Turkey Creek Nature Preserve — Attraction in Pinson

I will not return to this location as long as Dudley Do-Right is the "park ranger".

I have grown up playing in Turkey Creek, as it runs into my grandparents backyard. Last weekend, a friend and I, along with his puppy, decided to check out the actual park. We were greeted by park employees and happily donated to preservation fund. Upon parking, the Jefferson County Sheriff who was working was extremely kind and helpful, we even chatted briefly about the park and how this was our first visit. The park was crowded with people and dogs. We thought it would be a fun day.

After we set up our little spot, we climbed into the water with the puppy still on his retractable leash. Seeing that he is new to water, my friend unbuckled his leash and took him into the water with us. There was nobody within 25 feet of us, which is the length of the leash.

Mr. Park Ranger approaches us with his arms crossed and loudly asks if this was our dog, to which we replied yes sir. He told us we were breaking the leash law and he must be on a leash, to which we complied. He continued to stand there and stare at us after the leash was back on. It was embarrassing and he tried to make us feel like children, which is ridiculous seeing that both of us are around 30 years old.

He later approached me again and told me we were breaking rules and escorted us out of the park and told us if we came back we would be arrested. He followed us out of the park on his little golf cart.

Don't worry. We will not be back and will no longer donate to the Turkey Creek Preservation fund because this self-righteous prick ruined our day.

I hate to give one star, but I will not be accosted by a "park ranger" with an attitude problem while I am trying to enjoy a place that has been special to my family for...

My recent visit to Turkey Creek left me deeply unsettled, primarily due to the behavior of a police officer on duty. As I arrived at the parking lot, I was immediately greeted by the unsettling sound of the officer's aggressive shouts directed towards families. Witnessing him berate a woman who dared to voice her discomfort only escalated the situation.

The distressing scene unfolded further as he targeted not one, but two families, both with children, with his intimidating behavior. What struck me most was the evident racial bias, as the families he targeted were black and brown. It's appalling to witness such discrimination, especially in a family-oriented venue where everyone should feel safe and welcomed.

The incident left me with a sense of unease and disappointment. How can we expect families to enjoy their time at Turkey Creek when confronted by such hostility from those tasked with ensuring their safety? It's simply unacceptable.

In conclusion, I advise against visiting Turkey Creek if you wish to avoid the distress of encountering a power-hungry officer who sees fit to intimidate and yell at innocent children and families. Such behavior has no place in any community, let alone a recreational setting meant for enjoyment...

Just to clarify--I love Turkey Creek itself; I'm not so happy about the enforcement of rules. For the several years that I have visited the park, there has always been an accumulation of trash over the entire area I walk. But in the past, I was able to capture some good photographic images. Recently, there was an added rule about photographers that stated that if you are a professional photographer, you need a $20 per visit permit (or $100 for the year). Okay, I can see that. The problem is in their definition of professional photographer. If you have ever made money of your photography (even marginal profit, that could mean anything like $1), then you are a professional and need the permit. By their definition, I am a professional (but not because I ever made any money on an image captured at Turkey Creek). I have gone there because it was beautiful and convenient, and I could practice my photography skills. Now, I will leave my camera at home should I go to Turkey Creek. And no, I will not add any photos here for Turkey Creek, since that is...