DNR plans meetings on border to border OHV trail
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold a series of listening sessions this month and into March across northwest Minnesota and other northern counties to gather feedback on a proposed touring route for highway-licensed, four-wheel drive vehicles.
The Border To Border Touring Route will connect the eastern and western borders of Minnesota across the northern third of the state using minimum maintenance and rugged roadways to create a signed, mapped system of routes that already are open for driving.
The DNR's Parks and Trails Division, in conjunction with the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council and the Minnesota 4-Wheel Drive Association, are holding the meetings.
The project is funded by the off-road vehicle account in Minnesota's Natural Resources Fund. Revenues for the fund come from registered off-road vehicle owners.
In a news release, the DNR said the purpose of the listening sessions is to gather feedback on a draft alignment for the touring route. Last year at this time, similar meetings were held to help determine the best location for the adventure route. Planners then used that information to form the draft alignment that will be the topic of the upcoming listening sessions.
The route is proposed to go through the counties of Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Itasca, Beltrami, Clearwater, Polk, Red Lake, Pennington, Marshall and Kittson.
Meetings in northwest Minnesota, all from 6 to 8 p.m., are as follows:
• Tuesday, Feb. 27: Blackduck (Minn.) School Library, 156 First St. N.W.
• Wednesday, Feb. 28: Clearbrook Gonvick School Library, 16770 Clearwater Lake Road, Clearbrook, Minn.
• Monday, March 5: Newfolden (Minn.) City Office, 145 E. First St.
• Tuesday, March 6: Hallock (Minn.) City Hall, 163 Third St. S.E.
• Wednesday, March 7: Red Lake Falls Lafayette High School Cafeteria, 404 Champagne Ave., Red Lake Falls, Minn.
Other meetings are scheduled for Feb. 20 in Grand Marais, Minn.; Feb. 21 in Mountain Iron, Minn.; Feb. 22 in Beaver Bay, Minn.; and Feb. 26 in Squaw Lake, Minn.
The DNR also will accept written comments on the touring route proposal from Feb. 21 through March 25. Send written comments to Mary Straka, DNR Parks and Trails Off-Highway Vehicle Program consultant, at mary.straka@state.mn.us or by postal mail to Mary Straka, Minnesota DNR, Parks and Trails Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.
For more information or to request a printed copy of the proposal, call Straka at (218) 203-4445 or email her at mary.straka@state.mn.us.
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