 10PM?” The constable snapped back with, “No. We have other parks to close down too.”

When we tried to clarify — again stating that the park website clearly says 10PM and we never stay past 9:50 — the constable just cut us off with “No,” and drove off. Meanwhile, there were at least 5–6 other people still walking around the park — jogging, walking their dogs, etc. Yet somehow, we were the problem.

The week prior, a different constable did the same thing — only that time, they actually blared their sirens at 9:05 PM and yelled at us that the park closes at 10PM… which makes zero sense. So, which is it? 9PM or 10PM? Because apparently the people enforcing the rules can’t even agree on them.

This isn’t just inconvenient — it’s ridiculous. If the park closes at 9PM, UPDATE THE HOURS on the website and signage. Otherwise, we shouldn’t be getting hassled by impatient officers who clearly just want to clock out early.

We aren’t bothering anyone. We don’t make noise, we clean up after ourselves, and we’re simply using the public space like everyone else. The only difference is we have foam swords and look like nerds, so we’re an easy target.

To the constables patrolling this area: if you’re this irritated doing basic public service at 9PM, maybe the issue isn’t with us. Maybe it’s your attitude. Or maybe you just really need to get back to your squad car and scroll your OnlyFans subscription.

Either way, do your job with professionalism — or update the rules so people aren’t getting harassed for...

Great little spot for sports. There’s a giant wood playground equipment jungle gym for kids but it’s usually pretty crowded. If you play soccer, softball, baseball, football, basically anything with a ball, you’re going to want to come check the spot out. The grass is usually mode and it’s not often muggy or wet there. A lot of parks around here when it rains they stay mosquito havens for days. This seems to be the exception. It is closed at night but I have seen people playing sports teams out there after dark so possibly if you apply with the city you can get special exemption I’m not sure. As far as crime goes this area has recently had a spike so I wouldn’t suggest being here at the dark anyway. There is Apple parking playground equipment seems to be new enough and maintained, and there does not seem to be a large population of vagrants or other shady threats lingering around. There are gazebos which are good for birthday parties and I don’t think you need to have a special permit to have a birthday party there. My kids been coming here his whole life...

I came because I can walk at night. Most of the other parks in the area closes when it gets dark, but this one closes at 10pm and it has lights. However, not all of the lights work. This is only my second time here so I'm not sure if it's a right now situation or an all of the time situation, but the lights that's not working tonight are the ones at the playground. To me its the most important ones because that's where the kids are and obviously a well lit playground is better than a dark one especially when kids are playing. It's also the front of the park where most people enter, exit and park, also it's just 7pm. Like I said, it's my second time here and maybe the lights doesn't come on in this area for a reason or maybe they are just out temporally. Hopefully it'll get fix...