Trash Litters Horse Trails in Edmond

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- It's not every day you hear Edmond compared to a third world country, but a group of horse trail riders say that's exactly what the city's equestrian trail looks like.

For nearly two years, the equestrians who use the trails at Lake Arcadia have complained to the city the trash needs picked up and for two years they say they've gotten nowhere.

From TVs to tires to bottles and more bottles, it's just some of the trash scattered along the horse trails at Lake Arcadia.

"This is a beautiful park and a beautiful facility and it looks like a third world country, it looks like a trash dump," Terri Folks said.

Folks rides horses with her friends who say the trash is such an issue they tried cleaning it up themselves.

"There is a small area where we picked up the trash but as you can see at that rate for us picking it up by hand would be forever," Jeanette Zeller said.

The equestrians said they've asked the city of Edmond to help, but so far they said the city has done little.

"There is just no argument that is in an eyesore," said Edmond Parks and Recreation Director Jim Bowlin.

Bowlin said the trash gathered near the trails after heavy flooding back in 2007, but admits it is not one of the city's top priorities.

"We've got to hit those heavily used areas of the park that are manicured and more actively used," Bowlin said.

He said his staff of five maintains over 600 acres of land and are rarely able to get to the trash.

"As we work our way down these areas, they will get better, it is just going to take some time," the city's park director said.

Right now, the city of Edmond said they are relying on volunteers, like boy scouts and church groups, to help them clean the trails.

If you would like to help clean up the horse trails at Arcadia Lake, visit the Oklahoma Equestrian Web site.