What do I do?

I was hesitant to post,as I am not sure if this calls for a thread.I am really irritated and confused, so posting it anyways so that I can get advises and different perspectives.So here it goes....
There is this large family in our neighborhood, faraway neighbours to me.The mom,kids,their playmates many times walking through my property.Their is curb to walk on ,a really windy one.They walk through two properties,one is mine to cut short the distance and they walk on the curb from in front of my property.May be save a couple of minutes.This is a very quiet neighborhood and most are well mannered. To reach the curb in front of my property, they have to first walk through my neighbors and then continue to do so on mine
This has been going on for a couple of years.Last year I noticed they started bicycling through it.There are many mature trees and I actually can't see them until they are very near.If they notice me outside,they cross on the opposite side.Its a big chunk of land.And after noticing them I can't reach to them in time to talk.I don't want to yell from the other side.
After I watched the boys on bicycle many times,I tried to indicate in non verbal way that I noticed and put some logs as barriers in that part of my property. One day I was standing near my upstairs window and saw the older boy whooshing through the neighbors property.I got curious to see if he will go back and take the curb.No he didn't. He stopped at where the logs were,carried his cycle up, crossed the logs and started whooshing through mine up to the curb.Wow
Now spring is here and I am working outside.They are doing it again.The other day mom was pushing the stroller on the curb,the older kids who walked along side the mom until my property took the shortcut through.And mom continues on the curb with the baby.She knew,she saw but didn't say,hey you can't do that kids.And once I saw the mom walking the dog through.I found dog @#=t a couple of times,so I guess the dog too found my property useful. But I didn't see this particular dog doing it.Just guessing it must be it.I don't like confrontation. But don't know how to solve it in a non confrontational manner.Keep in mind that the adults know and they are also doing it.But the kids and their buddies have created an unofficial walking trail.compaction of soil,grass dying off,weeds taking over in that part of land are issues too.And nonverbal cues didn't work.So now what do I do?

Can you put up a fence? In the US, you have property rights that can become a problem if people continue to use a path through your property.

Unfortunately I can't fence that part.Nor can my neighbor. The county should have access to that part.Not everyone does it.Only this one family I didn't know who they were until now.

maybe it would help if u put up a temporary fence across where they enter the path at. not a wood big deal type fence but pound one those green stakes on either side of it & attach some of that wire fencing that comes rolled up to them to block them from using it as a path? it would serve as a "hint" you would rather not have ppl using your property as a path and after a while they wont do it anymore and you can take it down after that.. also id post a few "no tresspassing" signs around your yard too.

I thought of "no trespassing sign",But it may trigger my immediate neighbors ,all of my neighbors are nice.It may indicate the sign is for one of them.These people that walk on my lawn are not my neighbors. I am hesitating to put up that chicken wire fence you suggested, I worry what my back door neighbor will think.They may assume I have a beef with them and being passive aggressive .I have already hinted by putting logs across where they were crossing my property. It didn't work and they are simply jumping over my logs.The older boy simply lifted up his bicycle over the logs and continued bicycling across.

This is always tough. I'm guessing you don't feel comfortable talking to the mom about it? Some people think nothing of this kind of thing and it might not even cross their minds just how rude it is.

I live in an area of the country where pretty much all backyards are fenced with six foot fences, and at one point we had a neighbor who thought nothing of hopping the fence- generally because a ball got tossed over. Apparently this was typical where he was from? But it sure bothered me. Someone else must have told him to not do it, because he stopped after a week or two.

Could you plant a living fence of some kind?

How about a cute/decorative no trespassing sign? Something that might give them the hint nicely? You could take it down once they get the idea? Maybe a sign that says something like "Private Property - Please no through traffic." Or something like that? I have a no soliciting sign on the front door, and painted it myself so it seemed less like a directive and more like a decorative, but pointed, sign.

Not necessarily the best idea, but I've known people who got those motion sensor sprinklers that are made to keep deer out of your yard. Unfortunately, the kids might like it or you might get one of your other neighbors by accident.

what about a very "low key" string /rope/ chain across the entrance way with a keep out sign hung in the middle of it .. it wont physically stop anyone from using it but it will be a clear indication you dont want ppl to used your yard as a path... and your neighbor wont be offended thinking you mean it for him because it will clearly be located where the pathway is

ps .. & doing the low key way id get real no trespassing sign to hang on it too simply because its more official you mean business & once you post a no trespassing sign if you catch anyone trespassing you can call the police & let them take care of it.. all it take will be kid being caught by the police to keep all the kids away for good id think ... & most adults know better then to see a no trespass sign then disreguard it and do it anyway at least i dont think they would anyway..

I wish my backdoor neighbor says something first because those people first cross their property and then continue to walk on mine to reach the curb in front of my property. If they call it out then my problem gets solved without me doing anything about it.Wishful thinking much?

What if you speak to your backdoor neighbor about it?

Yep,I was intending to. But my neighbors are retired couple and empty nesters.They travel a lot.I struck up a conversation with the lady intending to bring up this.But my neighbor is singing praise of that family and can't stop.That particular family offered to upkeep the grounds for my neighbor while they are away travelling. So I had to zip my mouth shut about my problem. I have an inkling my neighbors will not speak up because that family is doing some favours,like mowing the lawn .Even if they don't like kids walking through their property they may keep quiet.

I wonder if they offered to help my neighbors in order to isolate me.Now I am the only one who is upset while they use two properties for their convenience. While buried under the gratitude my neighbors are forced into silence. It may be a ploy. Aah,I am thinking conspiracy theories now.

Armorplate108, I wish I had bought a fenced property back then.I fell in love with this one,all the possibilities and this neighborhood. Until my agent told me I didn't even know this parcel of neighborhood existed. I thought I could fence it in.Not until I closed the deal and wanted to install a fence,I then was informed I couldn't. I think I didn't do enough due diligence. BUT then if I knew would I not buy?I think I would still have bought it.A good piece for a reasonable price in a very peaceful neighborhood.
That is why even if I am upset about it I don't want to be the one who is making waves and disturb the tranquility people enjoy here by starting some kind of confrontation.

The only way you can resolve this is to talk to them or put up a sign.

You could write a note and mail it to them.

That is difficult, what with the other neighbor seeming to have a relationship with the neighbors yours border....

By living fence, I was thinking about a hedge or something like that. Not always realistic, and of course he didn't get the hint with the other barrier.

I'm not a confrontation person either, but I think the only way you'll know is if you talk to the mother. She may think it's okay because the friend neighbor doesn't have a problem with it. She may feel very badly once it dawns on her. Is there any way you could be outside working when they come by and you could call out something to the effect of, "hi! I'm trying to get my yard manicured and in good shape. Could you please not ride through it?" You could even call out of a window if they can see you. You have every right to ask nicely, and if they don't respond respectfully, that's not on you. Frankly, I think it is very reasonable to not want someone waking or riding through your yard. You arent asking for much. Even if they don't like it, they'll hopefully respect your request.

I would like to talk to the parents if only the kids were doing it.In my case the mom did that too.walking the dog through my property. And just the other day like I mentioned in my previous post all were waking together up until my property and then the older kids took the short cut and mom continued to walk on the curb with her stroller. She definitely saw and have not tried to stop her kids obviously. If I saw my kids walking on someone's lawn,I would surely say.....hey,kids come walk with me on the curb.But she kind of approved it.So what is the point in talking with the mom? One time last year,I was just 10 feet away,when the mom and kids and dog were crossing.They didn't notice me ,I was behind a bush.I have seen them a couple of times by then.So I thought let me make myself visible to them and convey the message that I have noticed them.I walked and stood in the middle of my lawn and was in their peripheral vision.They could see me from the corner of their eyes.All of them put on poker faces and walked through to my surprise. Now a days they actually turn their faces towards the house,specially the mom and dad,with a smug,arrogant and angry expressions as if I have wronged them by standing in the middle of my lawn staring at them.

Armorplate108,
After the log thing failed,I already covered that piece of land at the border with weed barrier fabric and card board((weeds are taking over).Got some bags of soil and put them on top of weed fabric.My plan was to build a small patch of raised flower bed at the border where they cross into mine.For any reasonable person it gives a hint that it is a possible flower bed under construction.It didn't stop them. What if after all my hard work they simply walk through stomping on the flowering plants.All the necessary materials are lying there along with the logs. There is no guarantee they won't destroy the flower bed when I am not looking,just out of contempt.

I don't think there is a solution to this, other than ignoring them or maybe having a path made where they have already trampled down the grass. Or if you wanted to contact the municipality and see if they could alter the sidewalk.


I would let it go, personally. There are worse things in the world than someone walking on your grass. Like you say they are already antagonized by you watching them.

Just wanted to offer another perspective. Life is too short to make a big deal of small things.

Ugh. I totally see where you are coming from. It sounds like they aren't exactly clueless from what you've witnessed.

I tend to let things go if at all possible, but this sort of feels like they might be wearing a "game trail" across your property at this point. My concern would be that it's only a matter of time until other people on walks think it's a short cut.

The neighbor you're worried about offending with a no trespassing sign isn't being a very good neighbor to let them cross her yard and then into yours. You shouldn't feel badly if you want to post a no trespassing sign. In fact, I think you should do that if you don't feel that talking to the parents is a good option. They may think you're a jerk, but seriously, this is your yard. It's your property to do with what you see fit, and if you don't want someone walking across it, that's your prerogative. Don't feel badly about holding your ground, in this case literally.

I think someone else posted about rights of usage laws. I don't think you would have an issue, but there have been cases where properties have been altered because of how people begin to use them. I had a friend who allowed another neighbor to use a back easement on her property to access their property for convenience sake. The next neighbors did the same thing not knowing that it was just her being nice. As I recall they ended up in court, and the judge ruled in the neighbor's favor because that area had been used to access the other property for so many years is now considered a right of usage. I don't think you would run into anything like this with your yard, but it's also important for you to protect your domain if you feel there's a problem. Usually a posting of some kind is all it takes.

Samicat,the county is not going to change the layout of the curb,where one can officially walk on.The curb covers all the houses in their fronts and the people that I am talking about here have a curb in front of their house also.They can come out of their house,use their front curb and eventually reach in front of my house,if they stroll on the curb,except it takes a little longer.Yep,seemingly solutions are failing right now and I appreciate you giving another perspective, but donot you think when ignored or pacified the smaller issues can compound into the bigger problems the world is facing now.Ignoring people that are disrespecting your personal space may lead to breaking and entering or then may lead to trying to rob something valuable or may lead to something more dangerous. It is always wise to try to solve a problem in the budding stage.Imagine how peaceful the world would be when everyone respects others rights,solves their own problems in a reasonable manner.A person is a unit of a family,Many families make a society, Many societies together make a country,and many countries together make this world.The bigger problems the world is facing today,can start with lack of selfdiscipline in a single person.We tend to ignore problems until they blowup in the face of humanity.Plenty of examples throughout the history of humanity.