LITTLETON, Maine — All-terrain vehicle and snowmobile enthusiasts now have a new place to seek shelter from the elements while riding thanks to the efforts of the Aroostook Riders ATV Club.
Members of the club have erected a lean-to on the “Rail Bed Trail” in Littleton and envision the structure being much more than just a simple shelter.
“This will be a place for anyone to stop along the trail,” explained Dennis Lewallen, director/trailmaster for the Aroostook Riders ATV Club. “We’ll also have some picnic tables, a port-a-potty, as well as barbecue and fire pits.”
The structure originally was scheduled for completion next spring, but progress went much quicker than anticipated. Lewallen, Robert Kervin, Danny Geiger, Jonas Geiger and Tanner Wilde constructed the lean-to in a single day.
Built in memory of Mark Allan Kinney, a boy from Lisbon who enjoyed snowmobiling and ATV riding, a lean-to was built on land donated by the boy’s father, Daniel Kinney.
“Daniel donated a whole acre of land to the club,” Lewallelen said. “The only requirement was that we build something to be left in his son’s memory.”
A number of local business also stepped up to assist with materials for the structure. Katahdin Forest Products furnished all of the logs and purlins; Ward Log Homes furnished the tongue-and-groove flooring and bucket screws; S.W. Collins provided material for the metal roofing and strapping; Horten Lumber donated six gallons of patio sealant and cinder blocks; and Steve Hopkins made all the trusses.
In addition, several businesses provided food for the work crew while the lean-to was being built.
“We’d like this to be a stop-over place for riders to relax, have some lunch and conversation,” Kervin said. “It came out so much nicer than we thought because neither one of us have done anything like this before.”
For more information on the Aroostook Riders ATV Club, visit their Facebook page or email info1@aroostookridersatvclub.com.
