DeKalb CEO Thurmond signs executive order closing Intrenchment Creek Park and surrounding properties

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond issued an executive order on March 24 warning of dangerous and possibly life-threatening conditions to adults, children and pets in the Intrenchment Creek Park area.

The executive order closes and restricts access to Intrenchment Creek Park and other county-owned properties in the area to the “given the recent and ongoing criminal activities occurring on or near the properties, including, but not limited to, the installation of hidden traps or other devices designed to injure, maim, or cause the death of adults, children, and pets.”

Pictured above are two examples of hidden traps discovered by law enforcement in the Intrenchment Creek area.

Per the executive order, the following properties in the vicinity of Intrenchment Creek, totaling approximately 140 acres, will remain closed until further notice:

• 2055 Bouldercrest Road
• 2058 Bouldercrest Road
• 2098 Bouldercrest Road
• 2109 Bouldercrest Road (Intrenchment Creek Park)
• 2142 Bouldercrest Road
• 2156 Bouldercrest Road

“DeKalb County personnel attempting to perform necessary functions on the properties including customary and on-going safety inspections, upkeep, repair, trash removal, maintenance, renovation and construction have been attacked on multiple occasions in recent months by individuals throwing rocks and other objects and creating other dangerous conditions, such that county personnel have been unable to complete these necessary functions,” according to the executive order.

The executive order further states that this “this temporary closure until further notice is necessary to protect the safety of the families, residents and visitors and their pets in the area and the county personnel who need access to the properties for the purposes of upkeep, inspection, repair, trash removal, maintenance, renovation and construction.”

During the period this executive order is in force:

• “unauthorized persons entering the properties will be subject to prosecution for criminal trespass and any other violation of law to the fullest extent of Georgia Law.”
• “any owner of an unauthorized vehicle parked on any of the properties will be subject to prosecution for violations of applicable law and the vehicle will be towed and impounded as permitted under Georgia Law.”
• “anyone caught moving, removing, or defacing signs posted by the county on the properties will be subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of Georgia Law.”

The entrances and exits to the properties listed above will be closed and the county will post official signs prohibiting public access to and parking on the properties.