OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLES, 2: Creating off road parks for free 
wheeling Texans ... details ahead on Passport to Texas ... 
____________________________________________________________

Passport to Texas ... from Texas Parks and Wildlife 

You may be surprised -- as I was -- to find out where 
Texas stands in the off road world.

We have more ATVs, motorcycles and full size off highway 
vehicles than any other state other than California. :06

All that horsepower and nowhere to run ... because 97-
percent of the state is private property. Steve Thompson 
coordinates the new Texas Off Highway Vehicle Program 
through Texas Parks and Wildlife. 

The Off Highway Vehicle Program was created under SB 1311, in 
the 79th Legislative Session, here in Texas. The reason the 
program was created was to create additional off-road venues 
for motorcycles, ATVs, and full-sized vehicles like jeeps and 4X4 
trucks. :17

This task has its challenges. Just ask the people of Gilmer 
in east Texas about the 1999 proposal for the Barnwell 
Mountain Recreation Area. 

If you go to Gilmer today, and you talk to the folks who were 
aware of the project in 1999, they will say, almost universally, 
that they thought it was a bad idea. But if you go there today, 
and ask them what they think of the facility, they'll talk about 
the economic benefits that Upshur County and the city of 
Gilmer have enjoyed by having this park five miles from 
downtown. :24

Tomorrow: The Texas Off Highway Vehicle program and 
how it's going to work.

The Texas Off Highway Vehicle Program revolves around the 
Texas Off Highway - or OHV - decal. :06

That's our show for today ... thank you for joining us ... 
For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti. 


Total sound bite time:		0:53.0
 Maximum Script time:		0:33.0 Suggested show time: 86.0 = 1:26