Volunteers, neighbors urge Howard County delegation to allow mechanized trail work in Patuxent Wildlands

At a Howard County delegation public hearing, volunteers, neighbors and search-and-rescue members urged support for HOCO 5-25, an amendment that would let the Maryland Department of Natural Resources enter user agreements permitting trained volunteers to use mechanized tools to maintain trails in Patuxent River State Park wildlands and to improve emergency access.

Supporters said the park’s designated wildlands status currently prevents volunteers from using chainsaws, ATVs and other mechanized equipment to clear fallen trees and keep routes passable — a situation they said has led to dangerous delays during rescues and fires.

“we need the ability to use some different kinds of equipment, to get into the wildlands to be able to have the opportunity to access all of the trails,” said Peter Framson, a resident and president of the Howard County Ironbridge Hounds,…