Post by gotmoxie on Dec 10, 2011 11:15:49 GMT -5
A new Thread where new Plans and Improvements at Jericho Mountain Atv Park can be Discussed......
State Seeking to Expand Jericho ATV Park
and Build Connector Trail
December 8, 2011
Barbara Tetreault
Berlin Daily Sun
BERLIN – The state Bureau of Trails is negotiating to purchase an additional 1,500 acres of land for Jericho Mountain State Park and at the same time is working on an ATV connector trail that would run from the park to Pittsburg.
“We would have the ability to get all the way from Berlin to Pittsburg,” Trails Bureau head Chris Gamache said. In a briefing before the city council Monday night and in a follow-up interview, Gamache said the bureau is negotiating with Dillon Investments LLC for two parcels of land totaling 1,500 acres. The original 7,200 acres of the park were also purchased from Dillon.
One parcel, about 1,300 acres, is in the northern section of the park. Most of the parcel is within Berlin but a small section is in Milan. Gamache said the parcel is the preferred location for the 200-site campground planned for the park. The bureau has just issued a request for proposals from developers interested in building and operating the campground under a 20-year lease from the state. Gamache said the campground would require about 400 acres.
Dillon had plans to do a residential subdivision on the property and received subdivision approval from the Berlin planning board in 2009 for Phase I, which called for 47 lots ranging from 11 to 22 acres. Dillon has now decided instead to sell the land to the state for the park.
The other parcel is about 224 acres in the southeast corner of the park that has existing trails on it already.
Gamache said the bureau has a verbal agreement with Dillon and the parties have agreed on an appraised price, which he declined to release because there are still some details to be worked out. Gamache said funding to cover the acquisition would come from ATV registration fees. He said he hopes to have the deal finalized and before the Governor and Executive Council for approval this winter.
The acquisition would bring the total acreage of the park to about 8,700 acres. Gamache said the bureau has not yet determined how many miles of trail the purchase would add to the planned 140-mile trail network.
Gamache said he envisions Jericho Mountain State Park as the hub for ATV activity in the state and the bureau is working on a connector trail that would allow ATV riders to travel from the park all the way to Pittsburg. After a year of work and discussions with private landowners, the bureau has mapped out a route largely using existing trails. The trail would travel on the ATV trail through Berlin to connect to trails in Success and then to Cambridge and Errol and from there to Colebrook and ultimately Pittsburg.
There is a half-mile section of the proposed trail that crosses the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in Errol. Because ATVs are not allowed on the refuge, Gamache said discussions are underway to exchange a piece of land with the refuge for that approximately 100 to 200 acre parcel near the Thirteen Mile Woods.
Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge Manager Paul Casey yesterday said he recognizes the importance of the connector trail to the region and is willing to try to find a way to accommodate the bureau and ATV advocates. He said the recently completed comprehensive conservation plan for the refuge, which was developed with public input, does not allow ATV use on the refuge.
“It would be very difficult to get an ATV trail through the refuge,” he said. But Casey said he would be open to a land swap as long as the land offered in return was of high wildlife value. He said there are several parcels that would fit that description. “I think there are options out there,” he said. Casey said the next step is to pull together a meeting with representatives of the town of Errol, the county commission, the ATV clubs, Errol Town Forest, the refuge, and the bureau to work out the details.
Gamache said the bureau also needs legislation passed to develop an ATV trail on the Connecticut Lakes Headwater tract in Pittsburg. Currently, ATV trails on state property are required to follow environmental standards that include both a course and fine criteria filter. Gamache said a waiver process was put in place for the Jericho Mountain State Park and the bureau is looking for that flexibility on the Headwaters tract.
Earlier this fall, Gamache said he attended a convention in Minneapolis and did a breakout session on the ATV trail system at Jericho Mountain State Park and plans for the connector trail.
Mayor Paul Grenier thanked Gamache and the bureau for its work developing the ATV park and connector trail. Grenier said he believes the ATV industry is a segment of the tourism market that Coos County can successfully attract.
Earlier in the meeting, the council approved Gamache’s request to use city sidewalks on a section of both Coos and Hutchins Street for its snowmobile trail. Gamache explained that Babthingy and Wilcox, the general contractor on the Burgess BioPower biomass plant, are not able to allow use of the mill site for OHRV use while construction is underway because of insurance issues. He said that has forced the bureau to come to the city for permission to use city sidewalks to maintain the trail, which is part of Corridor 12 connecting trail systems in Gorham and Success.
“It’s pretty much all we’ve been left with for the next two years,” Gamache said. Grenier said Cate Street Capital officials have assured him that access will be restored once construction of the biomass plant is completed. In fact, he noted the trail is required under the stipulations reached between the developer and city.
State Seeks Proposals for Campground at Jericho State Park
December 6, 2011
Barbara Tetreault
Berlin Daily Sun
BERLIN – The state is seeking proposals from private developers interested in building and operating a 200-site campground at Jericho Mountain State Park under a 20-year lease with the Division of Parks and Recreation.The Request for Proposals was announced yesterday with proposals due Feb. 16. A release from the Bureau of Trails, which is spearheading the search, said the state hopes to see construction underway by spring 2012 and initial sites ready for use by late summer.
“The increase in ATV and OHRV recreational rails in northern New Hampshire is providing for a great economic opportunity for local businesses that accommodate off-road recreational trail users.
The addition of this highly needed camping facility would greatly complement the existing and future opportunities in the region,” said Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache.
Jericho Mountain State Park is still in development, five years after the state paid $2.16 million to T.R. Dillon Logging for 7,200 acres to develop into an ATV park.
The master plan for the park, completed in 2007, calls for a total of 136 miles of ATV trails, 4.5 miles of jeep off-road trails, and some mountain bike trails. Currently, there are about 70 miles of ATV trails.
The master plan also calls for a campground that would include 81 RV sites with water and electric hook-ups, 93 tent sites, and 26 remote sites.
The campground, which would be located north of Jericho Lake, would include a general store, public washrooms with showers, play areas, and a laundromat. The master plan estimated the cost of the campground at $2 million. Recognizing that the Division of Parks did not have the funds to develop the campground, the master plan suggested the state seek a company willing to build and run the facility under a long term lease.
While the state is seeking a 20-year lease, it reserves the right to renew the lease and operating agreement for an additional ten years.
Bidders are asked to describe their experience in the design, construction, and development of public or private outdoor recreation facilities. Bidders are also asked to demonstrate they have the financial ability to carry out their proposal.
A mandatory pre-submittal and site meeting will be held on January 5. The state projects it will announce the successful bidder on March 6, with lease terms negotiated by the following month. The timetable calls for the final lease and operating agreement to go before the Governor and Executive Council for approval in May. Once the deal is finalized, the successful bidder will have up to a year to have the campground open for business.
The RFP calls for the campground operator to pay the state a base fee plus a commission on gross sales for the lease. The RFP, draft lease and other documents can be found on the Division of Parks & Recreation’s website www.nhstateparks.org, under Jericho Mountain State Park.
Editors Note: Click on the link below to go directly to the RFP page on the NH Parks and Recreation website:
www.nhstateparks.org/partner-and-community-resources/rfps-and-projects.aspx
State Seeking to Expand Jericho ATV Park
and Build Connector Trail
December 8, 2011
Barbara Tetreault
Berlin Daily Sun
BERLIN – The state Bureau of Trails is negotiating to purchase an additional 1,500 acres of land for Jericho Mountain State Park and at the same time is working on an ATV connector trail that would run from the park to Pittsburg.
“We would have the ability to get all the way from Berlin to Pittsburg,” Trails Bureau head Chris Gamache said. In a briefing before the city council Monday night and in a follow-up interview, Gamache said the bureau is negotiating with Dillon Investments LLC for two parcels of land totaling 1,500 acres. The original 7,200 acres of the park were also purchased from Dillon.
One parcel, about 1,300 acres, is in the northern section of the park. Most of the parcel is within Berlin but a small section is in Milan. Gamache said the parcel is the preferred location for the 200-site campground planned for the park. The bureau has just issued a request for proposals from developers interested in building and operating the campground under a 20-year lease from the state. Gamache said the campground would require about 400 acres.
Dillon had plans to do a residential subdivision on the property and received subdivision approval from the Berlin planning board in 2009 for Phase I, which called for 47 lots ranging from 11 to 22 acres. Dillon has now decided instead to sell the land to the state for the park.
The other parcel is about 224 acres in the southeast corner of the park that has existing trails on it already.
Gamache said the bureau has a verbal agreement with Dillon and the parties have agreed on an appraised price, which he declined to release because there are still some details to be worked out. Gamache said funding to cover the acquisition would come from ATV registration fees. He said he hopes to have the deal finalized and before the Governor and Executive Council for approval this winter.
The acquisition would bring the total acreage of the park to about 8,700 acres. Gamache said the bureau has not yet determined how many miles of trail the purchase would add to the planned 140-mile trail network.
Gamache said he envisions Jericho Mountain State Park as the hub for ATV activity in the state and the bureau is working on a connector trail that would allow ATV riders to travel from the park all the way to Pittsburg. After a year of work and discussions with private landowners, the bureau has mapped out a route largely using existing trails. The trail would travel on the ATV trail through Berlin to connect to trails in Success and then to Cambridge and Errol and from there to Colebrook and ultimately Pittsburg.
There is a half-mile section of the proposed trail that crosses the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in Errol. Because ATVs are not allowed on the refuge, Gamache said discussions are underway to exchange a piece of land with the refuge for that approximately 100 to 200 acre parcel near the Thirteen Mile Woods.
Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge Manager Paul Casey yesterday said he recognizes the importance of the connector trail to the region and is willing to try to find a way to accommodate the bureau and ATV advocates. He said the recently completed comprehensive conservation plan for the refuge, which was developed with public input, does not allow ATV use on the refuge.
“It would be very difficult to get an ATV trail through the refuge,” he said. But Casey said he would be open to a land swap as long as the land offered in return was of high wildlife value. He said there are several parcels that would fit that description. “I think there are options out there,” he said. Casey said the next step is to pull together a meeting with representatives of the town of Errol, the county commission, the ATV clubs, Errol Town Forest, the refuge, and the bureau to work out the details.
Gamache said the bureau also needs legislation passed to develop an ATV trail on the Connecticut Lakes Headwater tract in Pittsburg. Currently, ATV trails on state property are required to follow environmental standards that include both a course and fine criteria filter. Gamache said a waiver process was put in place for the Jericho Mountain State Park and the bureau is looking for that flexibility on the Headwaters tract.
Earlier this fall, Gamache said he attended a convention in Minneapolis and did a breakout session on the ATV trail system at Jericho Mountain State Park and plans for the connector trail.
Mayor Paul Grenier thanked Gamache and the bureau for its work developing the ATV park and connector trail. Grenier said he believes the ATV industry is a segment of the tourism market that Coos County can successfully attract.
Earlier in the meeting, the council approved Gamache’s request to use city sidewalks on a section of both Coos and Hutchins Street for its snowmobile trail. Gamache explained that Babthingy and Wilcox, the general contractor on the Burgess BioPower biomass plant, are not able to allow use of the mill site for OHRV use while construction is underway because of insurance issues. He said that has forced the bureau to come to the city for permission to use city sidewalks to maintain the trail, which is part of Corridor 12 connecting trail systems in Gorham and Success.
“It’s pretty much all we’ve been left with for the next two years,” Gamache said. Grenier said Cate Street Capital officials have assured him that access will be restored once construction of the biomass plant is completed. In fact, he noted the trail is required under the stipulations reached between the developer and city.
State Seeks Proposals for Campground at Jericho State Park
December 6, 2011
Barbara Tetreault
Berlin Daily Sun
BERLIN – The state is seeking proposals from private developers interested in building and operating a 200-site campground at Jericho Mountain State Park under a 20-year lease with the Division of Parks and Recreation.The Request for Proposals was announced yesterday with proposals due Feb. 16. A release from the Bureau of Trails, which is spearheading the search, said the state hopes to see construction underway by spring 2012 and initial sites ready for use by late summer.
“The increase in ATV and OHRV recreational rails in northern New Hampshire is providing for a great economic opportunity for local businesses that accommodate off-road recreational trail users.
The addition of this highly needed camping facility would greatly complement the existing and future opportunities in the region,” said Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache.
Jericho Mountain State Park is still in development, five years after the state paid $2.16 million to T.R. Dillon Logging for 7,200 acres to develop into an ATV park.
The master plan for the park, completed in 2007, calls for a total of 136 miles of ATV trails, 4.5 miles of jeep off-road trails, and some mountain bike trails. Currently, there are about 70 miles of ATV trails.
The master plan also calls for a campground that would include 81 RV sites with water and electric hook-ups, 93 tent sites, and 26 remote sites.
The campground, which would be located north of Jericho Lake, would include a general store, public washrooms with showers, play areas, and a laundromat. The master plan estimated the cost of the campground at $2 million. Recognizing that the Division of Parks did not have the funds to develop the campground, the master plan suggested the state seek a company willing to build and run the facility under a long term lease.
While the state is seeking a 20-year lease, it reserves the right to renew the lease and operating agreement for an additional ten years.
Bidders are asked to describe their experience in the design, construction, and development of public or private outdoor recreation facilities. Bidders are also asked to demonstrate they have the financial ability to carry out their proposal.
A mandatory pre-submittal and site meeting will be held on January 5. The state projects it will announce the successful bidder on March 6, with lease terms negotiated by the following month. The timetable calls for the final lease and operating agreement to go before the Governor and Executive Council for approval in May. Once the deal is finalized, the successful bidder will have up to a year to have the campground open for business.
The RFP calls for the campground operator to pay the state a base fee plus a commission on gross sales for the lease. The RFP, draft lease and other documents can be found on the Division of Parks & Recreation’s website www.nhstateparks.org, under Jericho Mountain State Park.
Editors Note: Click on the link below to go directly to the RFP page on the NH Parks and Recreation website:
www.nhstateparks.org/partner-and-community-resources/rfps-and-projects.aspx