Saint Marys council pledges to work with Elk County ATV group on 'Trail of Dreams' stop

Cheryl, a representative of Elk County Riders ATV (ECR ATV), presented the Trail of Dreams project to the Saint Marys City Council on Feb. 17, outlining eight years of planning, grant-funded bridge and trailhead work and a proposed route into Saint Marys to provide access to lodging, fuel and food.

Cheryl said the group has won DCNR/RATV funding for bridge construction over Kersey Run and acquired easements from Rosebud Mining and Fox Township for trail connections. She described plans for a Boone Mountain Road trailhead with a pavilion and comfort station funded by DCNR and said the network in the immediate area now includes about 75 miles of connected roads and trails. She also cited results from a state ATV pilot that showed multi-county economic impacts and described how the North Central regional effort (NRAT) evolved from that pilot.

On the specific Saint Marys routing, Cheryl said the group proposes to access the town along its Lime Timber lease, travel past the Water Authority retention pond, follow Munster Road and SR 120 east to McGill Street and Mill Street, and end near the Cobblestone Hotel area. Cheryl said she had presented the concept to the Saint Marys Area Water Authority board and that the board was "receptive" and would discuss the request further.

Cheryl explained that long-term easements (25–30 years) are required to qualify for DCNR funding and that Trail of Dreams intends to seek easements or rights of way rather than rely on a private lease alone. She said the group envisions a permitting model if the project becomes an authority: "Anything that is connected to the Trail Of Dreams, there will be a permit fee of, you know, maybe $30 a year," Cheryl said, adding that permit revenue would be used for policing and trail maintenance.

Councilors asked about safety rules, helmet requirements, the PennDOT review process for opening roads to ATVs, signage costs and how downtown impacts would be minimized. Cheryl and councilors agreed that town ordinances and PennDOT safety studies would be part of the process; she noted PennDOT provides sign plans and that townships typically draft an ordinance or at least a draft letter before PennDOT conducts a study.

Councilor Tony moved, seconded by Clark, "to show our interest in the Elk County Riders' possible route through Saint Marys" and the motion passed with recorded ayes. The motion commits the council to work with Elk County Riders to pursue routing options and outreach to property owners and agencies; it does not authorize construction, easements, or changes to municipal roads until the required studies, ordinances and agreements are completed.

Next steps discussed during the meeting included: staff or council forwarding a request to PennDOT for any roadway study, pursuing easements from Lime Timber or negotiating permanent rights, and ongoing consultation with the Saint Marys Area Water Authority and local businesses about potential stop locations.

The council vote recorded was a formal 'commitment to work' motion; no funding appropriation or binding easement grants were approved at the meeting.