Wisconsin Rapids Wants to Make Themselves a Stop on the State's ATV/UTV Circuit

Monday, September 18th, 2023 -- 8:01 AM

(Michael Leischner, WSAU) Wisconsin Rapids wants to make themselves a stop on the state's ATV and UTV circuit.

According to Michael Leischner with WSAU, the Wisconsin Rapids City Council is one step away from approving a new ordinance that would allow ATV or UTV users to operate on most city streets.

Mayor Shane Blaser says it's designed to take advantage of what's becoming a form of tourism for many. "I know a lot of families that get together on a weekend and go for a family ride and go get dinner and drive to other communities."

He says allowing those riders to cross the river in Wisconsin Rapids will help fill some gaps in the current trail system in the area. "Otherwise, the other closest river crossing is over in Nekoosa and so it's a long ways around to cross the river."

He says the ordinance is molded after what's worked in other communities, if they find one item doesn't work or needs to be tweaked they can always come back to it later. "I think, absolutely, it's worth trying and if it's a problem then we address the problem down the road or we can always un-ring the bell."

The full council will consider the measure at a later date.

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