Texas is on the way to getting a new OHV park.

[JOKER]

Texas is on the way to getting a new OHV park.

The Texas Motorized Trails Coalition is trying to acquire a new piece of property in Uvalde County. There has been some opposition to this by the neighboring landowners, it is basically N.I.M.B.Y. type complaints. Here are some pictures I took of the property during a TMTC board of directors meeting, followed by 2 news paper articles

Photos of the property (http://www.rock-it-land.com/southwestvoodoo/HHproperty.htm)

http://www.rock-it-land.com/southwestvoodoo/HighHills/P1010032c.jpg

[Ishikawa]

Woohooo!!! Keep the updates coming Russ!!

Can't wait to get out there and claim some trails for Wildyoat's :D We'll have to build something impassible by short wheelbase rigs (jeeps).....lol.

Max

[Bill Collins]

thats great news,keep us posted.only about a 7 hour drive so let us know when help is needed...

[MXjunk127]

yea sweet, i may start going down their when i get my licence. My mom wont let me get it for 6 months :( . BTW i may want your bronco for sale. My toyota may get a SAS this summer. anyway thanks for the update and keep on wheeling, Not in the rivers anymore :(

[JOKER]

http://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/images/mainlogo.jpg

http://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/story2.shtml

4-wheel park project stalls as deadline nears


by Cerise Merritt
Staff writer

- The proposed four-wheeler park in Montell is currently stalled, but it is still officially alive.
“As far as I’m aware, we are still pursuing this project,” said Carol Smith, spokesperson for the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition.
The group had initially hoped to complete the federal prerequisites to purchasing the land before the next meeting of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Commissioners, set for Nov. 4.

Those requirements are a complete environmental study, including archeological survey and local water quality impact assessment, a public hearing and determination of access to the property.

None of the three requirements have yet been met, but an initial environmental survey was completed. It identified one endangered species in the proposed area.

“We haven’t set the public hearing yet because we’re waiting to hear from TMTC,” said TPW representative Andy Goldbloom. “We’re waiting to hear whether they plan to go ahead and spend a lot of money on the archeological survey since they’ve encountered so much opposition in the area.”

Goldbloom estimated the cost for the survey to run from $25,000 to $35,000. Smith agreed with the estimate, but said local negative reaction hasn’t derailed the project.
“We have gotten some opposition,” she admitted. “But it’s rarely any place that we go that we don’t encounter opposition.
“That is a lot of money, and we are a non-profit group,” Smith said. “This is not something we would delve into lightly.”

Smith said TMTC would obviously not make its self-imposed November deadline, but she wouldn’t speculate on the current schedule.
“We’re waiting on TPW and they’re waiting on us, it seems,” she said. “We’re still working on the public hearing, but TPW has to be the one to conduct that. I can’t foresee when the next deadline will be.”

The approximately 2,100-acre site being considered for the park is located three miles west of Highway 55, down County Road 413. Leonard Johnson has confirmed that he owns the proposed park site, currently named High Heaven Ranch.

Each of the four surrounding property owners in Uvalde County has voiced opposition to the project, as have other Montell-area landowners. Some area business owners and elected officials, however, are promoting the proposal as needed economic development for Uvalde and Real counties.

Senate Bill 155, which banned motorized vehicles from riverbeds, requires TPW to help develop other areas for use by off-road vehicle enthusiasts.

TMTC has been approved for funding through TPW’s Trail Grant program. Although the group has been authorized to purchase land for an off-road vehicle park, the state agency has to approve the specific location.