New York State Off-Road Park Project

I have only begun to brush the surface of this monumental task. Through the beginnings of my research efforts over the last few months, I have discovered that there are several states West of the Mississippi River that have one or more state owned ORV parks or recreational areas. California for example has 6 such parks they own and operate. However here, east of the Mississippi River, ORV parks are few and far between. The ones that we do have here are privately owned and can get to be expensive due to insurance and liability issues. What I am proposing is a lower cost option for the Northeast USA.

With all the bad press we in the off-road community get due to those among us that fall in the 10% rule, we have fewer and fewer land and trails open and available to us. Let those of us, who are true enthusiasts, band together to petition the State of New York to repurpose some of the state land and reopen them as an ORV/OHV Recreational area. These parks could be multi use parks that allow for all types of OHVs. The scope of the parks would allow our community to safely and responsibility enjoy what we do.

Today’s off-road community member for the most part is nothing like our fore-fathers. We are responsible stewards of the land that we trek on. We are always trying to preserve what we have for future generations to enjoy as well. Let us band together and show the government that we are not the people that lead to the decisions of land and trail closures.

There is a huge unknown (to the gov’t) need for safe, LEGAL, OPEN places for us to enjoy our sport and hobby. By the State of New York opening parks like this, it will be a win-win for everyone. The state government will generate more revenue for their budget and the off-road community will get low cost LEGAL, OPEN places to enjoy taking our vehicles off-road.

Here is the link to the online petition:
State owned Off-Road Vehicle Recreational Park Petition

Thank you to all who view and support this project.

We have one public owned park here is Pa. Rock Run is a county owned ATV/OHV park. The land was once old strip mines that have been abandoned. They reclaimed the land and built a place for us to wheel. Here is a link to the park's website. It is IMO a pretty good model of what a governing body can do. http://rockrunrecreation.com

05kj6spd said:

We have one public owned park here is Pa. Rock Run is a county owned ATV/OHV park. The land was once old strip mines that have been abandoned. They reclaimed the land and built a place for us to wheel. Here is a link to the park's website. It is IMO a pretty good model of what a governing body can do. http://rockrunrecreation.com

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I knew about Rock Run, but did not know that it was public. Thought it was more like Rausch Creek OHV Park being a privatly owned park. Cali has 6 parks that are state owned and run. I also know they are trying to open another in eastern pa that is suppose to be massive at around 6000 acres. The park(s) that I want to do here would be re-purposing state owned land like state parks or forests and being as green as possible.

I signed the petition Don.

I will check out that Rock Run place too when I get a chance. Thanks 05KJ.

Dave

Yeah it's publicly owned. It's actually ran as a non-profit. They have a small staff but a lot of the money spent there goes back into the park. There is currently 20 to 30 miles of OHV trails but the park itself is roughly 6000 acres so there is lots of room to grow. I am there constantly and volunteer any time I can. Volunteers are the important part, nothing government likes more then free labor haha. Also one of our state rep. is on the board that runs Rock Run. Getting some government on your side would help a lot. I would write your congress man or senator to help get support.

05kj6spd said:

Yeah it's publicly owned. It's actually ran as a non-profit. They have a small staff but a lot of the money spent there goes back into the park. There is currently 20 to 30 miles of OHV trails but the park itself is roughly 6000 acres so there is lots of room to grow. I am there constantly and volunteer any time I can. Volunteers are the important part, nothing government likes more then free labor haha. Also one of our state rep. is on the board that runs Rock Run. Getting some government on your side would help a lot. I would write your congress man or senator to help get support.

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yea, that is in the plans later... gotta do some research, make working models, etc. first, then take the info to a state rep or 2 once i can show them it will be a positive investment to try and win them over. Nothing the government like more than to make money...

Think four would be max that you sell. One for Long Island and then one for each of the state's three corners - North, West & somewhat South

Drucifer said:

Think four would be max that you sell. One for Long Island and then one for each of the state's three corners - North, West & somewhat South

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Cali has 6 state owned parks... I was thinking something long the lines of 6-10 total that way they are within reasonable distance for everyone in the state and points beyond. plus all the parks would have a variety of terrain for everyone from a flatter one more for the ATV crowd and novice level ORV's that dont want to beat the hell out of their 4x4s to a more mountainous terrain for the more ******** wheelers.

Bandit1 said:

Cali has 6 state owned parks... I was thinking something long the lines of 6-10 total that way they are within reasonable distance for everyone in the state and points beyond. plus all the parks would have a variety of terrain for everyone from a flatter one more for the ATV crowd and novice level ORV's that dont want to beat the hell out of their 4x4s to a more mountainous terrain for the more ******** wheelers.

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Start high and accept cutbacks.

Drucifer said:

Start high and accept cutbacks.

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Keep in mind that is an end number, gotta start with the 1st park, show its gonna be successful, then add more from there. In the end I would like to see between 6-10 parks total, say 10-15 years after the first

I've signed the petition as well. If you need letters to be written, please let me know! I would be glad to write a letter and send it to a state rep in your favor. I am a Mass resident but spend the summers in upstate NY, often taking my Jeep or dad's truck on old logging trails. The entire northeast region would really benefit from something like this.

You might benefit from starting an email list with those who are seriously interested - may be easier to get information to an audience easier while allowing you to field questions and comments along the way. Even if you don't want to use your personal email address, you could just go to gmail and create something like "[email protected]" and use that.

Clyde Frog said:

I've signed the petition as well. If you need letters to be written, please let me know! I would be glad to write a letter and send it to a state rep in your favor. I am a Mass resident but spend the summers in upstate NY, often taking my Jeep or dad's truck on old logging trails. The entire northeast region would really benefit from something like this.

You might benefit from starting an email list with those who are seriously interested - may be easier to get information to an audience easier while allowing you to field questions and comments along the way. Even if you don't want to use your personal email address, you could just go to gmail and create something like "[email protected]" and use that.

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another great sugestion... and yet another one I had though of also... around summer time, I am gonna do exactly that, set up an email just for this mission. it could also move over to the park email later if and when this becomes reality and not just an idea on paper. Once I get the email setup I will go back and post it on every forum I posted on to get the word out... for now I am just getting the word out to every where I can think of to post right now. Phase 1- get the word out, phase 2 start more research, phase 3 TBD

Have you also posted on your local Craigslist? You might get a good response from that too.

Clyde Frog said:

Have you also posted on your local Craigslist? You might get a good response from that too.

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No, have not posted on Craigslist... it is to city specific for me to do that... would take ten times more posts to cover the same amount of people that I can by posting in the forums.... I am on about 20 forums curently, and adding more day by day... I am trying to cover every forum that has 4x4s or any type of ATV, snowmobile or the like on it.

I am starting with all the ones that I have bookmarked now, then will be searching for more once those ones are covered.

Signed! I think that this is a wonderful idea!