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By: Robert Janis
Kansas ATV
Association Expands Land Use for Kansas ATVers
One of the major battles that most ATV state
associations have in common is the struggle to
increase the amount of land where members can
ride. The Kansas All-Terrain Vehicle Association
(KATVA) has a proven record in being successful
in expanding the amount of land its members use
throughout the State of Kansas.
The KATVA was founded in December 1988. The
mission is to protect the rights of riders and
to promote riding as family fun with safety as
priority one.
Right from the beginning, the group was involved
in expanding land use for ATV recreation. When
the organization was formed, board member Roger
Harmon discovered an area at Pomona Lake, Kansas
that was a Corps Of Engineers project. It was
designated for motorcycle riding, but it had
never opened. “Roger and others put in many
years of hard work to open the area,” explained
Tim Paulsen, president of KATVA. “The first
attempt was to make Pomona a public ride area
with KATVA providing the labor and materials.
The Corps said no due to liability issues. After
many letters to the Corps and elected officials,
plus considerable negotiations, the Corps then
proposed that the KATVA provide insurance and
lease the property. In June 1990, the KATVA
signed a five-year lease on 57 acres for a
‘private club’ riding area. This was a first in
Kansas. We would later purchase approximately 60
additional acres.”
The members of the Board of Directors of the
KATVA are not just a bunch of people who meet
once or twice a month to talk about their ATV
prowess. They get involved. “Over the years, we
have had many different board members and active
club members,” explained Paulsen. “These members
have always stepped up to the plate and handled
any political issue at hand. Simply put, if we
have an issue whether it is a safety issue,
insurance issue, or a lobbying issue pertaining
to a new ride area in this state or even in
adjoining states, we are quick to offer support
of worthwhile projects. We attend meetings and
support projects while keeping safety in mind.
We are a very top-notch professional
organization that wants to promote the expansion
of this sport. We have been doing this for the
last 20 years with a proven track record.”
Unlike other organizations that serve as an
advocate of a particular group, the KATVA does
not employ a professional lobbyist. Instead it
relies on its members to do the lobbying. The
reason, explained Paulsen, is to allow new
members to get involved and to be comfortable
about presenting their own opinions. “I think it
keeps the club proactive,” said Paulsen. “For
instance, we will have several openings on the
board this year. These new board members will
lobby the issues at hand as relayed to them by
fellow club members or requested from other
clubs and organizations. We use the talent
within the club to lobby the issues.”
It is the grass roots members who lobby the
local towns and counties, continued Paulsen. And
with the local authorities the most important
issue is safety. For example, Paulsen recently
attended preliminary meetings for a future ride
area and praised the layout of a kids’ track
that fenced in a part of the track. This
provided a secure area for kids to learn the
sport and to be protected from larger machines
while honing basic safety and riding skills. “We
have found that it is little things like this
that makes a ride area safe,” said Paulsen.
Members also participate in work days and help
put on club functions. The work days consist of
maintaining 115 acres of land that serve as a
riding area as well as another 15 to 20 miles of
trails.
The organization also helps to promote the sport
of ATV recreation riding by consolidating its
events with other clubs’ events. Moreover, the
club uses ATVs as support vehicles for mountain
bike races. If someone gets a flat or is in need
of medical attention, then they receive help
from people who get there on ATVs. It also
travels to a variety of out-of-state areas like
Taylor Reservoir in Colorado. It promotes flat
track racing too. “Once a year we have TT and
Oval races at a local fair ground,” said
Paulsen. “We have done this for a number of
years and have between 80 to 150 racers and
4,000 spectators.” The races are held for a
variety of age groups.
Currently the KATVA has more than 100 members.
Benefits of being a member include access to
private land for riding 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, 365 days a year. The club also has
access to camping slots with electric hook ups
and great riding opportunities for children in
an environment that allows their parents to
carefully watch them. There are also pot luck
dinners at the club rides, and everyone is
assured that they can ride with someone whenever
they go out. Programs for members include ATV
Safety Institute training courses on their own
riding area.
According to Paulsen, the most urgent issue for
ATV enthusiasts in Kansas is keeping trails
open. Kansas has recently allowed a new ride
area to open in Syracuse, Kansas.
The organization has a website (www.katva.org).
The site includes a forum; the association’s
newsletter, which can be downloaded; a way to
contact members of the Board of Directors;
information on ride areas; pictures; a calendar
of events; membership information; links to OHV
related businesses’ websites; and you can buy a
KATVA T-shirt at the site. Log on for more
information.
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