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Cool Trail Solutions

Trail Neighbors: Homes and Residential Landowners

Adjacent landowners can be the "wild card" in trail development, but homeowners benefit from proximity to trails. These examples of trails near homes are typical of suburban trail corridors everywhere. People DO want to live near parks, and many trail corridors are indistinguishable from parks. The narrower the trail corridor, and the closer the trail is to the residence, the more likely fencing will be required. Single family homeowners are generally less accepting of trails than people who live in multi-famly developments. While some residents fear the loss of privacy or presence of strangers, others are avid trail users. Gates and entry points are often added to give residents easy access to trails.

See more about issues with adjacent land uses and trails

Photos by Stuart Macdonald; click on any photo to see it full size:

Is it a trail or a park? or both? does it matter? Lowry community, Denver; photo by Stuart Macdonald, October 2009

Patuxent Branch Trail access trail, west of Baltimore, MD; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 16, 2006

Single-family homes along the Baltimore-Annapolis rail trail; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 16, 2006

Symbolic fencing on house lots adjacent to Van Bibber Trail, Jefferson County, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009

Van Bibber Trail, Jefferson County suburbs west of Denver; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009

Trail and homes share narrow greenway corridor along Little Dry Creek, Arvada, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009

Newer houses are very close to Little Dry Creek Trail, Arvada, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009

Trails thread open space along Little Dry Creek in suburbs of Denver with houses nearby; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009

Houses overloook Little Dry Creek Trail, Arvada, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009

Homes mark lot lines with rail fence, Little Dry Creek in suburbs of Denver, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009

Real estate sign advertising home adjacent to Baltimore-Annapolis rail trail, Maryland; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 16, 2006

Single-family homes along the Baltimore-Annapolis rail trail; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 16, 2006

No fences separate townhouses from Westerly Creek Trail, Aurora, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, October 24, 2009

Sign indicates private property along Westerly Creek Trail, Aurora, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, October 24, 2009

Apartment building required fencing along Waller Creek Trail, Austin, TX; photo by Stuart Macdonald, July 15, 2007

Narrow stream corridor pushed trail close to apartment building along Waller Creek in Austin, TX; photo by Stuart Macdonald, July 15, 2007

Condominium development overlooking trails in Hampden Heights Park, Denver; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 6, 2009

Fencing with homeowners' gates along trails in Hampden Heights Park, Denver; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 6, 2009

Trails in narrow fingers of land between houses provide access to Hampden Heights Park, Denver; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 6, 2009