Cyclists warned not to use Windsor's new pump track before official opening

Windsor police have been called to disperse groups of cyclists at a new pump track at Little River Corridor Park on multiple occasions, according to the city.

The cycling park is still considered a construction site and is not open to the public.

If weather permits, the city is expecting to open the track on Friday. In the meantime, the city has posted additional signsand "beefed up" fencing to send a message: don't come to the track until it's officially opened.

"There's been, unfortunately, a few instances where people have gained access. It seems like once one or two people get in there, it welcomes the masses in the park," said James Chacko, the city's senior parks manager.

"Acouple of times, we've had to have the police actually go out there and help to disperse everybody."

Metal barriers have been put in place in recent weeks to deter trespassing.Chacko said snow fencing (which is lighter and easier to tear down) had previously been used when construction started April26.

"I think we'vebeefed up the amount of metal fencing there just to really showcase the significance of it being an active [construction] site in that it's something that we don't want people to be crossing and engaging in," said Chacko.

He saidit's possible that riders are perceiving the barricades as a COVID-related restrictive measure that has nothing to do with the status of the trail.

As construction progressed and the fencing wasbeing repeatedly torn down, Chacko said the city also introduced additional signagewhile continuing to repair the fencing.

"Some people have a mindset that that is not something they are going to follow," he said. "But this is no different than any other active construction site. We don't want people in there."

The city's pump trackis meant to replace a makeshift dirt course that was built by riders in the area andremoved by the city in March.A similar track, known as the 'Dirt Church,'was created by bike enthusiasts in Little River before being bulldozed by the city in 2017.