This is a current trend with park administrators all through the Delaware valley. I remember it starting with the wiss here in Philly about 18 or 20 yrs. ago. It lit off a highly propagandized power struggle between the mb community and the nature watchers that lasted for 5 or 6 yrs. When the issues in the wiss were finally settled, all mbrs and equestrians required a special trail pass to use the soft trails in ALL Philadelphia parks. Initially it was free for city residents and $20 a yr for non-residents. Last yr they tried to charge city residents the fee also. Once all this was set in motion, the nature watchers turned to Pennypack park. The local park administrations always seem to back the nature watchers and access for mtbrs begins to slowly erode. I'm 58 yrs old and I've ridden in Pennypack since I was 7. But, it's become such a hassle trying to figure out where you can and can't ride there ,that it's no longer worth going. This is by design and it happens very, very slowly and the entire time it's happening, the park officials continue to tell the mtb community that they are " just trying to make things better for everyone". They want to make it so difficult for mbrs that the numbers that are willing to tolerate the restrictions will dwindle. Then they say, "since there are so few using the area for that activity, there's no point continuing to allow it at all". I've tried to warn several the mtbr volunteer groups that this was slowly happening for 10 yrs. No one listened. Then, a few yrs ago the same thing happened in Ceres park in southern NJ. I know everyone here will just write me off as being cynical. But, how many that do are willing to go back 20-25 yrs to see for them selves? I would guess not many. And for that reason, It is now happening at Mercer. This is very sad. But the fact is we are never more than 1 change in administrative personel away from losing our privileges or rights.