Kids Walking Through Our Yard to Catch the Bus

[Anonymous]

Our backyard backs onto a culdesac where there are two families with elementary aged kids living. In order for them to catch the school bus they have to walk about 10 minutes down their street and up ours to the top of the street where the bus stop is. Or, they have a 3 minute walk if they walk across our lawn. This was previously not a real issue because the bus used to pick up at the bottom of their street so the walk was about the same either way. They would occasionally cross our yard to get to the top of our street but like a couple of times per month. Now there are 4 kids crossing twice per day and sometimes they have friends with them. I want to be a reasonable neighbor but I worry about:
1. Wear and tear on our lawn (it's just grass, no pavers)
2. Liability if a kid slips and hurts themselves in our lawn when we've granted permission for them to cross
3. Our yard becoming some sort of right of way over time.

Our street is much busier and therefore the houses are less expensive. The houses on the culdusac enjoy a lot of privacy and a very quiet street.

My kids aren't close with any of the kids (not unfriendly but the genders and ages are off my kids' genders and ages so they very infrequently play together). I'm fairly good friends with one of the moms but barely know the other one. If we were close friends I guess I'd feel differently.

I know the kids will be pretty pissed off having to walk around but I'm thinking of telling them they can walk through our yard twice per week and no more than that and no friends.

Anyone else have this situation?

[Anonymous]

Man you sound like a real grinch. And being scared of kids walking on your grass b/c of liability is a real stretch.

[Anonymous]

You need a fence.

[Anonymous]

our neighbors left a gap in the fence when they fenced in their yard -- so the middle schoolers could continue to use the cut through. So very cool of them.

[Anonymous]

Your choices are a fence or those families thinking you’re a d1ck.

[Anonymous]

Put up a fence, OP. Or loosen up.

[Anonymous]

I had this situation. The kids each walked on my property it for 7 years. Every once in a awhile, I saw her on her bike. I never said anything. I would want to take a short cut, too, if I were a child. Just suck up and deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our backyard backs onto a culdesac where there are two families with elementary aged kids living. In order for them to catch the school bus they have to walk about 10 minutes down their street and up ours to the top of the street where the bus stop is. Or, they have a 3 minute walk if they walk across our lawn. This was previously not a real issue because the bus used to pick up at the bottom of their street so the walk was about the same either way. They would occasionally cross our yard to get to the top of our street but like a couple of times per month. Now there are 4 kids crossing twice per day and sometimes they have friends with them. I want to be a reasonable neighbor but I worry about:
1. Wear and tear on our lawn (it's just grass, no pavers)
2. Liability if a kid slips and hurts themselves in our lawn when we've granted permission for them to cross
3. Our yard becoming some sort of right of way over time.

Our street is much busier and therefore the houses are less expensive. The houses on the culdusac enjoy a lot of privacy and a very quiet street.

My kids aren't close with any of the kids (not unfriendly but the genders and ages are off my kids' genders and ages so they very infrequently play together). I'm fairly good friends with one of the moms but barely know the other one. If we were close friends I guess I'd feel differently.

I know the kids will be pretty pissed off having to walk around but I'm thinking of telling them they can walk through our yard twice per week and no more than that and no friends.

Anyone else have this situation?

Let them be. They won't hurt your grass and no parent is crazy enough--even in DC--to sue you if their kid manages to injure themselves while walking to a bus stop.

[Anonymous]

No, OP would actually be a d!ck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Man you sound like a real grinch. And being scared of kids walking on your grass b/c of liability is a real stretch.

It's always easier to say that when it's not your problem or hiding behind DCUM. People like you are worse than OP in real life. You don't impress me.

- dp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:our neighbors left a gap in the fence when they fenced in their yard -- so the middle schoolers could continue to use the cut through. So very cool of them.

I grew up in a cold climate, and on especially windy days, all of the bus stop kids would huddle together next to the nearby house to keep warm. The owner's didn't even have kids, but they didn't mind (or maybe they were already at work and didn't spend time peeking out their windows, tracking the neighborhood children...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Man you sound like a real grinch. And being scared of kids walking on your grass b/c of liability is a real stretch.

It's always easier to say that when it's not your problem or hiding behind DCUM. People like you are worse than OP in real life. You don't impress me.

- dp

It's not really a problem though. The OP is manufacturing a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Man you sound like a real grinch. And being scared of kids walking on your grass b/c of liability is a real stretch.

It's always easier to say that when it's not your problem or hiding behind DCUM. People like you are worse than OP in real life. You don't impress me.

- dp

It's not really a problem though. The OP is manufacturing a problem.

Or trying to be proactive to prevent a problem?

[Anonymous]

They're not going to fall or get hurt walking through your yard. The chances of a serious injury from walking are slim to none. I would bet if kids walked through your yard for 10 years, you'd see zero injuries.

Honest question: Why do you care about wear and tear on your yard?

It seems like you are either really anxious or you're looking for trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Man you sound like a real grinch. And being scared of kids walking on your grass b/c of liability is a real stretch.

It's always easier to say that when it's not your problem or hiding behind DCUM. People like you are worse than OP in real life. You don't impress me.

- dp

It's not really a problem though. The OP is manufacturing a problem.

Or trying to be proactive to prevent a problem?

What problems are you imagining?