To: The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), Local Law Enforcement, and Community Stakeholders

We, the undersigned residents of Sterling of West Hills, call for the immediate closure of public hiking trail access points on Sterling Ranch Road (in front of the private community park) — PERMANENTLY.

Why This Matters

Our community has always valued safety, peace, and respect for nature. Unfortunately, the trail access through our residential streets has brought repeated and escalating problems:

• 10+ break-ins or attempted break-ins within the past 36 months.
• Suspicious surveillance cameras with mobile connections recently found hidden in bushes and trees, apparently used to monitor our neighborhood.
• Ongoing concerns about vandalism, graffiti, loitering, and trespassing.
• Risk of man-made wildfires from smokers, loiters, or careless trail users — a grave concern since our community has already faced two devastating wildfires in just the past seven years.
• Insufficient law enforcement support to effectively respond to these risks, despite our community already funding private security patrols.

The reality is simple: a hiking trail that runs through our community creates easy access for those who would exploit it for unlawful or dangerous purposes. The burden of this risk falls directly on residents—the taxpayers who live here—not on distant trail users.

Our Position

We fully support hiking, nature access, and conservation. However, there are ample alternative trailheads, such as Woolsey Canyon, that allow genuine hikers to enjoy the same routes without compromising residential safety.

Our taxpayer contributions to MRCA should protect our needs first and foremost. Residents deserve to live free from burglary, surveillance, wildfire threats, and vandalism. Trail access must not come at the expense of community safety.

Our Requests

1. Immediate suspension of public trail access through our neighborhood and keep the access gate shut permanently.
2. Formal review of legal agreements that allegedly grant public access through Tract No. 52866-01, including whether such agreements are valid against the interests of today’s homeowners.
3. Prioritization of taxpayer safety: No new access points, gates, or trail openings via our comunity should be created.

Conclusion

We are not opposed to hiking or outdoor recreation. We are opposed to unsafe and unfair arrangements that make our homes vulnerable while safer alternative access points already exist.

Enough is enough. We call on MRCA, legal counsel, and local authorities to act decisively in protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of the residents who fund and live in this community.

Sign this petition to demand action and to stand with your neighbors in protecting Sterling of West Hills.