SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, Pa. — More than $300,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will allow snowmobile riders like Sean Sheare and Dan Pregnar to ride on more trials in Susquehanna County.
"It allows us to access our snowmobile trail, which is over 200 miles of trails that we have in the winter, and it also provides us 11 miles of ATV riding in the spring, summer, and winter," said Sheare, vice president of NEP SNO and ATV trails.
The nonprofit NEP Sno and ATV Trails will use the money to buy 132 acres of land on the O&W trail that's in the club's trail system.
"It starts in Simpson, which is in northern Lackawanna County, continues up into Wayne County, crosses over to Susquehanna County, and then back into Wayne County where it ends in Poyntelle."
The group is one of the largest snowmobile and ATV groups in northeastern Pennsylvania.
"A normal trail system, let's say in New York, they may have 20 or 30 or maybe 50 miles, all the different clubs. We're the sole and only one here in northeastern Pennsylvania, and that's where we have over 200 and some miles," said Pregnar, a club member.
Members say the grant is going to help expand the organization.
"We live by the power sports industry, and we allow a lot of local people and people outside of the region to come and visit our area and see what we have to offer," Sheare said.
"Any amount of money is a shot in the arm for us to be able to do better for our members," Pregnar added.