Children on an ATV on private property in upstate New York.
DERBY — Mayor Richard Dziekan has a warning for anyone illegally riding all-terrain vehicles at Witek Park.
“We know where these vehicles are coming from and we’re going to get them,” Dziekan said during a Dec. 1 meeting of the Board of Aldermen’s Community Relations subcommittee. ​“I know who these kids are. This is a public meeting and hopefully they will see this. I will instruct the (police) chief to impound these vehicles.”
Dziekan’s words were in response to an incident reported by resident Steve Jalowiec in late October. Jalowiec informed city officials on Oct. 20 via email that while he was taking a hike through Witek Park, located off Academy Hill Road, he noticed ​“a vast increase in destruction around the upper reservoir from off-road vehicles.”
Jalowiec said he encountered a ​“group of young people” gathered around a four-wheeler, and informed them that ATVs at Witek Park are not only illegal, but a detriment to the environment.
“This kind of damage certainly reduces the value of this resource for the greater community,” Jalowiec said.
ATVs destroy walking trails by causing deep ruts in the ground. The vehicles also destroy vegetation.
In an email to the Dziekan administration, Jalowiec volunteered his services to work on solutions to prevent ATVs from destroying Witek Park.
Jalowiec suggested a combination of signage, barricades, education in the local schools, and possibly some surveillance cameras.
Dziekan said residents should call police if they see ATVs at the park.
“Don’t approach them, call 911. Hopefully it will stop and we will impound these vehicles,” Dziekan, a retired Hamden police officer, said.
Second Ward Alderman Ron Sill said there have been prior problems with ATVs in the park.
“These quads are ripping new paths through the woods making ruts and killing small trees and new shrubbery,” Sill said. ​“This, in turn, causes erosion and even silt and mud going into the reservoirs. A few years back they rode over the soccer field and tore the field up.”
Baklik said city leaders reached out to Police Chief Gerald Narowski for some possible solutions.
“The first step, the chief said, is (that) we post some signs at Witek Park to the show prohibition of motorized vehicles,” Baklik said. ​“This could maybe help deter ATVs, along with possible physical barriers, like a fence, Jersey barriers and clearly posted signage.”
In an email to city leaders, Narowski provided the city with some background regarding state laws and ATVs, saying in part, they must be registered, ​“may not be operated on any land without the written permission of the owner … or in the case of land under the jurisdiction of a local municipality without the written permission of such municipality.”
Narowski also cited a study done by New York State on state forest management about the detrimental impacts of ATVs on the environment. They include ​“soil erosion, displacement and compaction, direct impacts to streams and wetlands, increased siltation and turbidity, noise, disturbance to wildlife and their habitats, damage to vegetation and air pollution.”
Narowski said since January, the police department received just three calls for service regarding illegal ATV use at the park. He said problems arise because police vehicles can’t go into areas where ATVs can.
“Enforcement is next to impossible,” Narowski said in his email to city leaders. ​“Most of these ATVs are not registered and the operators often times are wearing helmets, so it is difficult to identify the operator.”
The chief said the department will not chase ATV riders because of the danger involved.
Narowski said posting signage is a good first step.
“Even with this notice it is unlikely that you change behavior and enforcement comes with high risk,” he said. ​“Physical modifications or site improvements come with financial costs and should be referred to those experts as well as corporation counsel as they are outside of my area.”
The commission unanimously voted to pass Narowski’s recommendations along to the full Board of Aldermen for review.
