Plans for off-road trail get mixed reviews from Payson residents

PAYSON — For some, a motocross track and off-road vehicle trail planned for south Utah County would be welcome.

For others, it would disturb the tranquility of the rural area.

The project would include a competitive motocross and all-terrain vehicle track on the south end of West Mountain near the Payson landfill, a 26-mile trail around the base of the mountain and a designated shooting area. It would become part of the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.

The lands are owned by the Bureau of Land Management, state schools, Payson and also include some private ownership. The plan includes linking some existing trails together and blotting out trails and roads deemed unnecessary.

"I'm very pro for it," said Travis Ryan of Santaquin.

Ryan believes many residents, like him, own ATVs and would like a safe place to ride.

"Kids would be less tempted to ride in the street," he said. "I've ridden in several parks like this in California and they're great facilities. … They're safer because all the riders are going in one direction."

"People go out and ride wherever they want now," said Jason Shelley, who added that many of the open areas near Payson and West Mountain would have to be cleaned up first.

"People take their stuff out there and shoot it up and leave it," the Payson man said. Shelley and his two boys, age 8 and 10, all have ATVs.

"(We) go out there all the time," he said. "An organized (park) would be awesome for them."

Environmental assessments should be completed by this summer, and more public comments will be solicited before construction begins in the fall. Planners would like to see a national motocross event take place during Labor Day weekend in 2011.

"It's not the role of government to take public lands in order to benefit a private business," said Joan Landes of West Mountain.

Landes and her family moved to the small Utah County town 10 years ago for the peace and quiet.

Leah Patton also chose the area for that reason but now finds ATV riders encroaching on her 38 acres. Patton lives on 8000 South, which accesses West Mountain, and says riders cross her property to get to a trail next to a canal.

"That's illegal," she said.

Patton also has concerns with the noise a legal ATV trail will bring.

The project is being proposed by Payson, BLM, the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation and Rocky Mountain ATV, a private ATV dealer.

Meanwhile, Utah County commissioners recently inked a pact to put in the mile-long motocross track just west of Payson at 10800 South and 6000 West.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com