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Denmark ATV Club disbands; board keeps narrow-gauge–to–Jim Bob’s trail open and closes western public ATV access
Summary
After Denmark ATV Club announced it is disbanding, the Select Board approved keeping the insured narrow-gauge-to-Jim Bob’s section open for this season while closing other public ATV access on the town’s western side until a longer-term steward is established.
The Denmark Select Board voted to keep the narrow-gauge-to-Jim Bob’s off-road ATV trail open this season while closing other public ATV access on the town’s western side after the Denmark ATV Club announced it was disbanding.
"We're going to maintain a couple of us — myself and Lori Tibbitz — and keep the club status with the state for this year," said Bob Spear of Denmark ATV, who told the board the club has renewed insurance and intends to use grant money and leftover funds to spend about $15,000 on trail repairs and signage. Spear said Lakes Region Club will assume responsibility for a portion of the system and Landshare Riders will take the Brownfield-side section to Route 113.
Select Board members said they were primarily concerned with liability, maintenance and clear public notice. The motion approved by the board authorizes the narrow-gauge-to-Jim Bob’s section to remain open, maintained by current club members together with assistance from the Lakes Region Club while the Denmark club holds insurance for 2026. The board also directed staff to post a town notice and update the website describing which roads and access points are closed.
"For now any other public trails in Denmark — the western part and roads such as Lords Hill and Mil Road — are officially closed until further notice," a board member said during the motion discussion. Members said closures are intended to prevent motorized use on town roads and to protect private landowner rights where trails no longer have organized stewardship.
Spear said the club had removed directional signage on sections that are closed and posted temporary "closed until further notice" signs at trailheads. He asked the board to schedule a follow-up meeting in March before the 2027 season so a successor club or a Lakes Region chapter can finalize stewardship and permitting. Board members suggested coordinating a March meeting to finalize agreements and public messaging.
The board did not adopt a permanent map of closures at the meeting but asked staff to publish a clear, zoomable map on the town website and to work with Jim Bob’s (a local services point cited by residents) on on-site notification. The Select Board did not change any private-property rights and noted private trails remain under private control.
