Funding Your ATV Trail

If you’re an ATV owner who bemoans the lack of good trails in your local area, why not fund your own? Maintaining existing trails and creating new ones is vital to keeping the hobby healthy and alive. If you think that founding and funding your own ATV trail sounds like a pipe dream, this guide from the experts at Gina’s Motorsports of Monee can help.

Where To Start?

It’s true that one person can only do so much, but there’s nothing stopping you from joining forces with like-minded ATV riders. Contact the local ATV riding club to see if they would be interested in creating a new powersports trail. Often these kinds of groups will have just the kind of resources you need to get the grant process rolling. At this stage, it’s important to establish your goal, whether to fix up/add on to an existing trail or even to create an entirely new one. The better you can articulate your needs, the better your proposal will look and the better your chances of getting funding. Work with the committee to draft the proposal. It’s also important that you know about any special rules or restrictions in effect, like not being able to plan your trail on areas controlled by the Bureau of Land Management or on National Forest lands. 

Corporate Assistance

Certain powersports manufacturers have special programs meant to encourage the development of ATV trails. While these programs usually impose certain limitations on proposals, such as needing to be a non-profit organization and needing to apply by a certain date, they are still a great way to get access to the funding you need. 

Recreational Trails Program

The Recreational Trails Program is a federal assistance program that helps to administer funds meant to create and maintain recreational trails. While this program only provides a maximum of 80% of a project’s funds, it’s still a great resource for those looking to fund their own trail. Each state administers its own offshoot of the program and has its own advisory committee, so look up who administers this program for your state. 

For more on funding your ATV trail or to view our inventory of ATVs for sale, visit Gina’s Motorsports of Monee in Monee, Illinois. We are proud to serve the Kankakee County area, as well as communities like Chicago, Illinois. We also offer powersports parts and servicing.