The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently announced the award of $488,000 in snowmobile and ATV trails grants for five projects.

“These grants are designed to enhance the riding experience of ATV and snowmobile enthusiasts across the state, who supply funding when they register their vehicles,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “We know improved riding means more visitors, whose numbers can have a positive economic impact on nearby communities.”

The projects are:

Columbia, Northumberland, and Schuylkill Counties: Famous Reading Outdoors, $225,000, for preparation of a master plan for development of 20,000 acres of Famous Reading Outdoors ATV Trails and Off-Roading Park.

Fayette County: Indian Creek Valley ATV Club, $29,800, for preparation of a master plan for development of 750 acres of the Indian Creek Valley ATV Club in Saltlick Township. Also, Indian Creek Valley ATV Club, $110,400, for development of the Indian Creek Valley ATV Club, with work to include construction of a trailhead building; ADA access; landscaping; and signage and other related site improvements;

Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wayne Counties: Northeast PA Sno Trails Inc., $8,300, for purchase of equipment to construct and maintain 250 miles of snowmobile trails within the Northeast Pennsylvania Sno Trails Inc. system.

McKean County: Majestic Kamp and Lost Trails Inc., $50,980, for purchase of equipment to construct and maintain 41 miles of Majestic ATV trails in Keating and Otto townships;

Schuylkill County: Burma MX and ATV Park, $174,000, for purchase of equipment to construct and maintain 100 acres of Burma off-highway vehicle tracks and trails in Blythe and East Norwegian townships.

The grants can fund up to 100 percent of a project. DCNR can award grants two times each year to municipalities, for profit, and nonprofit organizations for ATV- and snowmobile-related projects on county, municipal, nonprofit, state, and private lands.

All ATVs and snowmobiles in Pennsylvania must be registered and titled with DCNR’s Snowmobile/ATV Section.

Registration money is used to provide program administration funding; maintain trails in DCNR’s parks and forests; and provide grants to profit and non-profit organizations for developing additional riding opportunities in the commonwealth. Statewide ATV registrations approach 185,000; snowmobiles, 34,000.

For more information about ATV and snowmobile grants, visit DCNR’s trail grants webpage.