Proposed El Paso County, CO
OHV Park
An exciting new recreation opportunity may emerge in El Paso County as our love for this family-oriented sport is becoming more widely accepted! Here's what is happening:
- For many years, more than 100,000 OHV enthusiasts in Colorado have been paying into the Colorado State Parks OHV Registration Program sticker fund, which is used for trail maintenance, construction, trailheads, parking areas, trail signs, maps, and land aquisition.
- In 2008, the registration fee will increase from $15.25 to $25.25, providing more than $3 million for this trails program.
- OHV registrations in the State of Colorado are increasing an average of 14% each year, and El Paso County has the second highest number of registered motorcycles in Colorado.
- Despite the growing demand for off-highway riding opportunities in El Paso County, the number of regional off-highway trails is shrinking with recent reductions in Pueblo and the Pike National Forest OHV areas.
- In late fall of 2007, El Paso County Commissioners showed their support for the growing number of motorized recreationists by voting to move forward with a grant request, to tap into the OHV sticker fund, for the land purchase and construction of a dedicated OHV park.
- This vote paved the way for El Paso County Parks and Leisure Services Director, Tim Wolken, to apply for a $320,000 grant from the State Parks OHV fund.
- The remaining funds required to create the park would come from the following sources:
$275,000 Conservation Trust Funds
$275,000 of Regional Park Fees
Private donations
Lottery proceeds
- That's right folks - not a single tax dollar will be spent to create this park!
