RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Executive Director of Friends of the James River Park System issued a statement answering questions surrounding the future of the Pipeline Trail, which was reportedly closed last week by officials. On Friday, Sept. 13, officials with the City of Richmond said recent repairs to the pipeline highlighted a number of safety hazards, which prompted a temporary closure near the now abandoned section of pipe on the trail. However, two days after the city announced the closure of the Pipeline Trail, it was reportedly still open to the public, with people seen walking along the trail on Sunday, Sept. 15. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Josh Stutz, Executive Director of Friends of the James River Park System, issued a statement answering some of the questions surrounding the Pipeline and its closure. Is the Pipeline closed? According to Stutz, the City's Department of Public Utilities (DPU) stated in a recent meeting that it is closing access to the site, installing physical barriers and anyone walking on the catwalk or pipe to access the beaches would be considered trespassing. Stutz said in his statement that the Friends of the James River Park has experience working with the James River Park System staff to close trails for maintenance and that "there is no way to effectively close a trail in Richmond." "People will knock down, cut through, and destroy anything you try to put in their way, even if it is for a good reason like safety or maintenance," Stutz said in his statement. "The people will create their own access until effective enforcement can be managed." In the City of Richmond's Sept. 13 release, officials cautioned rivergoers against traveling to the "beach" area near the pipe as "safety hazards exist." People looking to access the James River from this area are encouraged to access the water at the following locations instead: Pony Pasture Reedy Creek Ancarrows Landing The Wetlands Great Shiplock Park Belle Isle Dock Street Tredegar Put In Who owns and maintains the Pipeline? According to Stutz, ownership of and responsibility for that specific piece of land is "not a simple matter." Stutz said the Pipeline “Trail” refers to the maintenance catwalk that was installed by Richmond’s DPU in order to access the suspended pipe that once carried stormwater away from downtown and into the Shockoe Retention Basin nearby. "Contrary to popular belief, it was never actually a public park, and though Park staff and volunteers have often helped to maintain the space, it has never been officially a part of the James River Park System," Stutz said in his statement. According to Stutz, CSX is the property owner and holds a maintenance easement with DPU for the space under its tracks, and the public has enjoyed access to the area for decades without the official designation of a recreational trail. Recently, DPU reportedly secured access to the Pipeline for the safety of its workers, and the general public, and has that right as the easement holders. Stutz reported that the space under the bridge is CSX property. Therefore, CSX has a right and a responsibility to secure access to its property and ensure that it is not liable for injuries that might occur in that space. "That being said, Friends of James River Park has a good relationship with CSX, and we have worked closely with them on several projects in the Park," Stutz said. "At this time I don’t see a path forward for a recreational easement for the space once the DPU easement is dissolved, but that could change." What changed? The changes in access to the Pipeline are due to the DPU decommissioning the pipe, as it was an old infrastructure that would reportedly leak and is "no longer necessary," according to Stutz. Stutz said if the DPU no longer needs access to the pipe, it will no longer need the easement from CSX that allows the department to be down there, and the easement will revert to CSX for the space underneath its tracks. However, until then, the area is still DPU's easement and it has made the decision to close access to the space, according to Stutz. The future of the Pipeline Trail In his statement, Stutz said his biggest concern is how the area will be affected by litter as Friends of the James River Park will no longer be able to take volunteers to the area to pick up litter without trespassing. "It is already one of the least well-kept places along the river by the people who go there to party, and without volunteer cleanups, I am worried it is going to turn into a dump," Stutz said. According to Stutz, the closure of the Pipeline Trail highlights the importance of the James River Park Service conservation easement, and a need to include as many Park-adjacent parcels in that easement. Stutz said it is hard to tell what the next step is regarding future access to the Pipeline Trail. In his statement, Stutz said he thinks it is challenging to call it a truly public space if a recreational easement has never been established and if the railroad’s ownership makes it private land. "At the end of the day, the closing of the Pipeline Trail is a loss for the community of people who could and did access it," Stutz said in his statement. "I am optimistic that we can establish clear communication from City and railroad officials about the future of the Pipeline Trail, and a real discussion about whether or not a recreational easement will be possible in the future."