The Georgia Bounty Runners 4WD Club has been working with the USFS since 1993 to maintain and improve the Beasley Knob OHV Park in Blairsville, Ga. Over the past 20 years, GBR work hours have been used to “purchase / match” funds for needed repairs and improvement from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). GBR work hours were used to add a public restroom a few years ago as well as helped fund the assessment used to evaluate the areas usefulness for continued OHV use.
Over the last 3 years, GBR members have taken weekdays and weekends out of their busy lives and walked with USFS contractors through (literally) snow, rain and sun to set up an assessment of what is needed in the area. Every inch of the trail system was walked, measured and assessed. With this positive assessment, the RTP grant was provided for; we have half million dollars for improvements.
GBR and SFWDA have agreed to participate with 2200 work hours that will eliminate two dead end trails and add 3.5 miles to the system! (See attachments)
We are very excited about this project and look forward to other SFWDA members helping us obtain the 2200 hours needed within the next 2 to 4 years. The USFS is bidding out the work that will start in August 2014. The park will be closed from August 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015 to complete the work.
Over the next couple of years, GBR will be sending out work weekend requests to SFWDA. Our regular work weekends take place the third weekend in March and October. Please MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW to participate with us. There may also be special additional work days set up. We will be in touch and broadcast that information as it becomes available. The work will be based on the Forest Service needs--anything from blazing trails, new and old, to mowing or installing signs. If heavy equipment drivers are needed we will make that request also since we have some very qualified drivers in SFWDA!
We look forward to getting this project underway!
Curtis Barnhart
GBR / SFWD Adopt-A-Trail Knob Representative