Re: RC: trail preservation...have a question

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 03/20/2000 10:55:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
superpat@gateway.net writes:

<<  As we devise a plan for re-routing the trail, it will
 still be necessary to go through a small portion of some of the private
 land. It would be helpful to know if what I remember hearing is correct.
 Does anyone out there know if and where I can find information about the
 necessity for private land owners to allow access to trail when the trail
 has been in use for a number of years? >>

I don't know what the rules are, but as a private property owner, I would be 
livid if someone tried to claim that just because people had used the right 
to go through my property for X number of years, they had a permanent right 
to do so.  In Europe, there is so little space compared to what we have in 
this country, that riding/hiking trails go right through someone's front yard 
and this is accepted as the norm.  This is not the case in this country, and 
we hold our private property rights dear.  If I were in your place, I would 
make an appeal to the property owner for right of way, but I surely wouldn't 
approach that owner with any attitude of having the right to use his land 
just because it had always been that way.  Humility and appreciation work 
where assumption of rights and force do not.  Been there, done that.....  We 
love to share our land, on certain occasions, with the general public, and 
for neighbors...all the time.  But come on with an assumption of your right 
to use our land, and them's fighting words!
BTW, there is probably more park land in this county than any other county in 
the state or country, but some people don't want to use IT; they're looking 
for someplace to get away from the public, from rules and from control by the 
rangers.

Barbara