What kind of fences will go up?
Soon, we will have fences installed at the southeast and northeast corners of our property, closing our path permanently. We have selected a fence design that will be minimally obtrusive in this landscape – a traditional pasture fence. Rather than the massive, three- or four-rail fence we often see in subdivisions in south Fort Collins, ours will consist of simple vertical poles with wire stretched between them. No horizontal poles except where they're needed to stabilize the fence. Nothing fancy.
There will be no fence flanking our driveway and no gate. We will install a small sign that identifies our driveway and meadow as private property with no public access.
When will the fences be installed?
The fences will be installed later this summer, probably in early August.
Isn’t this a public trail?
No. It is entirely private property, not a public bike trail or hiking trail. We have provided this path for walkers, runners and cyclists as a courtesy to our neighbors, but this is no longer possible.
Is Havel Avenue a public road where it passes alongside your property? Does the public have free access to this road even though it has not been developed?
No. As the head surveyor at the county's engineering department explained to me recently, the status of Havel Avenue officially changed a few years ago. Havel Avenue north of the SE corner of our property is now "reserved" for possible development in the future, but it is not a public road or right of way, and it does not allow public access. Until the day the county claims the land to develop a road, it is entirely private property.
Where else can we ride or walk?
Well, we love to ride on road bikes and mountain bikes, too. Road bikes are easy – we can go anywhere there are public roads or public bike trails. We often ride around the city of Fort Collins on a combination of roads and bike trails – starting on Overland Trail heading south from Dean Drive, then following the Spring Creek Trail all the way to the river on the east side of town before turning north.
With our mountain bikes, we drive over to one of the multitude of trails available nearby. Lory State Park is one of our favorites.
Riding to town from Dean Acres or neighborhoods to the north requires going around the bend on Overland Trail from Dean Drive to Vine Drive. There’s traffic on Overland, but since that road was improved a few years ago, it’s no big deal. The shoulder is quite wide. And the stretch from Dean Drive to Vine Drive is very short.
To go for a walk, we usually drive to a nearby trailhead – over on Michaud Lane, for example, or Horsetooth or Lory State Park. Or we just walk through our neighborhood on local streets.
Fort Collins and Larimer County provide an amazing variety of places to walk and cycle! We’re incredibly lucky, because we have more trails nearby than you’ll find in almost any other city the size of Fort Collins. The availability of the little path that crosses our backyard certainly isn’t indispensable for anyone to enjoy riding or walking.
How can I pose questions or comment on this?
We would like to hear what's on your mind. Please email us at PreservingOurBackyard@gmail.com.