St. Paul’s School will not reopen public access to Turkey Pond, access that was closed last year after reports of fights and vandalism, because it says “problems (are) already happening even before the start of warm weather.”

“We understand the disappointment of our Concord neighbors, and we regret that the actions of a few impact so many,” said Kristin Waterfield Duisberg, associate director of communications for the private school, in response to queries from the Monitor.

St. Paul’s School owns properties along the shoreline of Little Turkey Pond and Turkey Pond, which are connected by a channel running under I-89. Under state law (RSA 223:a) private landowners can restrict public access to natural bodies of water, even to ponds and lakes that are more than 10 acres in size and thus defined as public waterways.

“If you own all the shore land surrounding a public body of water, you have the complete right to prohibit access to that body of water – unless somebody has a helicopter,” said Tom Quarles, an attorney who is chairman of the state’s Public Water Access Advisory Board.

The board meets several times a year to advise government bodies on questions about access to rivers, ponds and other waterways. Quarles said the group discussed Turkey Pond at the most recent meeting.

St. Paul’s School has long owned land around the two Turkey Ponds. Access has largely come at its docks and boat launch, a popular gathering spot in warm weather. That ended last summer when the school put up fencing and gates following an altercation that occurred in June between some young teenagers and a trio of young adults.

“Last summer, St. Paul’s School had to close public access to the docks and boat launch at Turkey Pond because of ongoing vandalism, alcohol consumption, and threats and fights between a group of young adults and a group of local teenagers. Despite help from Concord Police to address the problems, they continued. We needed to close public access to the St. Paul’s School boat launch and docks to ensure the safety of the campus families as well as the nearly 200 New Hampshire high school students who attend our five-week Advanced Studies Program every summer,” said the response from Duisberg. “We continue to appreciate the work of Concord Police in helping us deal with this difficult situation.”

There is a possibility that the public could legally get access to the channel between the two ponds where I-89 and an adjoining bicycle path cross over the water, but that depends on the extent of the highway’s easement. There is no obvious access point.

David Brooks can be reached at dbrooks@cmonitor.com.