On Feb. 12, the following neighborhoods: Arriba Del Lago, Bella Lago, Diamante Del Lago, Mirage Pointe, Rancho Montana, and Puerto Del Lago all received an informative letter including a map layout from the Town of Fountain Hills.

These two documents were sharing the ideas of what the local McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission wants to create; a backyard disruption and invasion of privacy.

With current disruptions already taking place on an existing trail within one of our centralized neighborhoods (south side of the upper Ridge at Diamante Del Lago), then how in the world are we to feel safe and secure with people on an additional trail that is to surround the current ones?

This new trail will not be centralized, it is pushing the most outer limits possible with no security what so ever, except for Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s home. And I am for his safety as well as my own; or else I would not be opposing this additional trail.

Once again, I ask, who is going to protect those homeowners and their homes from thieves, vandalism, peeping toms, disruptive people, irresponsible animal lovers, and after-hour trespassers?

Are you okay with your tax dollars compromising the value not only of one home but the entire neighborhood? Lastly, who’s going to be responsible for the upkeep once the trail is completed?

Remember it isn’t always our local hikers that travel these trails, it is accessible to everyone. To want is to place the unwanted onto others. There is plenty of land available in this town for additional trails; just not in our neighborhoods and especially not in our backyards.

A meeting is being held Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the town’s Community Center ballrooms.