There are several spots along the Rail Trail (dirt/gravel section of the B-Line) where dirt has been dug up across the full width of the trail to build impromptu bike jumps. This has resulted is trip hazards and an uneven trail surface. I counted 2 spots where his had occurred during my visit yesterday. Can someone review and hopefully correct this please?
A group of people have set up camp within the park. They have tents, sheets hung blocking the view, etc. They have beaten a trail to where they are camping and have removed vegetation to clear the site. I haven't seen it, but my adult son was out there looking for our dog and stumbled onto the campsite. He said if you park in the lot and go southeast, you'll find the camp. They are staying away from the old pond area and where there are workers. We just hate to see destruction in the park! Thanks, Martha
Homeless campsite.
Homeless campsite.
broken trees are covering most of the trails from the previous storm
On the trail by Winslow Sports Park, adjacent to Highland, near Winslow Farm Rd. There's a short wooden bridge/boardwalk. We were biking on the trail as an alternative to riding on Highland Ave and my son crashed at the bridge. He's fine, but it wasn't fun and it could've been worse. The wood was wet and friction strips are missing/ineffective in areas. There's also a large bump from asphalt to wood, so his tires were bouncing anyway. On top of that, the bridge is located in a turn - you can't even go over it straight, you have to be turning. Turning a bike on wet wood is destined for failure. Please replace this bridge. Preferably a permanent solution, like a culvert covered by concrete, which will permanently resolve the friction and bump issue. Wood will just become an issue again. Thank you.
There was evidence that someone is trying to live in the woods on the northern section of the NL trail at Griffy Lake. I hiked parked of this trail 8/26/16 and saw what seemed to be the beginnings of a make shift shelter as well as various Styrofoam to go containers scattered throughout this part of the trail. There was a man who was clearly not on a recreational hike on the NL trail who we saw multiple times before we decided to turn back and head towards the NS trail. The man had long brown hair, was clearly dirty and smelled strongly. He was young (less than 40 years old). We saw him several times on different parts of the NL trail and it was clear he was not hiking the trail in a linear fashion (possibly going of trail to cut to a different part?). The presence of this man plus the food containers/shelter seemed very suspicious and VERY unsafe for recreational hikers. Please have someone take a look out there to clean up the trash/take down the shelter. I have a attached an image marking the location of the food/shelter. Feel free to contact me with additional questions/concerns.
On July 30 I reported a large bump in the B-Line. Although a few weeks later I observed that it had been flattened out, it is now raised up again. It is a 10 by 6-inch oval, 2 inches high. It is located between light pole numbers 6 and 7.
The east-west trail running through the middle of Bryan Park needs to be significantly wider. This is a critical connection in the signed Allen-Covenanter bike route, but very awkward to ride on. Passing even a single person walking (not to mention groups, dog-walkers, kids, etc) is uncomfortable for all parties. When I come up behind someone am I supposed to ask them to walk in the grass or do I make them feel like they're in the way by trying to bounce around them in the grass? I'd avoid it, but the alternatives of either Grimes or Maxwell are scary. Please widen this connection to make it functional and comfortable for both transportation and recreation purposes. Thank you!
I'm at the north parking area for the Bloomington Rail Trail. It's my option that the regular parking spaces need to be marked in addition to the handicapped space. I know the lot is made of very nice brick and I hate to mark it up but people's parking is so haphazard without lines. Sometimes there is no parking without parking so close to someone that they can't get in or out of their car. Also the bushes need to be trimmed around the handicapped parking sign. It's there so it might as well be visible. Yes, I have seen cars parked there without handicapped tags. Thanks for your consideration, Steve