Neighbor blocks their river access with rocks, iron fence. They’re fighting back.

When the metal fence with “Private Property, No Trespassing” signs were erected last week by Mr. Roy Snyder, he was slamming the nearly 100-year access for the public to Point Pleasant Point and the river. Anthony Rossi used to own the property where Mr. Snyder now lives in his MacMansion, and Rossi, in contrast, personally welcomed the public to use that access, as Councilman Gene Gallo and Rossi’s brother-in-law recall.

Mr. Snyder has a history of shutting off the public. He parks his truck in front of the Point to assure no one can see the rireworks. He tried unsuccessfully to take over the street in front of his house. Now he claims to have a change of heart and warmly would welcome the neighbors, except he forgot to give us keys to the gate, and, oh, he placed rocks at the Point so no one can walk there, and so there is no room for his promised bench.

My parents taught me that actions speak louder than words. Had Mr. Snyder outreached to any of the HOAs or neighbors in the area instead of trying to land grab a public domain, had he not tried to shut public access to the street, to the Point with impassable rocks, had he not built a wall across his property eliminating what was Mr. Rossi’s beautiful rose garden for all to view, then maybe we might believe him. Now there are no roses, just walls and fences that say, “Keep out.”

Bless City Council for understanding how unacceptable this is to the neighborhood and the community. There is a sign on 15th Street West encouraging all to walk the Riverwalk to Point Pleasant. If Mr. Snyder succeeds, no river view might be visible any longer. He could erect another Snyder wall.

This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Neighbor blocks their river access with rocks, iron fence. They’re fighting back.."