Residents and athletes press Ogden mayor to reopen Mount Ogden social trail after gate installation

Dozens of Ogden residents, runners, cyclists and university athletes told the Ogden City Council on Tuesday they oppose the city’s recent closure of social trail access across Mount Ogden Golf Course and asked the administration to reopen the path while a longer-term solution is developed.

The administration closed part of the social-trail crossing and installed gates and signage at the 20th Street/Ninth Street access points; city staff said the action followed a risk assessment. Mayor Ben Nadalski apologized to the public for how the matter was handled and said his office will pursue solutions but emphasized liability and fiscal risk concerns.

Multiple speakers cited longstanding public use and legal standards. Public commenter Fort Draper referenced Utah Code 72-5-104, the statute governing dedication and abandonment of highways by public use over 10 years, and urged a pause in enforcement while community-based safety measures are considered. Chloe Reynolds and other organizers said a petition opposing the closure has gathered more than 2,000 signatures and asked the city to remove the gate while it works with residents.

Speakers described the trail as a wide, flat, accessible connector used by elders, families with young children, cross‑country teams and recreational users. Weber State University athletes and coaches told council the course supplies essential low‑impact training routes for recovery runs and for runners with balance or mobility limits; coach Marilee Blackham said losing the route would send athletes onto roads and increase the risk of impact injuries and vehicle collisions.

Other speakers acknowledged issues on the course — interference with play, off‑leash dogs, and some users who do not yield — and urged collaborative fixes rather than outright closure. Proposals included: signage warning trail users of golf hazards and instructing them to yield; designated crossing points with hand‑held crossing flags; limited rerouting around specific fairways using short new trail segments (several speakers offered volunteer labor to help); and educational outreach for both trail users and golfers. Resident Tanner Rogers provided a draft map showing about 50 meters of new trail that, he said, could eliminate several fairway crossings while keeping a flat surface.

City staff and several council members noted the city is a member of a municipal risk pool and that the Utah Risk Management Association (UMRA) provided a written risk assessment that recommended steps such as signage, fencing and enforcement; speakers disagreed about what the UMRA opinion required, and some residents said the UMRA letter was solicited by the city and should not be treated as an absolute prohibition to alternatives.

Mayor Nadalski said he is open to collaborative, practical solutions but repeatedly raised the city’s duty to limit financial exposure and asked for constructive proposals. He said winter access will remain unchanged and that he will direct staff to evaluate potential mitigations; he said a full, engineered solution may require funding and will take time.

Several council members praised the civility of the public comments and urged continued engagement. Council member Graff said he had raised concerns earlier about the process and noted some council members were not fully consulted before the change; others asked staff to return with options for limited access, signage, volunteer labor and short reroutes.

No formal council vote was taken. The administration closed public comment and said it will pursue follow-up meetings with trail advocates, the Ogden Trails Network, golf-course management and the council to explore specific mitigation and design options.