ROCK HILL—A recent car crash on Katrina Falls Road has reignited community outrage over traffic, illegal parking, and safety at the heavily used trailhead into the Neversink River Unique Area.
At a recent Thompson Town Board meeting, residents Brittani and Richard Blackburn made an emotional plea to officials: fix the problem, or shut down the trailhead.
“This road is not safe anymore,” Brittani Blackburn told Radio Catskill. “If this can’t be enforced daily, then this access point shouldn’t be open.” She recounted how a speeding van—allegedly driven by a minor—crashed 85 feet into their property, narrowly missing their two-year-old daughter. A tree, she said, likely saved lives.
The Blackburns, who live next to the trailhead, say the issue has worsened since the pandemic, when outdoor recreation surged. “We’re not anti-nature,” said Blackburn. “But this isn’t a park—it’s a Unique Area. People come here with boom boxes, megaphones, they litter, they picnic on private land. There’s no respect.”
She and her husband say they’ve seen people strolling across their lawn at all hours, often oblivious—or indifferent—to property lines.
Katrina Falls Road leads into the Neversink River Unique Area, a protected state forest known for its ecological value. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) warns on its website that parking at the trailhead fills quickly on weekends and holidays, and encourages hikers to consider alternative entry points.
During a visit on Labor Day weekend, Radio Catskill observed the problem firsthand: cars lined both sides of the road, some parked illegally in clearly marked tow-away zones. One vehicle was towed as hikers pleaded with authorities to spare another. A DEC ranger eventually arrived as even more cars continued arriving—one a van with out-of-state plates and a large family.
The Blackburns said enforcement only happened after repeated calls to the Sheriff’s Office. “We’re not asking for new laws,” said Richard Blackburn. “We’re asking for the laws that are already on the books to be enforced.”
Katrina Falls Road is narrow and twisting, with no center lines despite being two-way. Signs warn drivers to slow down, watch for children, and prohibit parking. Still, the area draws heavy foot and vehicle traffic, leading to regular confrontations between locals and visitors.
Thompson Supervisor William Rieber Jr. acknowledged the problem, noting that prior steps—including new signage and stricter parking rules—haven’t worked. “Enforcement has been difficult,” he said.
Rieber told Radio Catskill that he personally reviewed and updated the road’s parking rules last year, turning nearly the entire stretch into a no-parking zone. But buses and large groups still arrive regularly, often leaving behind piles of trash.
To address the situation, Rieber said the town is working with Assemblymember Paula Kay and DEC Region 3 Director Kelly Turturro on long-term solutions. One idea: appoint dedicated parking enforcement officers who could write tickets and order tows without requiring police involvement.
A draft local law that would authorize such enforcement is currently under legal review by Town Attorney Michael Mednick. “We don’t have our own police department, and the Sheriff’s Office is stretched thin,” Rieber said. “That’s why this law is so important.”
Radio Catskill reached out to the DEC for comment on future enforcement plans and the ongoing parking situation but did not receive a response before press time.
Despite the renewed promises of action, Brittani Blackburn remains unconvinced. “We’ve been promised change before. Nothing sticks,” she said. “I’m relentless. My family’s safety is on the line.”
She called for a unified response: “It has to be everyone—town, county, state. We’re not going away until it’s fixed.”
Image: Photo by Patricio Robayo (A baby carriage with a “Slow Down” sign sits on Katrina Falls Road during Labor Day weekend, where heavy trailhead traffic has led to overcrowded parking and trespassing. The Sheriff’s Office responded that day after repeated calls according to nearby residents.)