Marylanders will benefit from OHV Parks

Here's an update from this past Monday nights OHV meeting with the letter and link that AMA and MD OHV Alliance are working on
together to get the word out for OHV Parks throughout Maryland.  Please take the time to read through it, send an email and/or support MDOHV Alliance & AMA.  

Thanks

Link Here

The specific Maryland OHV goals the AMA and MD OHV Alliance are endorsing include:

* Continue work toward a spring 2016 opening of the proposed OHV trails in Savage River State Forest. This project, initiated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, has been promised to the OHV community and is overdue.

* Support the MD DNR purchase of the Kitzmiller property in Garrett County for a dedicated OHV park.
Reopen the Green Ridge State Forest OHV trail loop that was closed in 2008. A clear demand persists for access to this loop. The closing resulted in several million dollars of lost state sales tax revenue and the shuttering of several nearby small businesses, with the associated loss of jobs.

* Work with towns in eastern Maryland whose elected officials are interested in opening OHV parks as economic development tools, and promote wholesome recreational opportunities as a way to provide a structured, positive answer to a clear demand by taxpayers.

* Build an urban OHV park in Baltimore City as a positive step toward curbing illegal urban OHV use now and into the future.

* Establish an interdepartmental commission to develop public/private partnerships to expand OHV recreational opportunities and realize a significant increase in recreational tourism and its associated revenue stream.

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Your support is critical and we're making it easy for you to make a difference

Tell Governor Hogan And DNR Secretary Belton That All Marylanders will benefit from OHV Parks

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Here's an update from the past Monday night OHV meeting in Hagerstown MD (July 20th 2015)

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Meeting with DNR Secretary Belton‏

On July 20th 2015 we met with Mark J. Belton, Secretary of Natural Resources, the newly appointed Assistant Secretary for Land, Darryl Anthony and Paul Peditto, Director of the Wildlife & Heritage Service. Assistant Secretary Anthony’s appointment was quite a surprise and was literally announced minutes before the meeting. Prior to his appointment, Assistant Secretary Anthony was the DNR Parks Manager for western MD. He is a off-road enthusiast as well as a dirt bike rider and a mountain biker. We are extremely excited about his appointment.

We had a very positive meeting with the Secretary and Assistant Secretary. We focused on OHV recreational tourism and the economic benefit to rural counties, and public/private partnerships using reclaimed coal mines. We specifically asked him to ensure that the Savage River trail opens next year. Our community has waited almost 5 years for the promised establishment of a public OHV area and it is time to deliver. We also briefed him on the need to have a certified trail builder assist with the trail layout. Construction of sustainable and safe trails is not a job that anyone can do. The State needs to get this right the first time. He promised to engage other departments and remove roadblocks as well as push to ensure a trail builder is part of the construction team.

The DNR has been evaluating for acquisition 3,000 acres near Kitzmiller, MD. We have been discussing this with DNR for several years. We asked him to purchase the property and ensure it is operated as an OHV park. This needs the support of Garrett County leaders and we have been discussing that with them as well.  This could be the southern anchor to a joint public private riding area similar to Hatfield-McCoy. The Savage River trail would be the northern anchor. In that regard, we asked Secretary Belton to engage with the Department for Economic and Business Development to request a Joint DNR/DBED working group to look at OHV recreational tourism state-wide.

It was a very positive meeting and the Secretary thought what we asked for was reasonable and he saw no show-stoppers.

The next year looks to be quite exciting!

Here's an update from the DNR / ORV Stakeholders Meeting at Rocky Gap

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On the 27th of July, DNR held the ORV Stakeholders Meeting at Rocky Gap State Park.  At the meeting, they showed the 30% design plans for the new Savage River trail system.  Friends, I have to admit I'm impressed!  DNR has definitely been listening to us and took to heart the lessons from the NOHVCC workshop last year.

For the rock crawlers, there will be a dedicated section roughly 50' wide by 250' long.  Preston Stevens from the United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and Doug Dobrynski from the FJ Bruisers, provided input to add a bypass lane beside the rock crawl as well as other additions to make that crawl an all-day affair for the wheelers.

The campsites will have drive-through access for those of us pulling trailers.  They will also be installing a water-less ADA-compliant toilet.  There will be 4 group sides with a 40x40 pad and 4 family sites with a 20x20 pad.  The pads are for tents and tables.  For the kids, DNR will create a kiddy trail between the campsites.  There is a trail head near the camp sites for families that want to go hike the Savage River Trail.

We suggested that the lower section, which traverses a long hill, be made narrower to slow down riders, increase enjoyment as well as reduce the cost of construction.  Most bike and quad riders want a narrow twisty trail and DNR listened.  It looks like roughly 30 miles of trail, using the loops as well as going all the way out and back, will be constructed.  At the end furthest away from the campsites, we suggested an area be established for a pavilion for folks to take a break or have a picnic.  We will be donating a picnic table for their use.

The next stage requires permits from the Department of Environment.  This is where our meeting earlier with DNR Secretary Belton will pay off.  He promised to engage with MDE to expedite the required permits.

Standby team! I think you will like the new trail system.