By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-23 08:16:37 | Updated at 2024-11-23 11:56:40
3 hours ago
A disgruntled homeowner has revealed the popularity of a creek running through her backyard has skyrocketed after venting online about having to share the space.
Taralyn Romero, 43, bought a home next to Kittredge Park in 2021, and has since disputed the public's access to the creek that runs through her property - a battle that sent locals into outrage.
Romero has remained adamant she shouldn't need to put up with residents who stop by for a dip, sharing regular updates about her frustrations on social media.
But recent data from the Evergreen Park and Recreation District's shows a substantial uptick in visitors at the park - and she believes it's likely the result of widespread attention created from her ordeal going viral.
'Could it be that people just love the park? Possibly. But I don't think so,' she said in a TikTok video posted earlier this week.
The EPRD released the statement on November 11, claiming 'data shows visits to Kittredge Park jumped 23 percent from 2022 to 2023, from 9,100 to 15,500 visits, with most visitors spending just over an hour there.'
Romero claimed in the video that she is '99.99 percent sure that this increase is a direct result' of her account of the land dispute.
The 43-year-old purchased the small-town property as a means of escaping the COIVD-19 pandemic as she sought the privacy of the mountains, Romero told FoxNews.
Taralyn Romero, 43, bought a home next to Kittredge Park in 2021 and has since disputed the public's rights to use the serene creek that runs through her .68 acre property - a battle that sent locals into outrage
Families and local residents turned out in droves to the popular 'water park' destination, also known as Romero's backyard, using it for leisure and other outdoors activities
With great excitement, Romero moved into her new home during the winter, loving the idyllic view right out her back door.
However, as the weather warmed and schools let out for summer vacation, the self-proclaimed 'Wicked Witch of the West' had many unwelcome visitors on her property.
Families, kids and locals flocked to the popular 'water park' destination, also known as Romero's backyard, using it for leisure and other outdoors activities, completely ruining the tranquility she had just become accustomed to.
Upset with her new reality and feeling duped by the previous homeowners - as the mass use of the property was not disclosed at the time of sale - Romero took to social media to share her dissatisfaction.
Her posts have since garnered thousands of views with the most viewed clip raking in an astonishing 1.3 million views.
It trigged so many people come to check out the park to snap photos of her home and the park itself that her and her fiancé joked about selling tickets for those looking to view her gorgeous property.
'Having people from all over different areas stop by Kittredge Park to see what all the hub bub was about,' she said.
'When I tell you people would come in, take pictures of my house, of the land, of themselves and then walk out, my fiancé and I joked that we should start selling tickets!'
The 43-year-old purchased the small-town property as a means of escaping the COIVD-19 pandemic as she sought the privacy of the mountains, Romero told FoxNews
Upset with her new reality and feeling duped by the previous homeowners - as the mass use of the property was not disclosed at the time of sale - Romero took to social media to share her dissatisfaction
After a short-lived attempt to let locals use her property, she decided that her fear of liability, in the case of injury or worse, would be paramount. She then put up rope barriers to keep trespassers away.
Her protective act outraged locals with some cussing her out and others angered at her shocking decision.
'When you get that kind of dissension on whose land is it and you involve children and you involve rhetoric of a screaming lady, it really was like wildfire for social media,' she told CBS News.
It got so ridiculous the haters began to commit vandalism in the name of wanting to use the land.
'They were incredibly abusive to me verbally, and abusive to the land. Sometimes they were bringing out metal shovels and literally destroying the creek bank, they were breaking trees, leaving trash,' Romero said.
As the dispute continued, Jefferson County, where Kittredge and the land are located, decided to take Romero to court.
Romero settled with the county in May of 2023, with a fence being built to officially delineate where her land ended.
She gave up a small chunk to the county in exchange for a $250,000 payout.
'At the end of the day, I said "you know what, let's split this baby."'
The fence was built in January and the land outside the fence is now managed by the EPRD.
