STRONG — The High Peaks Alliance recently hosted an All Hands on Deck Motorized Club meeting on May 11 at the Strong Town Office. The meeting brought together ATV and Snowmobile clubs from the Franklin, Oxford and Somerset counties, to address the most pressing issues facing the regional system in the High Peaks.
Each club had the opportunity to report on their major issues. The meeting focused on identifying key individuals who can help address these issues and creating a system for communication to coordinate efforts.
“After a 500-year flood, a 50-year flood, and a 30-year flood all within a year the already stressed trail system is at a breaking point. High Peaks Alliance realized that all of these clubs share similar problems; lack of volunteers, landowner issues, and lack of funding. Without new thinking and massive action our snowmobile and ATV trail systems will see mass closings of trails. We are helping to circle the wagons and start to address the most pressing needs of this system. We hope our initiative in the High Peaks region will be a model for other parts of the state,” said Brent West, Executive Director of the High Peaks Alliance, according to a news release from the alliance.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting is the formation of a steering committee of ATV and Snowmobile club members. This committee will be responsible for organizing two annual regional meetings and creating an email list for updates and communication.
Along with discussing immediate issues, the meeting also addressed long-term funding opportunities for clubs, including upcoming grant opportunities such as the Recreational Trail Program, County TIFs, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, Maine Community Foundation grants, and the Maine Business Recovery and Resiliency Fund.
In addition to regional clubs, also in attendance was Brian Bronson, of Maine’s Bureau of Public Lands, Bob Carlton, a Franklin County Commissioner, state Rep. Mike Soboleski of Phillips, along with the Maine Snowmobile Association, ATV Maine, and the Maine ATV Coalition.
To learn more about the next motorized meeting visit HighPeaksAlliance.org or email [email protected].