The Executive Council has approved a plan to purchase land in Berlin to become a new state park with an estimated 350 miles of ATV trails.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports.
The council unanimously supported the purchase of 7200 acres of land for a little more than two million dollars.
The majority of the money will come from ATV registration fees.
The executive councilor's decision prompted Berlin Mayor Bob Danderson to tell the governor and council he's feeling like a new dad.
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:00 a 75 hundred acre baby was born today. It's our responsibility, the council, the state legislature, the city of Berlin and DRED to raise it properly...our goal is to make this a class act, rivaled by none.
Danderson is so excited because he believes the new ATV park will help revitalize his struggling mill town.
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3:27 I see a change in the western part of the town where there will be more restaurants, hotels, second homes. And that will be a positive thing for the community, b/c that will bring more tax income into the city. So we can start working on a lot of our infrastructure problems.
Danderson projects the city will see millions in additional revenue.
He bases that on the financial success enjoyed by similar parks around the country.
And that the nearest ATV park to New Hampshire is in Pennsylvania.
Rider Buddy Dion's travel plans underscore the mayor's point.
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:59 would you bother to travel all the way up to Berlin to go riding for a weekend? Would I go up to Berlin? I've been all the way to Utah for a week...this would be so close and a blessing for me.
The state is expected to complete the sale and purchase of the 7200 acres in January.
Director of State Parks and Recreation Allison McLean says now it's time to plan.
1:47 we've got to start putting together management strategy...we've got to get staff on site, start working on staffing plans, management plan so we can move forward to make this financially successful area.
McLean anticipates the new park will bring in somewhere between $100-$150 thousand dollars a year in fees.
She added that the state will be looking to hire about 30 people, most of them seasonal workers to manage it.
While most of those who spoke out about the Park, support the plan, some critics have expressed concern that the ATVs will drive off wildlife, and ruin the solitude of the North Country.
One person testified this week he believes the state will become overrun with ATVs.
The Appalachian Mountain Club didn't come out in overt support, but didn't oppose the plan either.
The Forest Society's Charlie Neebling doesn't have complaints about the park either.
1:59 it's been fairly aggressively harvested over the years, it's got an extensive network of skid roads and woods trials, not a lot of wetlands to muddy up. So it just seems like a pretty good location.
The organization ATV Watch is seeking the removal of current ATV trails and the prohibition of new ones in exchange for the new park.
ATV Watch's Andrew Walters.
3:00 given the opposition that has been shown in Lymeborough, Pisgah, has always been an issue. Given all that opposition, DREAD and legislature should look at currently existing trails and proposed trails.
DRED, or the Department of Resources and Economic Development says it is focused on the Berlin site at this time.
The Department plans to hold its first public information session about the park on November 29th in Berlin.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
