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Prescott Park gets new gate By Bill Kettler MailTribune.com By Bill Kettler Posted Apr. 3, 2001 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 9:00 AM By Bill Kettler Posted Apr. 3, 2001 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 9:00 AM » Social News Intent is to deter off-road use Medford's park managers hope a new gate at Prescott Park will deter vandalism and illegal off-road driving at the east-side landmark. City officials have searched for some way to block vehicle use after dark to curb vandalism and deter off-road vehicle use. Vandals have destroyed most of the park's original 1930?s structures. Four-wheelers and motorcyclists looking for thrills close to home have driven across the remote park's 1,700 acres for years, and their tire ruts rapidly erode the park's clay soil. People have been going up there and pulling shenanigans they shouldn't be doing, said Greg Jones, Medford's parks and recreation director. Drivers often cross private property to reach the park, and many of those landowners are tired of the noise and destruction, said Officer Scott Havice, who has led police efforts to improve the park. I've talked with almost everyone who lives up there. They're sick and tired of seeing headlights shining in their windows when they're trying to sleep. Jones said police suggested the parks department install a second gate, near Hillcrest Road, to block access to the park at a point where it would be difficult for off-roaders to get into the fields. An existing gate at the park boundary, about a mile from Hillcrest Road, gives off-road drivers several easy opportunities to take to the hills long before they reach the park. A city crew installed a new steel gate last week on Roxy Ann Road about a quarter-mile from Hillcrest Road. Jones said work crews installed the gate in a locked position to ensure that the locking mechanism would align while the concrete footing cured. The new gate surprised park users who have been accustomed to driving up Roxy Ann Road to the gate at the park boundary. The park was getting much more popular on weekends, said Curt Barnes, who goes to the park to exercise. I don't think it's a good thing to keep people out of the park. Jones said legitimate park users create a deterrent to vandalism just by their presence, but police needed to be able to block access to the park, especially in times of high fire danger. The new gate will be surrounded by boulders or fencing that will make it an effective barrier. Havice said the gate is necessary to protect Medford's investment in the park. The city's dumped thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars in there trying to preserve it, he said, and we're losing. Jones said city officials generally plan to keep the gates open from early morning until sunset while fire danger is low. The new, lower gate should be open by Wednesday after the concrete footings have cured. — Reach reporter at 776-4492, or e-mail By Bill Kettler MailTribune.com By Bill Kettler Posted Apr. 3, 2001 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 9:00 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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