New Places To Ride In Nebraska?

Opinion by Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager

The timing is ripe for new public places to ride ATVs and dirtbikes in Nebraska!  More than any other time that has EVER existed in the history of our state, there is a great deal of interest in developing new places for recreational ATV and dirtbike places to ride. 

There is beginning to be a much greater interest among communities to develop ATV and dirtbike trails.  Small town leaders and economic development committees are discussing the potential of income from the recreation, and to provide an activity to help keep younger people and families in small communities, and providing an activity that may attract new individuals and families to communities. 

Less restrictive state rules regarding the distribution of federal trail funds is helping spur attention for recreational ATV and dirtbike trails.  The success of existing NOHVA projects is getting around to communities as well. 

What is needed is more rider involvement.  While many riders look towards NOHVA leaders to go out and finds areas to ride, in reality the effort to find and develop these potential OHV parks and trails need to come from people within the local communities where the trails and OHV parks are desired. 

What this means to riders is that local ATV and dirtbike clubs or committees need to be formed to support the development of local OHV parks and trails, and to provide assistance in managing these areas once they are developed.  The reason why local involvement is so important is because local riders know the people who are involved in local government and economic development.  They often see each other every day, attend the same church, and have children in the same schools.  A NOHVA official that lives 100 miles or more away does not have this kind of personal contact with local government officials and those interested in economic development. 

Once the local riders club or committee is formed, NOHVA can provide guidance and support to help select land, plan the parks and trails, and organize the park and trails plan of operation, regulations and maintenance.  All of this is based off of working examples that already exist in Nebraska, and operations that exist in other states. 

One area that I see as having a great potential for development is in the north and north west of Omaha.  The is potential for development of trails and parks south of Omaha and Lincoln.  Additionally, there is potential for development of trails at Harlan County Reservoir. 

I believe that in the Omaha area, riders need to organize a committee to begin asking City governments and Natural Resource Districts for help to develop ATV and dirtbike trails and park.  Officials within the City of Omaha and the Papio Creek natural Resource District know that it’s only a matter of time before they are going to have to address ATV and dirtbike trails.  However, very few if any riders are pushing them along and they are not going to make any plans until they have to.  I believe that there is good potential for a new place to ride ATVs and dirtbikes in and near Omaha, but riders are not pushing the issue.  The squeaky wheel get the grease, but no ATV or dirtbike riders are squeaking in Omaha.  If riders in the Omaha area want nearby places to ride, they need to begin becoming involved and begin to talk to their local elected officials. 

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This page was updated on Monday, February 19, 2007