As of the beginning of 2020, if you wish to pull into a public park that your money goes to fund in the first place, you will need to pay for a permit or expect a fine.

This is just the latest crazy permit in New York alongside the new metal detector permit.

The stargazing permit does nothing else other than "allow" you to look at the sky at night time. To marvel at the vast oasis of the universe in wonder.

This is a perfect example of the insane growth of government in the United States and how far it will go if people allow it to go so far. Government always grows, that's how it sustains itself. People tend to look the other way (at the ground if you will) and sit and do nothing as these permits and regulations come into place.