ALTON – The owners of the State Street Trails in Alton are preparing to meet with an attorney soon to discuss possible next steps after the City Council voted last month to stop the property from being used as an outdoor BMX facility.
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Nicholas Goewey, who co-owns the property with Aaron Lockhart, announced via the State Street Trails Instagram page last week that the property owners will meet on Friday, Jan. 2, 2025 with their attorney, who is extensively researching the situation.
The meeting comes just over a month after Goewey received a $5,000 estimate from the attorney to cover the “start up cost” of their potential case against the City of Alton. Goewey launched an online fundraising effort on Dec. 1, 2025 and through several donations from individuals and local businesses, raised the full $5,000 just one week later on Dec. 7.
On Dec. 23, Goewey thanked each of those who donated for “helping us achieve our simple rights back.” He and Lockhart aim to restore the property’s use as an outdoor BMX trail and dirt ramp system, as it had previously operated for decades with the City Council’s knowledge and approval.
Alton City Council members voted 5-1 on Nov. 25, 2025 to deny adding “BMX Riding Trail” as a Special Use within R-1 zoning districts, preventing the property owners from receiving a special use permit to continue using the trails as intended. Alderwoman Martha Pfister cast the sole vote in favor of adding the special use to continue the operations at State Street Trails.
This vote followed consistent complaints at meetings from August to November of 2025 from a small group of nearby neighbors who alleged commercial business operations, loud noise, safety concerns, and more at the property – claims which were largely dismissed or debunked by several supporters of the trails, who made their presence known on multiple occasions at Alton City Hall.
Stay tuned to Riverbender.com for more updated information as the situation develops.
