Foothills neighborhood claims campers are overstaying their welcome

Residents in one Foothills neighborhood said a State Land Trust is turning into a make-shift RV park and now they want law enforcement to take action.

The area is located near Avenue 15E near the frontage road.

Jack Childress has lived in the area for about four years and said the issue has been getting worse every year.

Childress claimed that these campers are overstaying their permits.

One camper said she got her permit online and does not plan to overstay. She said she thinks people are choosing Yuma because it is warmer than other places.

“More people are finding out and they’re liking the open area here, instead of an RV park,” said Wendy Johnson.

Permits only last for 14 days per year, according to the State Land Trust’s website.

Childress claimed that no one is patrolling the area.

“If this isn’t taken care of this year, we’ll have it twice as bad next year when they go tell their friends, “hey, we found this neat place and they don’t bother you, you know? you don’t have to worry about the two-week permit. we can just stay there,” said Childress.

Childress showed us emails as evidence that he’s reached out to the State Land Trust and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office to see what can be done.

YCSO said they are working with the Yuma County Board of Supervisors to find a solution to the issue.