Rumblings over ATV park proposal
Environmentalists, riders set to square off over planned facility in Adirondack State Park
By BRIAN NEARING, Staff writer
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First published: Monday, July 2, 2007
JOHNSBURG -- A patch of Adirondack forest could reverberate with the sound of engines under a plan to create a 700-acre park for all-terrain vehicles, which would be the first such facility in the six-million-acre state park.
The proposal for land off Route 28 is drawing questions from the Adirondack Park Agency, criticism from environmentalists and support from ATV riders who have long complained that the state takes registration fees while barring the vehicles from public land in the Adirondacks.
A proposal by Queensbury Falls residents Richard and Karen Mohring for a Glen Creek Road site filed in April with the park agency calls for about 30 miles of backcountry ATV trails, along with six tracks, including a drag strip, and more than 150 camping sites, six rental cabins and four single-family homes.
The park agency is taking a close look, as shown by an 11-page letter filled with follow-up questions on the project.
"The potential for significant adverse impacts to these sensitive resources from the large-scale, intensive development is very real," wrote Deputy Director Mark Sengenberger.
Environmental groups and ATV advocates appear poised to square off. This week, the Residents' Committee to Protect the Adirondacks opposed the plan.
"This type of outdoor motor sports facility is an intensive and abusive activity that is not suitable for this land or for the Adirondack Park," said committee Executive Director Peter Bauer. "The soils are easily eroded, the property contains many steep slopes and extensive wetlands, borders Forest Preserve, necessitates the crossing of Glen Creek Road, and the noted trout stream Mill Creek/Beaver Brook meanders through the property."
Gregg Urspung, an engineer from Saratoga Associates representing the Mohrings, had no comment Thursday.
But Bob Ski, executive director of the New York State Power Sport Dealers Association, said ATV owners need places to ride because the state bars them from three million acres of public land.
"Unless we form a managed program for this activity, sometimes ATV riders may be someplace where they should not be," said Ski, who is an adviser to the New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Association. "Trespass goes away if you provide the opportunity to recreate."
In a state with more than 143,000 registered ATVs, there are six private ATV parks. Ski said more than 30,000 new vehicles are sold each year, but about 20,000 owners let their registrations lapse out of frustration.
Brian Nearing can be reached at 454-5094 or by e-mail at
bnearing@timesunion.com.
