APPLEGATE -- Local residents are broiling mad over a hot-dog stand on a riverside parking lot that has resulted in the closure of a popular park along the Applegate River.

The Applegate Bridge Wayside, one of the few private picnic and swimming areas open to the public along the river, was closed two weeks ago by the owners of the Applegate Store and cafe, who also own the adjacent two-acre park.

"Everybody is a-stew in the community," observed resident Chris Bratt, a community activist working with others to try to resolve the conflict.

"I've gotten so many phone calls over this -- people are very angry about the hot-dog stand," he said, adding that local residents have vowed to boycott it.

The park's closure two weeks ago came after Talent resident John Hannigan, who bought 0.7 acres of surplus property from Jackson County for $300 last summer, opened a hot-dog stand on the property. The parcel has long been used as the access point and parking lot for the park.

"As a businessman, I can't spend approximately $400 a month to maintain the park, then have him (Hannigan) take business away from me," explained store owner Bob Hoogendyk.

"He's not the culprit -- he just bought the property," he added. "But I feel the county had a moral obligation to the community of Applegate to make an attempt to help keep this as a park. They didn't do that."

Hannigan, 74, who built a plywood shed on the parking lot to house his hot dog stand, said he has no desire to see the park closed. But he is angry that someone struck his plywood stand with a vehicle last week, damaging it and shoving it some two feet.

"Somebody ran into it deliberately," Hannigan said. "But no matter what they do, they're not going to drive me out of there. I own that property."

Jackson County Commissioner Ric Holt said he has received several calls about the matter. He said the county is not at fault.

"We did exactly what we normally do," he said. "The county followed its normal procedure."

The parcel was one of some 60 surplus parcels the county sold last summer, he said.

"We're pretty much out of it," Holt said of the county's involvement. "I'd be mad about it, too, if I were the neighbor. It's truly unfortunate for the neighbor."

In 1970, Jackson County leased the park from the property owner, and operated it for two decades. During that time, the county installed bathrooms, underground sprinkling, barbecue pits and the parking lot.

The lot covers a small slice of property owned by the county between the existing bridge and the old abutment to a bridge that no longer spans the river.

The county gave up its lease in 1990, and operation of the park property reverted back to the property owner. Hoogendyk and a partner bought the store about three years ago.

The property owners are upset that the county did not notify them of the pending sale of surplus property.

"I was a little taken back when he (Hannigan) bought it for $300," Hoogendyk said. "I was a lot taken back when the county didn't have the decency or moral judgment to come out and give us an opportunity to keep this as one."

County officials say they weren't required to notify the adjacent property owners by law, but that a courtesy notification was sent. However, that notification went to the previous owner, who no longer lives in the area.

Hoogendyk met with Holt last week, but was unable to resolve the matter.

"He didn't take it nearly as serious as I felt it should be taken or nearly as serious as this little community has taken it," Hoogendyk said.

Local residents understand why Hoogendyk closed the park, Bratt said.

"They support Bob," Bratt said, adding that residents are also upset with the vandalism of the hot dog stand. "We feel it was a failure of our county representatives in not dealing with rural problems. We want this park to remain a part of the community."

Fellow Applegate Valley resident Jack Shipley agreed that residents are upset with the county over how it handled the situation.

"The part that is so disconcerting is that we've really been busting our butts to work with the county," he said. "The park is the gathering area for the whole community. This is a lose-lose situation all the way around."

Hoogendyk would like to purchase the property from Hannigan, but has yet to reach an agreement on the price.

"I'd like to get this resolved," he said. "The people around here are used to coming to this park. I want to open it."

Meanwhile, Hannigan, who has opened his stand on weekends, plans to move a travel trailer onto the property come summer and operate it daily.

"I had nothing to do with closing the park," he said. "I bought that property at public sale as a joke. I got kids back east. I wanted to tell them I bought an estate on the river."

But when he received the deed, he discovered that he owns two-thirds of the parking lot. Tired of watching television, he decided to keep busy with a hot-dog stand, he said.