ROCK HILL — A car crash on Katrina Falls Road has reignited long-standing frustrations among Rock Hill residents over traffic congestion, illegal parking, and safety concerns at the popular trailhead leading into the Neversink River Unique Area. 

During a Thompson Town Board meeting, resident Brittani Blackburn and her husband Richard urged town officials to take immediate action to protect those on Katrina Falls Road.

“This road is not safe anymore,” Brittani Blackburn told the Democrat. “If this can’t be enforced daily, then this access point shouldn’t be open.” She described how a speeding van, allegedly driven by a minor, crashed 85 feet into their property, nearly hitting her two-year-old daughter. The tree it struck may have saved multiple lives, she said.

The Blackburns, who live near the trailhead, say the situation has spiraled out of control since the pandemic, when outdoor spaces surged in popularity. “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.” 

The couple said they’ve witnessed visitors picnicking on their property and walking across their lawn at all hours of the day, often without realizing—or caring—that they were on private land.

Katrina Falls Road is one of the main entry points into the Neversink River Unique Area, which is protected under state law for its natural beauty and ecological significance. According to the DEC website, parking at this location fills quickly on holidays and weekends, and visitors are advised to seek alternate trailheads.

On Labor Day weekend, the Democrat visited the scene and witnessed rows of cars lining Katrina Falls Road, some parked illegally in signed tow-away zones. 

One car was towed while hikers pleaded with authorities not to tow another. A DEC park ranger arrived as more vehicles continued pouring in—including a van with out-of-state plates carrying a family. 

The Blackburns said this enforcement only happened after repeated calls to the Sheriff’s Office, and said they are simply asking for existing laws to be enforced—specifically, the no-parking rule on that section of Katrina Falls Road.

The Democrat also reached out to the Sheriff’s Office but did not get a response by presstime.

The road itself is winding and narrow, with no center lines despite being two-way. As drivers approach the trailhead, the roadside is lined with signs warning to slow down, watch for children, and prohibit parking. Despite the posted rules, the area continues to draw heavy foot and vehicle traffic, leading to congestion and tense encounters between visitors and those who live near the trailhead.

Thompson Town Supervisor William Rieber Jr. said in a statement that previous efforts—including new signage and the elimination of most roadside parking—haven’t worked. “Enforcement has been difficult,” he admitted. 

Rieber told the Democrat that he personally surveyed the road and rewrote the parking restrictions last year, making the entire right side and most of the left side of the road a no-parking zone. However, he said those rules are routinely ignored, especially by buses and large groups who crowd the area and leave trash.

To address the issue, Rieber said the town is working with Assemblymember Paula Kay and DEC Region 3 Director Kelly Turturro to develop long-term solutions. 

One plan includes appointing parking enforcement officers empowered to issue violations and order tows. He added that the town is also drafting a local law that would allow parking enforcement without police involvement. 

The language of the proposed law is currently under review with Town Attorney Michael Mednick according to Rieber. 

“We don’t have our own police force, and the Sheriff’s Office is stretched thin,” Rieber said. “That’s why this local law is so important.” He said he hopes to bring the proposal to the Town Board soon, once it is legally vetted.

The Democrat reached out to the DEC to ask about future enforcement plans and the ongoing parking situation but did not receive a comment by presstime.

Despite these efforts, Blackburn remains skeptical. “We’ve been promised change before. Nothing sticks. I’m relentless,” she said. “My family’s safety is on the line.”

Blackburn pressed the need for coordinated action.“It has to be everyone—town, county, state. We’re not going away until it’s fixed.”