Grants available for development and maintenance of OHV trails

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division has scheduled a series of meetings to provide information about the off-highway vehicle (OHV) grant-in-aid (GIA) program, a cost-share program to facilitate development and maintenance of trails.

These meetings are intended for groups with an active interest in all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs), such as sport utility vehicles and modified trucks. The meetings will not be for snowmobile trails.

Groups currently receiving GIA funds are encouraged to attend. These meetings will also be helpful to local units of government that sponsor GIA contracts and clubs that want to expand public OHV trails in Minnesota.

DNR staff, including Parks and Trails area supervisors and OHV acquisition and development specialists, will explain the GIA application process, provide copies of the GIA manual and forms and answer questions.

Grant applications for maintenance of existing trails are due by Nov. 30. New trail proposals are accepted at any time.

The DNR asks anyone planning to attend one of these meetings to RSVP (see phone numbers below) so that adequate space and materials will be available:

Bemidji: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. - noon, Lake Bemidji State Park Visitor Center, 3401 State Park Road, NE, Bemidji, MN 56601; RSVP: 218-308-2367.

Tower: Thursday, Oct. 24, 6 - 8 p.m., Tower DNR office, 650 Highway 169, Tower, MN 55790; RSVP: 218-753-2580.

Rochester: Thursday, Oct. 24, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Rochester Community and Technical College (Heintz Center, Room #HA 122), 1926 College View Dr. SE, Rochester, MN 55904;
RSVP: 507-206-2847.

Sauk Rapids: Monday, Oct. 28, 7 - 9 p.m., Sauk Rapids DNR office, 940 Industrial Dr. South #103, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379; RSVP: 320-223-7878.

Fergus Falls: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Fergus Falls DNR office, 1509 First Ave. NE, Fergus Falls, MN 56537; RSVP: 218-739-7576.

Moose Lake area: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m., Rutledge Community Center, 7369 Highway 61, Rutledge, MN 55785; RSVP: 218-485-5410.

Windom: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Windom DNR office, 175 County Road 26, Windom, MN 56143; RSVP: 507-831-2900.

Metro area: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7 - 9 p.m., Gander Mountain, 10650 Baltimore St. NE, Blaine, MN 55449; RSVP: 651-259-5874.

Brainerd: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 – 8 p.m., Brainerd DNR office, 1601 Minnesota Dr., Brainerd, MN 56401; RSVP: 218-833-8710.

As additional meetings are scheduled, details will be posted at www.mndnr.gov (www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/ontrack/index.html). 

For questions about the OHV GIA program or suggestions for topics to discuss at upcoming meetings, contact Mary Straka, OHV program coordinator, 218-833-8713 or mary.straka@state.mn.us.