DoD to close popular walking and running trails in Dededo and Yigo

DoD to close popular walking and running trails in Dededo and Yigo

According to the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”), DoD plans on closing two popular walking and running trails in Dededo and Yigo with no plans for mitigation.

The EIS states that DoD plans on “acquiring” almost 700 acres in Dededo in the area known as the “Former FAA property” for military housing.   The area will be fenced off and gated, with no general public access allowed.  This area is currently a popular spot for families to exercise, with as many as 50 cars parked there at any given time according to the EIS.  The EIS also states that the roads to Andersen South will be closed off to the public.  This is a popular area for families who live in Yigo to run, walk and cycle.

“We Are Guåhan will continue to talk about issues that affect our community,” says We Are Guåhan member Cara Flores-Mays.  “The residents of Dededo and Yigo use these areas to exercise because it is convenient and safe.  Closing these areas off to the public will have a huge impact on those communities, and our community as a whole.”

The EIS concludes that closing the Former FAA property and the roads to Andersen South off to families who currently use it for exercise will not be a “significant impact” because there are other roads in the areas where they can go to walk.  DoD has not offered any mitigation to closing these areas, even though as many as 44,000 more people will be living on Guam and looking for a place to exercise.

“Taking 700 acres when DoD already owns more than one quarter of Guam is a significant impact,” continues Flores-Mays, “and DoD is wrong when it says that the impact on the families in Dededo and Yigo who use these areas to exercise will not be significant.”