Neighbor voices concerns over river access

 Since 1993 I’ve lived across the street from the access on Rainbow Dr. in Ferndale.

This had been my sanctuary for more than ten years. It has been a place where my son Matthew and I feel safe. We used to look forward to summer so we could take long walks and ride our bikes, just enjoying our neighborhood. It was so quiet and beautiful. Of course all that’s changed since the county commissioners , in their great wisdom, have decided to open the access to the public. Not only do I no longer feel safe walking or riding bikes on our street, I no longer feel safe in my home. The hordes of people that now invade out neighborhood each year have no concern or consideration for the people who live here. They drink and throw beer cans and trash around and even in my driveway. They park where they please, many in my neighbors’ and my private drive ways, even under the No Parking signs, and when we call the police and report their actions they retaliate. I have been called foul names, I have been threatened and told to watch my back, that they know where I live.

We, the residence of Rainbow Drive, have attempted, numerous times, to appeal to the county commissioners to restore our community to the us, who pay the taxes, mortgages, take great pride in our neighborhood, and allow us to live in peace once more. Last year my son was almost run down by people coming out of the access, who thought it funny to aim their car and attempt to hit him while he was on his bike. Several small children came very close to being hit while the adults were unloading their cars because there were so many cars on the street the children were not seen. We asked commissioner Barron to attend a meeting regarding this problem. He was appalled at the situation. He stated that “The access should never have been opened.” He also stated that our neighborhood was far to small to accommodate such heavy traffic, when we told him that a certain person from Woods Bay was pushing to develop a parking lot across the street from the access, he agreed that would only cause more problems and create a greater traffic hazard. He also assured us that the access would be closed for the summer and they “the commissioners” would then decide what to do about this problem.

I have also been informed that the access was opened illegally. The residents of Rainbow Drive were never informed that the access would be opened to the public. That a very rich man made a deal with the then commissioner, that he would cut down the trees, level the land and spread gravel if the commissioner would allow him to use the access for his customers. If in fact the opening was illegal, then isn’t it still opened illegally?

I find the commissioners’ refusal to listen to us and help us restore our neighborhood, very suspect. Especially when there is a wonderful alternative which is to use the fishing access on Ferndale Dr. It is well off the street, it is much larger that our access and it is equipped with bathrooms. The site is not going to create a traffic hazard, or cause trouble for a neighborhood. Everyone will benefit from this decision. The residence of Rainbow Dr. can once again feel safe and secure in their homes. The people who float the river can do it in peace, and the county commissioners can worry about other problems.

Yesterday I had a visit from a Lake Co. reserve Officer accusing me of closing the access gate. He spoke with my daughter. He asked her if I had in fact closed the gate, she became irritated because he was accusing me of something I had not done. When my daughter asked why he thought I was the one who closed the gate, he answered, because she is  the one making the most noise about the opening of the access. This is not true. Our whole neighborhood is making a great noise and will continue to do so as long as our way of life is threatened.

A great American once said “We have not yet begun to fight.” I say, You aint seen nothing yet.

— Bell is a resident of Ferndale