AZ State Parks OHV Program & Newsletter

[AZstateParksOHV]

Many thinks to all for the welcome.

Originally Posted by Nightstalker

Jeff, welcome to ADVRider!

Dude, I thank you for your excellent set of tracks, trip reports, and photos. Some of your stuff inspired my AZ Traverse trip :) Thanks for creating such a great resource for the riding community!

[ApexJeff]

Jeff, good luck and many thanks,, great info.

[phxman]

Jeff, great to see you on ADVRider. Looking forward to a ride with you one of these days.

[BELSTAFF]

On da'list

[alphaBETAdog]

Jeff,

Really good to read that an OHV enthusiast is actually in charge of the State OHV program!

I'm one of the victims of the recent tire slashings. However, something else has been bothering me. According the posted sign at the Sears-Kay ruins parking area up off of Seven Springs Rd, OHV funds were used to enhance the parking area and facilities which is completly un-related to OHV use.



Yet I was issued a ticket for parking there with my trailer as it is not a "designated OHV staging area" according to the ranger. So what gives? OHV funds diverted to other recreational sites that don't allow OHV use? Don't mean to jump on the new guy, but this is certainly an injustice to the OHV community.

[RocknTroll]

The state of Arizona get a motorcycle rider to run the OHV program.

Here we get somebody who saw a boat once to run Boating & Waterways.

[terb]

Originally Posted by alphaBETAdog

Jeff,

Really good to read that an OHV enthusiast is actually in charge of the State OHV program!

I'm one of the victims of the recent tire slashings. However, something else has been bothering me. According the posted sign at the Sears-Kay ruins parking area up off of Seven Springs Rd, OHV funds were used to enhance the parking area and facilities which is completly un-related to OHV use.



Yet I was issued a ticket for parking there with my trailer as it is not a "designated OHV staging area" according to the ranger. So what gives? OHV funds diverted to other recreational sites that don't allow OHV use? Don't mean to jump on the new guy, but this is certainly an injustice to the OHV community.

And why did you think they would use the OHV moneys to repair the OHV trails??...... You forgot to read the fine print!!

[AZstateParksOHV]

Originally Posted by alphaBETAdog

Jeff,

Really good to read that an OHV enthusiast is actually in charge of the State OHV program!

I'm one of the victims of the recent tire slashings. However, something else has been bothering me. According the posted sign at the Sears-Kay ruins parking area up off of Seven Springs Rd, OHV funds were used to enhance the parking area and facilities which is completly un-related to OHV use.

Yet I was issued a ticket for parking there with my trailer as it is not a "designated OHV staging area" according to the ranger. So what gives? OHV funds diverted to other recreational sites that don't allow OHV use? Don't mean to jump on the new guy, but this is certainly an injustice to the OHV community.

Sorry for the delayed response and thanks for your excitement about me being at ASP. I had to do a bit of research on this one, as it happened in 1996, long before our Director or I came on board. It predates the OHV Decal program as well, but was funded with the OHV Fund circa 1996.
To provide additional information, I will need to order the original grant application from the archives, which I'm happy to do if you request it. Arizona State Parks is an open book agency and I'm sure you guys see that I'm not one to shy away from questions.

Here's what I can tell you today:

This area you parked at is the first sanctioned "Point of Discovery" along the Great Western Trail, which is one of Arizona's first long distance motorized routes, intended on connecting Arizona to Utah and beyond.
Read about it here:
http://azstateparks.com/ohv/wheretoride.html#great

This was funded as an interpretive site as part of the GWT, to enhance the value of the OHV trail experience. While it is not an OHV staging area, it can be used as a day use area to take a break, visit the restroom, and picnic. I think of it as a stopping point along what is supposed to be an epic trail trip. It is managed by the Tonto National Forest, which provides the following: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto...35235&actid=70

Original funding information can be found here:
http://azstateparks.com/grants/libra...torized_t.html

Here is the some additional information from our grant tracking software:

Project Description (1996)
The Sears-Kay Ruin Interpretive Site Development project involves
development of an archaeological interpretive site adjacent to the Great
Western Trail on Cave Creek Ranger District. This is the first developed
site on the District's self-guided OHV route. The Sears-Kay site will
include parking for 10 vehicles, an accessible restroom, 3 picnic
ramadas, a shade ramada, a trailhead, and interpretive signing.

JEFF's OPINION:
Keep in mind, the GWT was a really ambitious project in 1996 and I imagine Rec Planners at other agencies were trying to incorporate more into OHV trails back then, as the needs and interest of OHV users varies. Back in 1996, the motorized public had more interest in these kinds of facilities according to surveys. At Arizona State Parks, we believe in funding diversified motorized recreational opportunities in line with public demand. Single track, technical rock crawling, easy trails, youth training areas, and everything in between all have a place in our recreation portfolio due to public demand. Over time, people's usage, needs, and even equipment change. This is one reason we rewrite the statewide trails plan every 5 years and adjust our grant process. Let's face it, the motorized public is a large group with diverse needs. Projects like this, while not interesting to everyone here, are of value to other motorized users.

It was a different world here back in 1996 with a different cast of characters making decisions. These days, it would be interesting to see if a similar project would be well received by OHVAG and the Parks Board.

While I can understand your frustration with getting a ticket, were the rules clearly posted?

[alphaBETAdog]

Originally Posted by AZstateParksOHV

While I can understand your frustration with getting a ticket, were the rules clearly posted?

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your research and explanation of the use of the funds in this instance. I don't believe there was anything posted about how long parking was allowed (but there could have been). I had parked there about 5-6 hours mid-day, and never saw another vehicle in the whole parking area (not like I was taking up parking for other visitors). The entrance has a locking gate so I assumed no overnight parking would be allowed. I just sucked it up and paid the fine rather than try to fight it - but it did make me mad especially with the sign saying OHV funds were used for it!
- Steve

[booger1]

Welcome aboard ADV. Glad to here an adventure rider is part of the OHV program. Looking forward to riding with you sometime.

[AZstateParksOHV]

Originally Posted by booger1

Welcome aboard ADV. Glad to here an adventure rider is part of the OHV program. Looking forward to riding with you sometime.

Wanna ride? ADV member nightstalker set up my April Trail Talk for this Saturday! He put up a thread here, it will be a mild ride through Bloody Basin.

If you don't get the OHV newsletter, now's a good time to sign up. You get the program update, details on the Trail Talk, and I make mention of my Single Track Summit (trying to get our moto friends together in the same room to talk about what this community needs and how to get it).