Selectboard authorizes Bow Pioneers to use town trails, amends access period to July 30, 2026

The Bow Selectboard voted to authorize the Bow Pioneers snowmobile club to use town trails after the club confirmed state approvals and provided a list of landowner permissions. Steve Conway of the Bow Pioneers told the board the group met the state’s October deadline and received approval on Oct. 30, and that some annual landowner agreements had been renewed as five‑year agreements.

The board discussed timing and requested the club align the authorization with the club’s operational calendar. “We’ve got everything in through the state, before the October 3 deadline, and then we just got it back on the thirtieth that it’s all approved,” Steve Conway said during his presentation. A Selectboard member moved to authorize one‑year access; the motion was amended on the floor to set the authorization to expire July 30, 2026 so the town’s approval better aligns with the club’s July‑to‑July schedule. The amended motion passed by voice vote.

Board members asked the Pioneers to provide a current trail map and a list of confirmed landowner approvals before the next field season. The Pioneers indicated they are updating their maps and will email copies to town staff when complete. Selectboard members also discussed longer-term options, including multi‑year or indefinite permissions that would remain revocable in writing, and recommended using an existing trail‑work permission form to clarify what the town is granting and what it is not.

The vote formalized town permission to use town corridors pending the town’s receipt of landowner documentation and updated mapping; board members said they preferred a documented trail‑permission process to protect town property and abutters.