Preserve Thomaston Dam off road use

It's the only place to ride in the state. If you are going to take it away, then you need to fund projects to provide other places. We have enough walking trails and parks, but nothing for ATV's and only this spot for dirt bikes when other states have entire systems of trails with mini economies built around them and tax income for the state.

Please keep the dam open to motorcycles I had a lifetime of memories riding there with my family and friends

Don't take away family fun in ct

There are multiple dozens of places for people to walk very few places to ride legally.

I strongly appeal for government appointees to reconsider the impact of coverting all or a portion of the current Thomaston Dam riding area into a public greenway. I started riding off road motorcycles last year after a 3 decade hiatus. If the dam was unavailable, I would have not considered that decision. In that time, riding there has renewed memories of my youth when I enjoyed that land with my father and brother. I have had the opportunity to share this experience with my 9 year old daughter last year during the 2021 riding season. The ability to experience this together was and still is invaluable for both her and I. During the beginning of the pandemic, my daughter and I spent the entire 2020 summer hiking and bicycling on rail trails throughout CT. In that time, we covered a fraction of what is offered in this entire state. That being said, there is only one legal off road riding area that is available to take a dirt bike which can not be street registered such as my daughters. As a high school teacher in the state of Connecticut, I have many youth that operate dirt bikes. I encourage them not to ride on public streets and private land. I educate them to ride in a responsible manner in a legal riding area. Many have told me that they were able to get to the Thomaston Dam and truely enjoy the experience. I appeal you to consider what impact that could have for current riders, old (like me) and young, as well as future generations to come.

My 9 year old daughter was first introduced to dirt bike riding in 2021 at the Thomaston Dam. Both my husband and daughter love riding together and this property lends the perfect opportunity for her to advance her skills, have fun and bond. This experience has allowed my daughter to gain self confidence, learn to responsibly operate a motorized vehicle in a safe environment as well as gain mechanical aptitude in maintaining her dirt bike. It would be unfortunate to see the only legal riding area in CT for dirt bikes which can not be street registered to be lost for this and upcoming generations.

Please don’t take 50% of the legal riding in Ct away from us. There are 100’s of miles of walking and biking trails around Ct. with ony two legal places to ride dirt bikes.

There are not enough places to ride dirt bikes now. Please do not eliminate another. Thank You.

This state sucks enough don’t make it worse

Why would you take the only place to ride legally away you already charge us from dmv to register our bikes least you can do is leave it open to ride

We need more legal offloading not less!

Though I appreciate the greenway idea, doing this will force additional, respectful riders to ride illegally on someone else’s property.

Connecticut needs more places to ride not less

We need to keep legal riding areas open

We need more legal dirt bike and atv trails. Please do t take the only one we have

Let them ride

There’s plenty of places to walk,hike,mountain bike, why would the state take away the one legal place to ride and give up all the registration and tax money on dirtbikes?

There are plenty of walking trails in this state and nowhere to off road that’s why there are so many people riding on the streets

Save the trails

Plenty of places to walk in CT, leave this area legal for riding.