French Creek State Park has no regard for their neighbors and their property rights. A portion of the planned Big Woods trail is being built over private property without the permission of the property owners. French Creek State Park and DCNR are using a private dirt lane meant for farm equipment and an easement dating back to 1912 that was meant to allow access back and forth between the two farm fields by the owners of those fields. The easement does not state that the lane can be used by the public or that the lane can be excavated in any way.\r
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The planned trail will cut the property owners land in two and block access via motor vehicle to a portion of their land. French Creek State Park never contacted the property owners to discuss the trail until the owners approached the Park after their vehicles were seen traveling on their property. When told about the trail, the property owners tried negoiating other options with the Park for over a year and a half including moving the trail to the edge of their property or buying the piece of land to be used. None of the proposed options suited the Park and they stated that they would move forward with the trail as planned. \r
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French Creek State Park’s complete disregard for its neighboring property owners rights is unacceptable.
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