Park Encroachment

 

Encroachment on Parkland

With so many communities bordering parkland, it is not surprising that park neighbors occasionally enter into activities that go beyond their property lines. Encroachments are illegal, are punishable by law, and can take
many forms:

• Dumping yard waste and debris
• Removing trees and other vegetation
• Extending yards onto parkland
• Storing equipment and materials
• Erecting fences and structures

Encroachments damage park resources. Piles of yard waste attract rodents and snakes and may introduce destructive, invasive plants into natural areas. Removal of trees and other foliage decreases the vegetative cover that filters pollutants from the air and modifies temperatures. Removal of natural ground vegetation encourages erosion and allows surface run-off to contaminate water sources. Digging and removal of artifacts on undeveloped land destroys the integrity of archaeological and historic sites. Extending yards, storing material and equipment, and erecting private fences or other structures on parkland effectively limits access to acres of public land by fellow citizens. 

Encroachment Prevention Guidelines

Often a property owner will purchase a home next to parkland only to discover years later that there was a pre-existing encroachment that was not disclosed at the time of sale. Please contact us so that we can work with you to correct it. Park Authority staff must work within policy guidelines when addressing encroachments on parkland; however, we will provide information and help resolve the issue and prevent potential difficulties when you sell your property.

• If you don't own the land, then don't put anything on it. It's that simple. If you see a neighbor encroaching on parkland, consider talking to them about it (or giving them this article), or call the Parks Service Call Center at 404.546.6813.
• Don't mow past your property line. High grass and other vegetation buffer streams and provide animal habitats. A buffer slows down the flow of stormwater runoff which prevents erosion. A buffer also traps many pollutants which otherwise end up in the stream.
• If poison ivy is growing on the park side of your property line, please leave it alone. Poison ivy, a native plant, is a wonderful food supply for birds and other wildlife.

Don't dump grass clippings and other yard debris on parkland. Phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium-found in fertilizer, sewage, detergents, and animal wastes are not harmful to the environment in low doses. However, when these excess nutrients are washed into a stream, they can cause an overgrowth of algae, which depletes oxygen in the water and affects the health of aquatic plants and animals.


Reporting Encroachment

Together we can reduce the incidence and impact of encroachments on parkland. Although Park staff routinely check for encroachment violations, it is simply not possible to monitor all Park property on a daily basis. We rely on neighbors like you to help us preserve and protect natural and cultural resources by looking for and reporting suspected cases of encroachment. If you see an encroachment in progress or are aware of an existing encroachment, please contact us.

If you suspect encroachment or if you see a hazardous condition on parkland, please contact the Parks Service Call Center at 404.546.6813.
Please provide as much of the following information as possible:

• Address or tax map number for the property
• Photos or maps to show the location of the encroachment/condition
• Nature of the problem
• Is this a new or recurring problem? If recurring, when was it first observed?
• Any other relevant details or information