DNR wins grant to help in

reducing off-road vehicle noise.

The days of noisy off-road vehicles shattering the silence in Tahuya and Green Mountain state parks may be a thing of the past, thanks to a recently won grant by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

The state’s Recreation and Conservation Office announced on April 1 the winners of more than $6.3 million in grants statewide. DNR picked up two grants worth $100,000 to go toward noise reduction programs related to off-road vehicles in the two state parks.

Part of the grant includes the hiring of a new noise education and enforcement specialist, who will have several duties related to noise reduction.

The specialist “will contact off-road vehicle riders during group events and weekends to educate and enforce the allowable decibel levels coming from (off-road vehicles),” according to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. “The specialist also will meet with nearby landowners and (off-road vehicle) users to look at the design and location of trails near homes.”

The city of Poulsbo and the Bainbridge Island Soccer club also recieved grants from recreation and conservation, worth $75,000 each.

Poulsbo will use the funds to build an athletic field at the Strawberry Multi-use Community Fields.

The soccer club will use its funds to renovate a soccer field at Battle Point Park.