News Release Published: April 23, 2009 by the Northern Region

Contact(s): Kathy Oginski (715) 266-2032

HAYWARD - An off road vehicle company and a local ATV dealer is assisting Department of Natural Resources with enforcement and maintenance on a popular state recreation trail. Early this month the Polaris company, courtesy of Hayward Power Sports, loaned a side by side ATV for work on the Tuscobia State Trail.

In accepting the machine, Kathy Oginski, Department of Natural Resources Property Manager for the trail, thanked the company and dealer for the generous donation saying it will go a long way towards improving the safety and maintenance on this popular travel way.

For the past five years Polaris has donated 6-8 ATV's each year for law enforcement and land managers use in Wisconsin. The program has been administered thru the Wisconsin ATV Association (WATVA) with the machines being provided by Bryon Schroeder, owner of Hayward Power Sports.

For 2008-2009, Wisconsin has implemented a pilot program permitting “side by side” type recreational vehicles to travel on ATV trails in five counties including Washburn and Sawyer counties. The Tuscobia trail traverses through both counties.

In years past, a full sized pick up was used to do sign maintenance, clean up of downed trees, and erosion checks, Oginski said. With the new, light weight ATV, there will be less damage to the trail and a more economical way to travel, she said.

The 74-mile trail is a former rail grade that runs from Rice Lake to Park Falls. The trail is open to ATV, snowmobiles, mountain bikes and hiking.

Oginski said that along with providing loaner ATV's for law enforcement and land managers, WATVA conducted training for Trail Patrol Ambassadors (TPA) in cooperation with the DNR. The ambassadors are not Law Enforcement officers but are a courtesy patrol who assist people on the trails and act as extra eyes and ears for the department. Ambassadors will also ride along with Law enforcement officers allowing them to focus on violation issues, Oginski added.

“We not only commend Polaris and Bryon Schroeder for their assistance but also the state and national ATV groups for the use of the machines for the next two years,” Oginski said.