UPDATES

3.19.2026 - Recent meetings with Metro District board member and District management have resulted in new maps to propose to the town of Windsor to allow cart access in problem areas:

• South side of New Liberty from 7th street to Seahorse Dr.

• Paths around the south and west perimeter of Raindance that allow field access

• Path along the north side of New Liberty from CR13 to Spring Bloom Dr

NOTE: These areas are a current proposal, not finalized or allowed.

CART will continue to pursue policy for speed limit reductions on New Liberty in the area noted above to allow golf cart travel on the roadway. The district and Developer have met with town officials to pursue this option and have been denied due to engineering concerns regarding lowering the speed limit.

The District has been actively working with the town since September of 2025 in response to the enforcement – Including sending a letter to the Town requesting the enforcement is paused pending further clarification on where carts can be operated.

1. Sudden Shift from Longstanding Use to Active Enforcement

For years, residents in Raindance and Water Valley have used many 10-foot-wide paths as functional cart routes with little enforcement. This use was widely known, consistent, and largely unenforced.

Beginning in 2025, enforcement increased significantly throughout the town - including fines and mandatory court appearances. This enforcement created confusion and frustration.

2. Lack of Clear, Consistent Path Designation

One of the most significant challenges facing residents today is the lack of clear and consistent signage. Without consistent signage at key transition points, residents are left guessing where carts are permitted, often learning only after receiving a citation. The District is actively working on a plan to create consistent signage.

3. Misalignment Between Design, Usage, and Regulation

Raindance and Water Valley were designed as connected, lifestyle-oriented communities - with paths that functionally link homes, amenities, and golf courses. While these paths appear to be designed for golf cart travel, research shows that they were born out of a town vison of having a regional trail network that connects neighborhoods and the town. While the last few years have shown these paths have been used by carts with little issue, the ultimate design and designation have never been as cart-only paths.

CART believes this misalignment does not reflect the needs and desires of the community. Connectivity is one of the Districts priorities and the district has been working to align the allowed usage to the community desire.

4. Golf Carts Grouped with Higher-Risk Devices

Recent ordinance and enforcement discussions group golf carts alongside e-bikes, scooters, and other electric mobility devices from the town’s perspective as referenced in the presentations sent to the town board from the Windsor Police Department.

However:

• Golf carts operate at lower and more predictable speeds

• They are larger and more visible

• Local safety data indicates they are significantly less likely to be involved in serious incidents - potentially as much as 80x less likely to be involved in a serious injury than a car (city CORA request combined with regional auto accident estimates).

Treating carts the same as higher-speed or less predictable devices leads to policy decisions that do not accurately reflect real-world risk.

GOOD NEWS: Opportunity for Practical, Community-Aligned Solutions are in development

There is a clear proposed path forward that balances safety, clarity, and community expectations:

Allow carts on designated paths, specifically:

• South side of New Liberty from 7th street to Seahorse Dr.

• Paths around the south and west perimeter of Raindance that allow field access

• Path along the north side of New Liberty from CR13 to Spring Bloom Dr

NOTE: These areas are a current proposal, not finalized or allowed.

• Install clear, consistent signage at all transition points (district in-work on this now, including potential striping of cart/LSV allowed paths)

• District working on designated dismount zones/cart safety zones around parks for added safety of park goers, while also assuring cart accessibility

• Align town regulations with actual path design and usage

• Separate golf carts from higher-risk e-bikes and scooters in town policy

• Improve transparency and communication with residents