Several Savannah Park residents told the St. Cloud City Council they are willing to sell a small parcel to let the city complete a planned trail extension along Bridal Road — but only if the city will provide a barrier between the public trail and the neighborhood pond.

Keith Smear and Theresa Doherty, speaking for the neighborhood and the HOA, said the current plan would open the backside of dozens of yards to passersby and to wildlife (residents noted recent alligator calls and an alligator incident in the region). They asked the city to fund or co‑fund an aluminum or decorative barrier along the pond edge and raised liability and maintenance concerns if the trail is installed without any edge protection.

City staff and the city attorney responded that the city already has the legal right to build the trail in the existing city right of way but that the area the HOA asked to be fenced is on separate property. Staff said they had offered more than double the appraised value for the parcel the HOA offered and that discussions continue between the city and the HOA attorney. City Manager Veronica (name in staff report) explained that an additional fence would require engineering redesign along an 800‑foot perimeter, would increase costs and could jeopardize grant timing if it delayed the project.

Council members expressed sympathy for the neighborhood’s safety concerns; Deputy Mayor Fletcher said he was "in support of assisting with some type of barrier" and council asked staff to continue talking with the HOA and to return with cost/engineering options. The city attorney confirmed the council could direct staff to pursue a barrier solution but noted technical constraints around the pond bank, permitting and maintenance obligations.

Why it matters: The trail project is intended to improve pedestrian connectivity, but residents say it creates a tradeoff between public access and private safety/privacy. The council asked staff to pursue options rather than rejecting the request outright.

Next steps: Staff will work with the HOA attorney, the engineering team and FDOT as needed to analyze barrier designs (aluminum spear‑top, wall, piping and rerouting options), produce cost estimates and report back to council. The city cautioned it must balance engineering feasibility, long‑term maintenance responsibility and the grant timeline that funds the trail work.