PLEASE don't call it a 'tree root infestation." That's wrong. The trees were there first, trees put out roots. If you cut down all the trees,it''s no longer a 'trail'. It's a sidewalk. We walk the trail to enjoy the trees, the birds, the nature. Paving them over cuts the tree's roots off from water, nutrients, etc. Just look at the Meeker Oak...it's over 400 years old and the reason it is ailing is because it's roots have been paved over.
Don't blame the trees, blame the mindset of humans that insist something must be paved to be useable.
You can't honestly blame vandalism or the litter on the natural processes of root growth. Vandals and litterers don't give a dam. The trails are just an attractive nuisance to vandals. Look how the graffiti is everywhere, look how our roads are trashed with people dumping garbage, furniture, etc. It's not the trail's fault. It's the knotheads who think it's funny to destroy things. It's the lazy sods who dump garbage rather than take it to the transfer stations. And there is absolutely NO enforcement of the rules for using the trails.
If someone notices a knothead hacking away at a tree or otherwise vandalizing the trail, they call the sheriff Department and are told, well, that's such a low priority, sorry. And they're right...a traffic accident has higher response needs.
If you were to turn the trail back into a natural surface, you would help the ''landscaping'' and the trees. Yes, there would be uneven surfaces and perhaps some people would complain that they can't : skate, ride their bike, etc. But do those same people actually help with upkeep? I haven't seen it.
As an added point: Years ago, I, a horseman, was asked by the Rails-To-Trails organization to donate money for trails on which to ride our horses. I did. I did a lot of volunteer work on pulling up railroad ties and picking up about a million iron spikes. I and my friends worked to create trails-and then...the organizers or the county put in gravel. Gravel is BAD for horses and other creatures with feet. When me and my horse loving friends complained about the graveled trail..the one we put in hours of work on, we were told, you can't ride horses on the Trails. People don't like the horse ****.
Guess who no longer donates a dime or a minute?
And guess how many times I see dog **** on the trail, SOMETIMES it's in baggies, but the baggie is left on the side of the path. As if there's a Dog **** Fairy who magically picks it up? No. It's litter, and just as offensive as horse ****. And mind you, often, us horsemen will go back and pick up our horse's ****.
Make the trails a natural surface, NOT gravel. Hog fuel is okay. Shredded bark is okay. . You might just find that the vandals will give up. Let's hope so.
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