PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Star City ATV Club of Presque Isle has received a significant grant through the Maine Department of Conservation’s Recreational Trails Program.
The program, known as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU), is the successor to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), which transfers a percentage of gasoline taxes paid on non-highway recreational use in off-highway vehicles from the Highway Trust Fund into the Recreational Trails Program for trail development, improvement and maintenance. The state of Maine has agreed to take part in the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the federal agency that administers the program at the national level. The program is managed at the state level by the Bureau of Parks and Lands.
The SCATV Club was awarded the grant for restoration of existing recreational trails.
“The Star City ATV Club received a grant for $26,528 through the Recreation Trail Program which will be used to upgrade the Chapman to Presque Isle trail,” said Richard “Dick” Howlett, club president.
Howlett said a wetter than normal spring caused a delay in opening area trails but they’re now open for the season.
“Trails were delayed a week in opening to May 21, due to the rain – trails needed to dry out more before they could be used. Once the ground dries sufficiently, work will be done to upgrade the route between Chapman and Presque Isle,” said Howlett, noting M.J. Ouellette and Daughters, Inc., of Caribou, has been hired to do some of the work.
The club has been working with the town and Chapman landowners with regard to trail maintenance and acquiring permission for recreational access.
“We’ve been talking and working with landowners Terry Knight and Larry James, as well as with the town of Chapman, to access land for recreational use. Trail users need to respect landowners, because without them, we’d have nowhere to ride,” said Howlett, noting that the club obtains permission from landowners wherever the club’s trails cross private property, thus anyone who’s a member of the club has authorization to use those routes.
Maine goals for the RTP include trails that provide linkages with existing or planned networks, trails that serve a wide spectrum of users, proposals that address landowners’ concerns and proposals that enhance tourism and economic development, among others – all goals the SCATV Club strives to achieve.
The club will have a busy few months ahead as it prepares for the sixth annual Ultimate ATV Event, planned for July 22-24.
“City Council recently re-authorized our use of the building at Arnold Brook Lake as our clubhouse and granted permission for the club to enclose a lower section that will serve as added storage space. We maintain the site and are looking forward to our big event later in July,” said Howlett. “We also plan to do some painting at the clubhouse in the near future as well.”
