Lexington parks officials are working to keep off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles out of public parks. Chris Cooperrider is deputy director of parks in Fayette County. Cooperrider said such recreational-type vehicles can create both a safety hazard and cause potential damage.
“Excessive speed, especially on our multi-use trails or grass long trails-native trails. So, it’s safety there and also just preservation, you know, if the go onto to a soccer field, baseball field, or a sports field and create ruts or tear up the turf. That impacts the play and impacts the park,” said Cooperrider.
Cooperrider said park patrols move through Masterson Station Park to act as a deterrent. The Parks Department official said it can be difficult to catch cycle and ATV drivers.
“Often times whoever is riding the ATV or motorcycle will see them, they’ll take off and they’ll go places where a cruiser can’t go. And we continue that patrol throughout, so it’s really a deterrent more so than prevention through that means,” said Cooperrider.
Cooperrider noted that sometimes ATV and motorcycle riders can be safely traced back to their homes. In those cases, Cooperrider added intervention has been 100% effective in stopping the practice. The parks official said such activity can be found at all the large city parks, but Masterson Station is also close to a residential area.
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