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Resident urges stronger enforcement as off‑road vehicles damage City Park greenbelt
Summary
A resident told the Parks and Recreation Commission that ATVs and motorbikes are tearing up trails, starting fires and causing safety concerns in Converse City Park; staff and commissioners discussed barriers and neighborhood watch as partial responses but said enforcement depends on police resources.
A City Park neighbor urged the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 12 to do more to stop ATVs and off‑road motorcycles that are damaging trails, scarring vegetation and creating safety risks.
Speaking during the public comment period, a resident who signed in but did not give a name described repeated incidents of groups riding ATVs and motorcycles “tearing up the road” and said he keeps a collection of videos documenting the activity. He said riders sometimes wait until police leave, return and continue, and that the activity has resulted in scorched grass and dirt dumping. “They just now the other thing is when they I don't know if it's caused by them. I've seen a lot of scorched grass area up there,” the resident said.
Commissioners discussed potential short‑term and longer‑term responses. The commission noted the city ordinance already prohibits motorized vehicles on park trails; staff said enforcement requires catching vehicles in the act. Assistant City Manager Nayda Nixa Mendez and staff suggested non‑enforcement responses to reduce access, such as bollards or barriers at trail entry points. “I think that's something we could look at actually,” Mendez said when barriers were suggested.
Public Works Foreman Keith Taylor said staff had held outreach meetings with adjoining homeowners about trail construction and that some design choices can provide buffers between trails and private property. Commission members and staff also pointed to a neighborhood watch event scheduled the following Wednesday as a tactic to increase “eyes on the ground” and community reporting.
No formal action was taken at the meeting. The commission directed staff to investigate access‑control options (bollards, barriers or hardened surfacing) and to continue coordinating with police and neighborhood groups. The resident requested more proactive enforcement and said he will continue to document incidents and call law enforcement when they occur.
Why it matters: public‑space damage and unsafe riding behavior affect park users and nearby residents and can increase maintenance costs and safety risk. Commission discussion emphasized physical deterrents and community engagement as practical near‑term steps while acknowledging enforcement capacity limits.
