October 10, 2006
State considers access for ATVs
Pennsylvania took 6,000 acres of a closed strip coal mine and turned it into a premier destination for the region’s off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
In Massachusetts, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation is looking at all of its properties, measuring the appropriateness of each for creating trails for dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles.
Whether what comes to pass will measure up to the Rock Run Recreation Area in Patton, Pa., will in part be determined by Gary Briere, the state’s chief of recreation for DCR, who recently visited Rock Run, as well as riders across the state interested in having additional public property for riding.
Currently there are state forests and parks in the Berkshires and in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the state that allow either dirt bikes only, or dirt bikes and ATVs when trail conditions permit.
A very wet spring left all off-road vehicle public trails closed for several weeks to prevent erosion and further deterioration of trails, according to Mr. Briere.
Last winter and spring, state officials and an off-road-vehicle working group held public hearings to obtain comments from those for and against additional use of public land for riding.
[full article]
State considers access for ATVs
Pennsylvania took 6,000 acres of a closed strip coal mine and turned it into a premier destination for the region’s off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
In Massachusetts, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation is looking at all of its properties, measuring the appropriateness of each for creating trails for dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles.
Whether what comes to pass will measure up to the Rock Run Recreation Area in Patton, Pa., will in part be determined by Gary Briere, the state’s chief of recreation for DCR, who recently visited Rock Run, as well as riders across the state interested in having additional public property for riding.
Currently there are state forests and parks in the Berkshires and in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the state that allow either dirt bikes only, or dirt bikes and ATVs when trail conditions permit.
A very wet spring left all off-road vehicle public trails closed for several weeks to prevent erosion and further deterioration of trails, according to Mr. Briere.
Last winter and spring, state officials and an off-road-vehicle working group held public hearings to obtain comments from those for and against additional use of public land for riding.
[full article]
