Officials said they own the land and have to use it for upcoming flood control district projects, adding that the features were illegally built.
"I think what concerns us most is when you have unchecked growth of bike features, built features inside those trail systems - is one of the issues that we have," Jeremy Phillips with the Flood Control District, said.
For avid bikers like the president of the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association (GHORBA), Benjamin Drews, the destruction of trail features in Precinct 3 was devastating.
"It's understandable why they're frustrated now, why they're so angry because you put all this time and all this effort into something that you're not getting paid for, and then you see it torn down," Drews said. "Even though, yes, you weren't allowed to do it, it still can be heartbreaking, it still can really tear your heartstrings."
Precinct 3 and the flood control district said they've tried to work with GHORBA for years but haven't been able to reach an agreement on three proposals.
They said those proposals include requesting GHORBA to fund professional design and construction of any trail features to ensure safer installation and use, requesting GHORBA to place safety signs warning of the risks, and requesting GHORBA to carry insurance for unpermitted structures.
Precinct 3 said GHORBA refused all proposals, but Drews said some proposals were difficult to agree on.
"It would've put us on the hook for the entire flood plain, and it would've put us on the hook for any activities, not even related to mountain biking, for maintaining that part, and that was not a doable thing for an entity like us," Drews said. "We're not as large as Memorial Park Conservancy; we do not have that kind of money, so it's not possible for us to do that. We're happy to hold liability insurance for any of our builders, or workers, or volunteers who control that."
Precinct 3 also told ABC13 that injuries have occurred and that they are happy to support permitted structures with safety reviews.
For bike advocates like Maiella Cunningham, who said she often brings her kids, safety is top of mind.
"I worry more about my kids being hit by a car biking in our neighborhood than I do about my kids biking on these features," Cunningham said.
Now the attention turns to the Anthills trail features in Precinct 4, also owned by the flood control district.
"We have until Dec. 1 to work with Precinct 4 to come up with some way to move this forward, and I'm hopeful, and I believe that we can do that, and then we can expand out to the counties as well," Drews said.
Both parties said they've been working together for years to reach an agreement and are continuing to discuss the Anthills trail, but the flood control district said it has to stick to its mission.
"We do have to make sure this land is available for flood control projects, and that is our primary function," Phillips said. "We make our land available for all kinds of recreational features and sponsors that manage those features, but ultimately, if we need that property for flood control purposes, then that's what takes precedent for us. That's where our funding goes, that's where our priorities are."