SHAMOKIN - The first public ride for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) could be little more than three weeks away if the AOAA authority's plans to move forward are not delayed.
Chairman Jim Backes suggested at the workshop meeting Tuesday night that the authority and committee members work over the next few weeks and tentatively allow the first 100 individuals to pre-register for an open ride June 22 on the 2,000-acre eastern portion of the property.
The soft opening will allow the authority members to deal with various problems that arise on a smaller scale before opening it to everyone, Backes said.
"We can sit here and plan and plan and plan, and we're still going to miss something," Backes said. "We have to start somewhere."
It would also start fulfilling the authority's mission to bring recreation activities to the public, it would be in prime riding season and it would generate revenue, he said.
Authority member Barry Yorwarth said they would need to mark the trails and property lines before allowing anyone in the park.
The authority and committee members will be moving forward with the plans and will advertise once they know whether hosting the event will be feasible.
It may require a vote at the next scheduled meeting, which would be four days before they want to hold the event, said Solicitor Frank Garrigan.
If the event is scheduled, they will be doing so without a permanent building, but the plans for that are also moving forward.
Authority member Pat Mack said the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and PennDOT approved Paul Risk Associates Inc., of Quarryville, as general contractor for the construction of a welcome center late Monday.
The other three contracts were not approved yet, he said.
The contracts, which total $1,637,281, were awarded by the authority last month to Paul Risk Associates Inc., of Quarryville, at $1,429,000 for general construction; J.B. Electric Corp., of Minersville, at $92,390 for electrical; Bognet Inc., of Hazleton, at $58,205 for plumbing, and Shannon A. Smith Inc, of Myerstown, at $57,685 for mechanical/HVAC.
Funding is coming mostly from two grants totaling $1.9 million that were awarded by DCNR in 2010 and 2011.
The general contractor will likely start construction in the next two weeks, and the remaining contracts will likely be approved by next week, Mack said.
The welcome center will be built at the trailhead just off Route 125 south of Burnside. It will include an administrative building with an office, conference room and three maintenance garages. There will be 75 parking places on a paved lot and 180 spaces on a gravel lot, with additional overflow parking. The area will also include an ATV safety course, benches, lights and signs.
The authority originally was expecting to start construction by June 3 with a target finish date of Sept. 2.
The AOAA authority will hold its monthly workshop at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, 2 E. Arch St., on the main floor..