Paradise councillors call for charges to be laid following trail destruction

By Mark Squibb

Members of Paradise council are calling for charges to be laid after a new trail suffered considerable damage this spring.
The Town had contracted the Grand Concourse Authority to construct a new trail connecting Trenton Drive to Octagon Pond Elementary. Most of the work was completed in 2024, with tree planting and hydroseeding to be completed this year.
Deputy Mayor Kimberley Street said the trail sustained considerable dirt bike damage over the spring and summer and that repairs are required prior to the planting of trees and application of hydroseed. Those repairs will cost taxpayers $16,100.
“I hated to read this (motion,) to tell you the truth,” said Street. “It sickens me. It’s totally avoidable, and illegal I might add. We have multiple meetings at budget time looking for ways to stretch that tax dollar for residents to be able to do more in our town and to see the likes of this – having to spend more money on a brand-new trail due to dirt bike joyriding — is very disrespectful and disheartening, and, more so, disgusting.”
Street was not alone in her disgust.
“I’m not going to comment on this because I would go on for a long time,” said Mayor Dan Bobbett, although he later noted the actions constituted destruction of public property and that “charges need to be laid.” The mayor suggested the Town write a letter to the police regarding the incident, and similar incidents across Paradise.
“This is something that has been ongoing,” said the mayor. “We’ve seen it in Paradise Park, and this now is a very significant amount of money… This has got to end somewhere, maybe with arrests made and charges laid.”
Councillor Larry Vaters shared a similar sentiment.
“There’s a saying, ‘Build it and they will come,’ but I feel in cases like this, it’s ‘Build it, and they will destroy it,’” said Vaters. “I just don’t comprehend or understand the rationale to destroy something that residents in the area have requested for so, so long.”
Councillor Patrick Martin, meanwhile, praised the resident who reported the damage to the police.
“Unless there are charges laid, this stuff is not going to stop,” added Martin.
Councillor Glen Carew said that trail was designed with wheelchairs and strollers in mind, and instead, delinquents decided to use it as a Motorcross track.
“The more attention we can draw to the delinquent activity, the better,” said Carew.
A powersport enthusiast himself, Carew said most riders are responsible, but that a “few bad apples” were ruining it for everyone else.
Councillor Deborah Quilty called the incident “disgusting.”
To protect the trail from further damage, council moved to close the trail for the summer to allow the vegetation to take root, and erect armour stone barricades at a cost of $16,934 to prevent people from riding dirt bikes and similar vehicles on the trail.
“On this particular trail I’m pleased to see that staff are recommending armour stone just for the fact that once we put the armour stone there now, it’s there for life,” said councillor Tommy Maher. “As for wooden posts or chains, we would be going back every five or ten years to replace posts, and a chain link fence won’t hold up to the wind and snow, so I think armour stone is the best choice.”
Street said it is unfortunate the trail will have to be closed due to the reckless misuse of others.
The matter was discussed at length during the June 17 committee of the whole meeting, and both motions were unanimously approved during the June 24 public meeting.