County named Snowmobile Friendly Community

MANAWA - Waupaca County was recently recognized as a Snowmobile Friendly Community (SFC) through a statewide program honoring communities that support safe, responsible snowmobiling and local trail systems.

The designation was announced April 14 at a Waupaca County Snowmobile Association (WCSA) meeting held at Steven and Michele’s Midtown in Manawa. The SFC program is administered by the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Officers from the 18 WCSA clubs, Waupaca County officials, AWSC State President Lori Heideman and Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara were present at the meeting. The county was previously awarded the four-year designation in 2021. SFC status is awarded for four years, after which communities must reapply.

The SFC designation recognizes communities that work with local snowmobile clubs to promote safety, maintain trail access and support the economic impact of snowmobiling. Communities complete an application outlining their partnerships, advocacy efforts and support for snowmobile infrastructure.

An evaluation panel reviews applications to determine whether communities meet program criteria, including cooperation with local snowmobile clubs and efforts to support safe and responsible riding. The program was developed to highlight the role of volunteers and local clubs in maintaining Wisconsin’s statewide snowmobile trail system.

Waupaca County AWSC Representative to the state association David Sarna said that even though there has been limited snowfall in the area in recent years, WCSA meets monthly in Manawa from September through May.

“The agenda covers all issues related to snowmobiles and ATVs, not only within the county but also state and nationwide,” he said. “Much of the conversation centers around legislation that governs the sport as regulations change often. The information covered at these meetings is then brought back to the individual clubs and shared with their memberships.”

Waupaca County has 680 snowmobile club members who are responsible for establishing, maintaining and grooming 406 miles of snowmobile and ATV trails year round. Funding comes from the state budget, club memberships, registrations and trail passes.

“This is a huge undertaking that involves all 72 counties within the state of Wisconsin, which leads the nation with a total of 25,000 miles of snowmobile trails,” Sarna said.

Waupaca County is one of 40 cities or towns within Wisconsin that have been designated as snowmobile friendly communities. The recognition is the final major event of the snowmobiling season for the state’s snowmobile clubs.