Signs of the Times

When I was growing up, fences were used to keep animals in. Around here, fences are more often used to keep people out. A portion of the Usery Mountain Regional Park border abuts the McKellips Road right-of-way. The fence makes sure park visitors, at least the two-legged variety, enter at the corner (and pay the fee,) instead of just cutting across the desert.

Apache Junction, just to the east, has legitimized a wonderful trail system, leveraging pre-existing trails and old roads through public lands. You can travel over 8 miles around parts of the town by horse, bike, or foot. Never know what you'll see. This past week I've been close to coyote, rabbit (not at the same time), and hawks among others.

Where their trail system crosses public roads, you'll find horse gates in the fence, along with a sign clearly labeled "City of Apache Junction" with a list of the "play nice" rules. You're left with the impression that there are large chunks of desert to wander, not far from the doorstep.

But less than 30 feet from the previous sign is this sign. It's pretty clear that No Trespassing is the subject! Below that, the fine print says "Enter Only with written permission from the State Land Commissioner." Turns out, for $15 and the proper form, you can get written permission for yourself. For $5 more you can include your family. There are no fences between the Apache Junction land and the State Trust Land, and no high resolution, accurate, current map. Guess I'd better invest in "written permission."

As I was wandering some of the Apache Junction land (at least according to the diagram they gave me,) I ran across this sign. White on blue, clearly reading "Medical Emergency - Open 24 hours." It's posted at a fence next to the Bulldog flood channel.

Apparently, the Flood District used a previous sign to make a sign of which only the black lettering remains. The white background that had overlaid the original blue sign is totally weathered away. The black lettering says "No Trespassing - Violators will be prosecuted. Up to $1000 fine and 6 months imprisonment."

Here's the sign on the north side of the same flood channel. A bit easier to read. What's interesting to me is that the Apache Junction "map" clearly shows this area as part of their Parks & Recreation system, but the fences and signs suggest otherwise.

If I go missing, you might want to check the jail, but I'm not sure which one.