North Cheyenne Cañon Park in Colorado Springs has started to implement after-hours gate closures in an effort to “curtail illegal activity that regularly occurs,” according to the City of Colorado Springs. The gate closures will be in place from 9 PM to 5 AM during the hours that the park is officially closed. While the nightly closure has been in place for some time, this hasn’t prevented people from entering the park via automobile after hours.

The North Cheyenne Cañon Park area has experienced a rash of crime in recent years, including numerous break-ins and gunpoint robberies. One robbery that got quite a bit of media attention involved multiple suspects and occurred around 10 PM. No one was injured, but guns were fired. The specific illegal activity that prompted the gate closures was not included in the announcement.

According to Kurt Schroeder, the park maintenance and operations manager, it’s believed that the “implementation of this gate system will benefit the long-term health and safety” of the park. Schroeder continues to mention that similar implementations have been successful.

Another benefit of the closure will be that plow crews will be able to better clear roads in the area overnight during periods of heavy snow.

North Cheyenne Cañon is one of the most popular spots for outdoor recreation lovers in the Colorado Springs area, home to hikes like Mount Cutler, Seven Bridges, and St. Mary’s Falls. The area reportedly has 56 miles of trails spanning more than 1,000 acres.

The closure started on November 4.

Find additional details here.