FOXBORO - Using sticks and signs, an abutter opposed to the Foxboro Dog Park blocked access last week to a hiking trail that runs along a dog park fence behind his home, and called police to report a confrontation with a trespasser.

In response to the incident, the conservation commission checked town records this week and concluded that the disputed part of the trail lies on town property.

Chris Conlon of 15 Milton Lane called police Jan. 4 about people trespassing on his property to get to the dog park, and reported that it's an ongoing problem.

The trail winds from Cocasset River Park, where the dog park is located, to the Cocasset River Recreation Area and the state forest.

Notified of the trail issue by dog park co-founder Heather Harding, conservation commission Chairman William Hocking viewed a drawing Monday that had been submitted to the town when the Milton Lane subdivision proposal was before the commission for wetlands review. Hocking said the map "clearly showed a 10-foot path between the chain-link fence and the (private) property line."

Hocking said the portion of the hiking trail that runs along the fence is town property, not the property of a private abutter.

However, Hocking said the commission does not plan to order the removal of the "no-trespassing" and "private property" signs.

"We're not policemen," he said.

Neighbors and users of the dog park have been in conflict for months.

Harding said she does not view the trail incident as related to the dog park, which opened at Cocasset River Park in September 2006, but added that she did ask Hocking for help in determining ownership of the trail.