No trespassing’ signs posted on Eagle Rock hiking trail are coming down
“No trespassing” signs posted on a popular Eagle Rock Canyon Trail are coming down as soon as today, Bob Muir, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Water District.
The signs had ignited concerns about public access to the one-mile trail, reported CBS2.
Muir says the water district decided to take down the signs after meeting with Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful (CERB), a local community group that’s been maintaining the trail, and with reps for Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar.
MWD will issue a temporary entry permit to CERB, and that basically allows hikers back on the trail, Muir tells Curbed.
The district has a key water facility on land it owns next to the trail. A spokesperson for the district told CBS that the signs were posted in response to concerns abut homeless encampments on the property. Of particular concern was the fire risk that the encampments might pose.
But the signs were troubling to CERB, which had bought land next to the path about 10 years ago and maintains the trail. (The Eagle Rock Canyon Trail opened in 2008, in large part because of the work of CERB.)
“Good neighbors don’t just put up signs and say keep off – they have a conversation,” said Cherryl Weaver, CERB president.
Weaver argues that her organization is part of the solution, constantly cleaning up the area, but that the Water District never called them with their concerns.
“This has been here for 10 years and nobody’s ever even made a phone call or letter, email or anything to our organization to say hey we have a problem,” added Weaver.
At least one neighbor in the area said that homeless encampments are a problem.
“When you go you see needles, feces, not a place I take my kid anymore,” said the local resident, who asked not to be identified.
