Tyler Vazquez

FLORIDA TODAY

Palm Bay will restrict access to an area know as The Compound for 10 days after a spike in reckless driving this year, barring the area from drivers of ATVs and other off-road vehicles that frequent the grid of undeveloped neighborhoods in the southwest portion of the city.

Police will block off St. Andre Boulevard and Osmosis Drive with barricades from Nov. 18 to 28. J.A. Bombardier Boulevard will still provide access to The Compound, but Palm Bay police ask that anyone who does not live in the area not come during the 10-day closure.

"If you drive out there, you see a lot of roadside grave sites," said Lt. Mike Bandish, a spokesman for the Palm Bay Police Department.

Two killed in crash at The Compound in Palm Bay

To Bandish and the city, it's a matter of seeing an issue and finding a solution even if it won't be a perfect one.

"When we identify a problem, we attack a problem. If crime goes up in a certain area, we’ll make adjustments," Bandish said.

Reactions on social media to The Compound's closure have varied. Many doubt the ability of the city to keep out reckless ATV drivers with simple concrete barricades that can be easily circumvented by four-wheelers.

Palm Bay resident Justin Miravelle has been going to The Compound since he was a kid. He said it has a history of ATV riders policing themselves and other riders who might be new to the area. He's seen an ebb and flow of police presence, but overall sees it as providing for a community that looks out for one another.

"This is an enjoyable place to ride and spend time outdoors with our families. We have cookouts and get together. Parents take their kids out to learn how to drive," Miravelle said. "It's very unfortunate and sobering to see these horrible accidents happen and the challenge of balancing between under and over regulating."

"I happen to live here in The Compound, and my family rides every weekend," said Heather Crawford on Facebook. "I for one am constantly asking people to slow down. My kids play out here! But I'm extremely thankful for the people who come out here to have fun and keep it safe!"

Recent fatalities at The Compound include an August 2016 crash between a sedan and pickup truck in which two people were killed after both vehicles failed to stop at an unmarked intersection.

"They are public roads out there. We can’t shut them down permanently," Bandish said of the initiative. "We can put a precise effort to enforce the laws to keep people safe."

Bandish added that the city is pulling traffic records over the past year to get a closer look at statistics related to reckless driving-related injuries and deaths to come up with a more focused approach.

Two killed in crash at The Compound in Palm Bay

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