Council tables decision on Three Rivers Park District purchase after safety and process concerns

A proposed Three Rivers Park District purchase of a private 5-acre parcel along Dayton River Road prompted more than an hour of council debate on Oct. 20. The parcel sits adjacent to a planned regional trail alignment and residents and council members asked whether a purchase is necessary to build a safe trail at this location.

Several council members said they were uncomfortable with the Park District negotiating purchases before presenting a detailed trail alignment and engineering justification to the city. Safety concerns focused on a driveway that sits on a blind curve along Dayton River Road; members worried adding a trail immediately adjacent to that driveway would create a consistent safety hazard unless the trail alignment or sightlines are changed. The Park District's representatives were not present; council instead voted to table the council action and asked staff to request from Three Rivers a trail design and engineering analysis describing why an easement would be insufficient and why fee-simple acquisition is necessary.

Council members stressed two broad points: they want the Park District to prove that acquisition of this parcel (versus an easement or alternate alignment) is required for a safe trail, and they want to see a comprehensive design and funding plan (including costs and proposed timing) before approving a city-level endorsement of the purchase. The motion to table passed 5-0.