BMX Track at Boehm Pond Removed

Hats off to a couple different people for alerting us to some unsightly earthwork associated with a rogue BMX bike trail & jumps going on along Boehm Pond Trail just off of Far Mill Street. The early warning allowed us to catch it before things got worse. Thank you! It's so important for people to let us know when something is going on, whether it's a new tree that's fallen across the trail, some graffiti, or rogue trails. 

In this particular case, a friend of the trail confiscated a stack of tools stored at the site and left a note giving the offenders one week to repair the damage or the Police would be called. The trail builders left a reply saying they couldn't repair the damage without their tools and they didn't know building trails wasn't allowed. Another trail friend then witnessed a vehicle with possibly a father and son come in and work on the trail, and got the license plate, which was reported to the PD. This was surprising to learn that at least one adult was involved, although I guess it shouldn't have been. I had assumed it was all the work of dumb kids who don't know any better. But we had that happen at French's Hill a few years ago. A neighbor said she saw parents drop off their kids repeatedly to create and ride on a set of ramps along the trail, right past signs saying "no bikes." A stone wall was ripped apart and big wooden ramp constructed (I needed to use a chainsaw to break it down). Boggles the mind that parents would do that.

3-foot deep hole and a new trail

I didn't know any of that was going on at Boehm Pond when I receive an alert about the trail damage from a different hiker and went to check it out and post some official notices. I found two large holes dug nearly 3 feet deep, multiple ramps, lots of earthwork, litter, boards and logs screwed together, and carved trees. Fortunately, the rogue trail wasn't very long yet. 

Lots of earthwork for the rogue bike trail & jumps

bike ramp

Really? Check the nearby sign...

Nearby sign:
"Prohibited: digging holes or building bike ramps"

"MTB" (mountain bike) marking the rogue trail

And of course a tree top had to fall over the trail right next to the rogue trail. So I returned the next morning, cut the dangling tree top as much as I safely could, repaired all the earth work, filled in the holes, and cleaned up a bunch of litter (all kinds of candy wrappers and such). The wood ramp had already been removed by someone else. It took all of one very hot and muggy morning to clean up the mess, but it's done. The confiscated tools were shown to the Police and will probably be donated. 

Litter hauled away 

As a side note, there is an open space that kids can and do ride with their BMX bikes. It's the Huntington Wellfield property on Huntington Street across from Maple Lane. There are some old sand pits in there that are enjoyed by some of the kids  - no need to build anything. 

The eyesore at Boehm Pond Preserve is gone now, problem solved. And many thanks again to the folks who let us know about this issue before it got any worse. Remember that the trail volunteers don't live out on the trails. Never assume that we are aware about an issue you come across. There are many ways to report a problem. You can post something on the Trails Committee's Facebook Group, contact anyone you might know who is a member of the Trails Committee, or contact myself at conservation@cityofshelton.org (or by phone by calling City Hall 203-924-1555 x1315). Thank you and Happy Trails!