Friends of Kern Open Space
"Friends of Kern Open Space” exists to facilitate the formation of an off-highway vehicle park in Kern County, for the families of Kern to enjoy and benefit from for generations to come.
Bakersfield OHV Park
INTRODUCTION
Population growth accompanied by urban sprawl and environmental concerns has produced a countrywide shortage of appropriate and legal areas to ride and drive off-highway recreation vehicles. Urban opportunities, particularly within or near major population centers are particularly limited. Local motocross tracks, where available, usually offer only limited opportunity and normally do not adequately address environmental and social concerns.
Areas near Bakersfield once considered remote and appropriate for OHV use are now being actively developed as residential areas and are in fact, private property as well. An example of this is the Kern Bluffs/Hang Glider Hill area, soon to be City in the Hills. This loss of appropriate riding areas poses a dilemma for policy makers in our community.
DEFINITION OF AN OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK
An OHV park is a place for family and community-based leisure activity programs, education, green space, and environmentally enhancing activities with a focus on OHV recreational experiences. An OHV park may consist of only a few acres nestled within a large metropolitan area or may be a multi-thousand acre site adjacent to federal lands with additional designated OHV opportunities.
This would be a developed and managed recreational and educational facility that provides for a variety of riding and driving experiences for off-highway motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), and four wheel drive vehicles.
A SOLUTION
Those of us who ride OHVs have seen the areas where we can legally ride our vehicles reduced dramatically. This is particularly true in the California desert and mountains, but is also being manifested right here in the Bakersfield area. The popularity of OHV recreation has increased greatly in the past few years. The California Department of Motor Vehicles reports as of May 2001, there are over 18,000 OHVs registered in Kern County. That doesn’t include street legal vehicles driven off-highway like four wheel drives, prerunners dual sport motorcycles and Baja’s or Manx’s (converted Volkswagens).
What is needed is an OHV park near Bakersfield, consisting of possibly several thousand acres and far enough away from any current or future residential or commercial development. It would have sufficient topographical features to be a challenge to experienced riders, as well as a separate area for young riders to learn to ride. It could also contain a four wheel drive training range where men and women could receive training from certified instructors on how to operate their SUV or four wheel drive off-highway safely. It would have lots of native plants and trees that would enhance the site and make an attribute to Kern County and Bakersfield.
YOUTH PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION
There are several educational programs available to train youth in proper OHV operation, including National 4-H and the California Off-Road PALS program. Off-Road Pals uses youth-sized off highway motorcycles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs) to motivate “at risk” youth to improve behavior, encourage responsibility and learn skills that can be carried through life. The Bakersfield Police Department has several dedicated officers who participate in the Police Activities League (PALS) program, but must drive the kids to Los Angeles County to participate. Officers involved in the program say it is a very fulfilling program for them and the kids-nontraditional, wholesome, outdoor recreation; with the added benefit of having a very positive experience with law enforcement officers.
It must be recognized however, that an OHV Park will not and cannot provide sufficient area or diversity for the thousands of Kern County residents and visitors who participate in OHV recreation. Cooperative efforts, primarily with the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management must be ongoing to improve the quality and quantity of opportunity for dispersed OHV recreation and backcountry vehicle touring.
PARTNERSHIP
Similar ventures nationwide that have been successful have had some common denominators. Likewise, similar attempts that have failed all have lacked these successful elements. The success of an OHV Park must include the community it serves in the planning, design and management. A “community Advisory Committee”, consisting of representatives of the following areas are one key element: OHV riders, OHV dealers or manufacturers, schools, law enforcement, local government and environmental. This group would help steer the direction of the OHV Park. It doesn’t matter what direction is used for development and management: state or local government, private industry, non-profit corporation with a board of directors or a combination of any of these.
Today’s OHV rider shares the trail with numerous other outdoor recreation seekers. Each user group has a different perspective about the backcountry, and values their own means of getting there. With growing numbers of youth using OHVs for recreation, it is vitally important to teach sensible and responsible land use ethics. An OHV Park is one way to protect Kern County’s beautiful natural resources for everyone to enjoy.