New York ? John Lennon fans don’t want to give sleep a chance when they gather Thursday in Central Park to mark the 25th anniversary of his death – but the city plans to enforce a curfew for the vigil in Strawberry Fields.

Hundreds of fans have gathered annually each Dec. 8 at the grove of elm trees in Central Park across from the spot the former Beatle was slain. But since 1995 police have enforced the Parks Department’s curfew and broken up the vigil at 1 a.m.

Parks Department spokesman Warner Johnston said the park curfew would not be changed for the 25th anniversary. “It was 1 a.m. during the 20th anniversary,” he noted.

The authorities have hindered the vigil in recent years, co-organizer Tom Leighton said, with fences that prevent people from standing on the grass and barricades around the “Imagine” mosaic. “It’s very oppressive,” said Leighton, 54, of Manhattan. “It’s more of a struggle between fans and the police than a vigil.”