On July 26, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced new grant funding totaling $955,500 for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile facilities and trails in Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania is home to thousands of avid snowmobile and ATV riding enthusiasts, and our trails and amenities attract visitors who spend money in local communities,” Dunn said. “Through these projects we’ll improve upon and expand opportunities across the Commonwealth.”

The investments from the ATV Management Restricted Account and Snowmobile Management Restricted Account will support construction or maintenance of ATV and snowmobile trails and facilities.

The seven grant recipients are:

-- Rock Run Recreation, Inc., $132,900 to purchase equipment to maintain approximately 140 miles of ATV trails at Rock Run Recreation Area in Chest Township, Cambria County and Chest Township, Clearfield County;

-- Elk County Riders Inc., $444,100, for development of the Byrnedale ATV Connector Trail in Jay Township, Elk County;

-- Wales Sno-Drifters, Inc., $23,100, for purchase of equipment to maintain and construct approximately 50 miles of snowmobile trails in Greene Township and Wattsburg Borough, Erie County;

-- Majestic Kamp & Lost Trails, Inc., $203,300, for purchase of equipment to maintain and construct approximately 67 miles of ATV trails at Majestic Kamp & Lost Trails in Otto, Keating and Foster townships, McKean County;

-- Central Mountains ATV Association Inc., $89,200, for purchase of equipment to maintain and construct approximately 300 miles of the Central Mountains ATV Association trail system in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Union and Warren counties;

-- Potter County ATV UTV Club, $9,500, for purchase of mobile youth ATV safety training equipment; and

-- Marienville Trail Riders Snowmobile Club, $53,400, for purchase of equipment to maintain and construct approximately 150 miles of snowmobile trails in the Allegheny National Forest and Jenks Township, Forest County.

The department can award grants two times each year to municipalities and organizations for development of publicly accessible ATV and snowmobile trails and facilities.

Next Grant Round

The next ATV and Snowmobile grant round opens on Aug. 1 and closes on Sept. 30.

Grants are open to municipalities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Proposed snowmobile and ATV related projects eligible for DCNR grants include: planning, land acquisition, development, rehabilitation, maintenance, purchase of equipment for maintenance and construction, and development of educational programs related to snowmobile and ATV trails and facilities.

No match is required for this funding; however, applications providing matching funding will be given additional consideration.

With a few limited exceptions, all snowmobiles and ATVs in Pennsylvania must have a registration issued by DCNR.

Statewide, Pennsylvania has nearly 38,000 active snowmobiles registered, and nearly 275,000 ATVs. Grants are administered by DCNR with funding provided from registrations.

Click Here for more information on ATV/Snowmobile Grants.  Questions should be directed to DCNR's Grants Customer Service Center, (800) 326-7734 or send email to: DCNR-Grants@pa.gov.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

NewsClips:

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Blog: What It’s Like To Be A Park Ranger? - By Brian Price, Ranger Supervisor, French Creek State Park

-- Erie Times - Brain Whipkey: PA Looks To Accommodate E-Bike Riders In State Parks, Forests

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: DCNR Floats New Policy On E-Bikes In State Forests, State Parks

-- Reading Eagle: Young Workers At The Big Woods In French Creek State Park Encouraged By PA Official

-- PA Environmental Council Blog: Barriers To Equitable River Access Persist In Delaware River Basin, But They’re Not Always What You Expect

-- Williamsport Sun: DCNR Celebrates Induction Of Beartown Woods Natural Area

Related Articles:

-- DCNR Blog: Celebrating Parks And The People Who Make Them Possible [PaEN]

-- U.S. Forest Service Cancels DCNR's Keystone Crew Deployment To Sugarloaf Wildfire In Wyoming; Crew Returning To Await Another Assignment  [PaEN]

-- Growing Greener Coalition: DCNR Online Grant Application Workshop Set For Nov. 3

-- DCNR Invites Comments On Draft E-bike Policy; Advisory Council Meets July 27 On Policy  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Announces Sustainable Trail System Project In Mountain Creek Watershed, Michaux State Forest, Cumberland County  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Helps Celebrate Completion Of The Northwest River Trail In Lancaster County  [PaEN]

-- DCNR: Work On Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam At Shikellamy State Park Complete, Boating Begins

-- DCNR Surveying Visitors On Their Experiences In Gallitzin, Rothrock State Forests [PaEN]

-- Health/DEP/DCNR Urge Pennsylvanians To Fight The Bite And Protect Themselves From Mosquitoes To Prevent West Nile Virus  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna Greenway Partners Name Winners Of 2022 Photo Contest [PaEN]

-- July 29 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

[Posted: July 26, 2022]

8/1/2022