Edgewater neighbors ask Crown Point council to add backyard fencing to planned bike trail

Several neighbors from the Edgewater subdivision told the Crown Point City Council on April 6 that recent clearing for a planned bike trail has removed protective tree screening behind backyard-facing homes and asked the city to add backyard fencing to the trail plan and budget.

Rose Seifert, who lives at 1442 East 111th Place, said most neighbors support the bike trail but are alarmed that the recent clearing removed larger trees that previously provided privacy. She said residents had been told by a builder that a tree line would remain, and that the loss of screening leaves sliding glass doors, pools, and backyard structures exposed to trail users. Seifert said the neighborhood’s concerns include “the potential for theft, destruction, voyeurism, public indecency, noise, and trash” and raised safety fears for small children playing in their yards near hotels and I-65.

Parks staff (Jenny Burgess) responded that the city had only recently started the trail’s design process, that the property type differs from others and that staff intended to leave foliage for screening; she invited residents to continue contact with the parks department. Council members said staff would keep nearby homeowners informed as design proceeds.

No council action was taken on April 6; the public comment segment closed after staff described the design timeline. Residents asked that fence options be added to the plan and budget as the design is finalized.