In 2002, the T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Saftey and Recreation Act was signed into law. This new law is to promote the development of an OHV recreation system. The intent of the law is to create new opportunities for OHV users while safeguarding the integrity of Florida's natural resources.

On May 4th, 2004 the NW FL OHV Regional Site Review Team held a meeting.

The team discussed:
- Progress with potential sites
- Reviewed a letter for potential site landowners
- Reviewed the site evaluation sheet
- How landowners can benefit from OHV use

We would like to stress the importance of titling your OHV. All the information you need about the process can be found here.
The money collected from this goes straight to the development of OHV parks.

We are asking landowners with large acreage parcels if they would be interested in working with the state to accomplish the goals of this new and important legislation.You can assist in a number of ways.
1. Selling the land to the State for use as an OHV recreation site.
2. Leasing land to the State for use as an OHV recreation site.
3. Creating a Private OHV site with the assistance from the State.
4. Offering your input about potential sites and other community concerns.

Here are a few examples of private OHV parks and how the owners benefit from them.
Durhamtown
Red Creek
Coal Creek

And here are some examples of public OHV parks and trails.
Hatfield McCoy Trails
Paiute Trail

Please feel free to contact us: nw_fl_ohv@mchsi.com

UPDATE - 3 Nov 04

Hello everyone, It has been quite a while since I last sent out info on OHV use in our area. Unfortunately it has been a little slow going but we "never say die". Please read the following e-mail from Chris Reed who is the Florida State OHV Director. Unfortunately my current schedule will not allow me to be as active in this process as I might like. I am looking to some of you out there to step up and get involved in this grant program. Please drop me a line if you think you can help. Thanks, Wayne Briske....Please post this info on all of the websites for the panhandle.

Message from Chris Reed: Our first grant cycle is open for proposals. We have $726,000 to offer this fiscal year to provide funds for start-up, feasibility studies, infrastructure needs, equipment, and land acquisition (supplement). Applications are due on December 17th. State and federal agencies, counties, municipalities, tribal governments with lands in the state, and private non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for funds. Further details can be viewed at www.fl-dof.com.

I am working with the University of Florida to conduct an economic impact study of OHV recreation within the state. This 10 to 12 month project has tremendous potential to be used as a selling point to local governments that still only see OHV?s as a nuisance.

It looks like our first new area to open will be Tate?s Hell State Forest. Although, initially there will be no true trails (I am working on the powers that be); we are looking at opening about 400 miles of roads and firelines. Proposed opening date will be early next year.

I am working with the Army Corps and DOF staff to make something happen between Panama City and Destin, on the spoil area I mentioned previously. Though this site would be small (~200 ac), it has potential to be similar to the pits at Croom.

Also, I have been working with several counties, that others and I have been able to spark some interest in OHV recreation. Although, most of the counties we are working with are on the peninsula, I feel this can open doors in the future for more of an interagency type concept.

Hope all is well and look forward to attending the next Pensacola region meeting. I hope we will have some potential projects to discuss.

Chris