Nine area snowmobile clubs that maintain trails in Cattaraugus County will benefit from annual snowmobile registration fees collected by New York State.

     New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recently awarded Cattaraugus County, the municipal sponsor, $204,610 in funding to help improve and maintain the 400 miles of funded snowmobile trails in Cattaraugus County. The additional 74 miles of trails in Allegany State Park are funded separately.

     Snowmobile registration fees were increased this year to $45, which already resulted in higher grant awards for not-for-profit snowmobile clubs across the state.

     The registration fee increase was supported by snowmobile clubs and associations since the increased revenue would be reinvested in the trail system via the NYS Trail Grant Program.

     “The key to this snowmobile program is that it is part of a comprehensive system that includes funding for a Statewide Insurance Policy, Snowmobile Safety Courses, Law Enforcement, Groomer Training Courses and Trail Maintenance Grants,” stated Gerard J. Fitzpatrick, chairman of the Cattaraugus County Legislature. “It is important to note that these are not tax dollars.”

     Jerry Burrell, chairman of the Development & Agriculture Committee, highlighted the economic impact that snowmobiling brings to Cattaraugus County. “Recent economic impact reports produced by NYS Parks indicate that the total annual economic impact of snowmobiling in the Allegany Region (Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties) amounts to over $47 million. Snowmobiler spending is critical for many of our small businesses located on the trail system,” said Burrell.