In addition to patrols, police plan to use barriers and no trespassing signs to deter activity.
WESTFIELD — An increase in off-road vehicle traffic in certain areas of the city has prompted a return of police all-terrain vehicle patrols.
A $10,000 request to finance patrols by City Councilors Christopher M. Crean and James R. Adams from city coffers will allow the Police Department to establish new patrols of city land.
The immediate focus is on property abutting Barnes Regional Airport from North Road and Airport Industrial Road to Sgt. Dion Way and between Southampton Road and East Mountain Road, the councilors and Police Chief John A. Camerota said.
An Oct. 14 dirt bike collision on city land off Airport Industrial Road claimed the lives of two Holyoke men. The collision, near East Mountain Country Club, killed Carlos Colon, 22, of Holyoke and seriously injured Luis Gonzales, 32, also of Holyoke. Gonzales died last week while being treated at Baystate Medical Center.
Crean, the Ward 6 city councilor, represents the area off East Mountain Road, but he and Adams said an issue of off-road riders on city and private property is becoming an issue across the city.
Earlier this year members of the Flood Control Commission expressed concern with similar activity on dams and other properties they are responsible for.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said he supports restoring police ATV patrols which is an overtime type duty for police.
Camerota said police patrols were scheduled on a regular basis several years ago but that personnel and equipment repair issues “side-lined the project.” He said patrols using the department’s four operable machines will begin again shortly.
“Airport Industrial Road area is a major problem area right now and people are bringing dirt bikes and ATVs in on trailers, parking the trailers on city property and then riding on both city and private property. This is unacceptable,” said Adams.
Crean said “This is at a point where it once again is getting out of hand and we need to bring back our police ATV patrols for both education and enforcement.
“Some of these people ignore the rules of private property and I don’t want Westfield to become a public target for this type of activity,” Crean said.
Crean said he will also ask the Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Airport to report trespassing activity they see in the area.
Camerota said police patrols will be assigned “wherever a problem exists. Currently that is in the Airport Industrial Road and Sgt. Dion Lane.
“We also plan to install barriers and no trespassing signs in these areas,” the chief said.