PRESS RELEASE
Marietta, GA. — GARTRA is pleased to announce that it has received a grant totaling almost $30,000.00 from Yamaha Motor Corp. USA’s Outdoor Access Initiative https://yamahaoai.com.
This grant will be used to fund trail maintenance supplies and equipment for our volunteer workforce and will go directly towards supporting ongoing activities at Davenport Mountain, Houston Valley, Locust Stake, Oakey Mountain, Town Creek, Windy Gap, and Whissenhunt OHV areas.
GARTRA has worked closely with Yamaha in recent years on projects at Oakey Mountain OHV and Beasley Knob OHV and we are grateful for the continued support of the riding community and their commitment to keeping public riding areas accessible. “The club has been growing lately and our tool inventory used by volunteers at our workdays is over 20 years old. This grant allows GARTRA to update those aging items and grow the inventory of items to accommodate the larger turnouts of volunteers we have at our workdays. This Grant helps set a foundation of tools needed so that we can accomplish so many more improvements at our OHVs in the future.”, says Bill Shilling, President of Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Association.
In 2023 GARTRA generated 2,009 volunteer hours working at USFS OHV parks in Georgia. These hours qualify as RTP, Federal Recreational Trails Program, grant matching funds that the US Forest Service can apply to ongoing projects on the trail systems in Georgia.
About GARTRA
Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Association is a member managed 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization advocating and improving public off-road motorized recreation use throughout Georgia. Founded in 1992, GARTRA works closely with the USFS and Georgia DNR to maintain, improve and expand OHV riding opportunities. For more information, please visit www.gartra.org .
Special Workday at Houston Valley OHV Park, Sat May 18
In recognition and appreciation of Yamaha’s “Outdoor Access Initiative” generous support, GARTRA is planning a special workday for Saturday May 18, 2024, 9:00 am at “Houston Valley OHV” park, located approximately 10 miles west of Dalton, GA, at Capehart Rd, Rocky Face, GA 30740. You are invited to join GARTRA to view and participate in the work we do to maintain off-road riding opportunities in Georgia. Visit www.gartra.org for more information about GARTRA.
GARTRA will be providing lunch to all those who participate.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to brucedreher@charter.net