Ohio off-roaders participate in public riding forum

By Bill Kresnak

The state of Ohio is looking at creating a new riding area for off-highway motorcycles, ATVs and 4-by-4 trucks that could be open within a year.

Dameyon Shipley, the state's recreation services administrator (photo above), made the comment during a Motorized Trails Forum held by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in Pickerington on March 19. The AMA sponsored the forum.

The meeting was one in a series being held statewide to identify the issues and needs of motorized users of the state's public trails systems. The meetings will help the Office of Trails as it compiles the standalone Motorized Trails Plan for Ohio, which will provide a vision for the next three to five years and will help guide the office as it addresses the needs of Ohio's trail users.

Shipley told the approximately 40 OHV enthusiasts attending the meeting that the state has set aside abut $240,000 in off-highway vehicle registration money and about $500,000 in grant money to use for the project. the size of the dedicated riding area will depend on where land is available and whether it will be leased or bought outright.

At the suggestion of riders, Shipley said the state also will look at creating more riding areas around the state but indicated the state is leaning toward creating the dedicated riding area because it may be too expensive to create a lot of different riding areas.

After the meeting, Kory Young, president of the Zanesville Trail Riders, said the state has too much red tape that blocks the creation of riding trails. But he said the meeting is "a start, and hopefully it will develop into something."

Dave Palmer of Gahanna thought the meeting went well.

"I like seeing that we're having a conversation now (with state officials about creating trails)," he said. "It looks like it could go somewhere."

Royce Wood, AMA government affairs manager, called it "important" for trail users to attend these meetings. Bill Kaeppner of the Ohio Motorized Trails Association was among the riders and activists who attended the meeting.

The creation of a new state trails plan represents an opportunity to expand public trail options in the state, Wood said. State officials are "making a recommitment to increasing the statewide acreage of motorized riding areas in Ohio as requested by the state’s motorized trail community."

Dates and locations for the remaining meetings are below. For more information about the forums, please contact Dameyon Shipley in the Office of Trails at (614) 265-6646.

• March 24, 6 – 8 p.m.
 Wayne National Forest Headquarters,
13700 U.S. HWY 33,
 Nelsonville, (740) 753-0101.
• March 26, 6 – 8 p.m. City of Van Wert Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St., Van Wert, (419) 238-2999.