The Springer family owns acreage in the Kelseyville-Mount Konocti area.
It has no improvements and is bordered by the observatory, junior high and primary schools and the water tank from which Kelseyville-area water comes.
We have allowed some use of the land including walkers and those walking their dogs.
Because our land was said to be the only place where youngsters could ride bikes and enjoy some freedom, we have allowed them to be there.
There were certain rules they were given including that their parents were to be there to supervise them, which was not very well observed with the exception of one father to some degree.
No motorbikes were allowed, partly because of homes in the area. The area the youth were allowed to use was to be outside the fence bordering the area near the water tank as the hillside there tends to erode and might endanger the tank.
This situation has been going on for some years. For some time the high school used the land for its cross country track program. No benefits were realized by the land owners except that the high school included the cross country track events in their liability insurance for the school.
Most of the youth activities seemed harmless and we continued to allow them to play there for many years until recently, when we became aware that they were not obeying the rules.
They had gone into the land where they were not allowed by either opening the fence of going through an opening. They had created a very involved project whereby they rode bikes down the hills, jumped gullies and piles of dirt they had piled up, coming down on the other side. We knew this to be a very dangerous activity; in fact we know of two boys, now men, who engaged in a similar activity and sustained spinal injuries and are now confined to wheelchairs. The danger of injury is very real, in addition to the fact that no one is allowed in this area.
The project that the children built is very well done but is in the wrong place. In addition, my son has been confronted by bad behavior and insults by some of the children. They no longer have access to our property at all.
Some of our local officials are looking for acreage in the area where the children may legally continue their pursuits.
We applaud their efforts and want to go on record that we will be the first to donate $100 for their plan.
Elizabeth Springer
Kelseyville
