Lock Haven council approves dirt‑bike event route after assurances on insurance and road restoration

A Lock Haven City Council majority voted to approve a request by a local motorcycle organization to use a section of Nittany Road as part of a multi‑day event route, after the group provided liability insurance and committed to repairing any roadway damage.

The group, which identified itself as a charitable organization operating a 100‑acre free‑riding park, told council it hosts a national dual‑sport scenic tour that draws more than 1,000 riders and family members to Clinton County over four days. "We are the largest single event in Clinton County," a representative said during public comment. The application sought permission to use roughly "four tenths of a mile" of the Castaneda Township right‑of‑way on Nittany Road to move riders safely to private or state forest lands outside the city.

City staff and a speaker identified as Niles described a back‑and‑forth with the city authority over whether that right‑of‑way could be used; Niles said the authority initially withheld permission, then approved the route after the organizers provided insurance. "They can't use that, and then changed their mind and said, yes," Niles said, describing the sequence to council.

Council members questioned whether the event would damage the gravel access road and sought a restoration plan. The group's representative pointed to language in their written request and past practice: "We will be responsible for any damage that we would repair on the road," the representative said, and added that after prior events they performed more than 100 hours of volunteer labor and used equipment to install water bars and other repairs. The representative said restorations had typically been completed within 30 days of the event.

Associate counsel moved to approve the request and the motion was seconded. The council conducted a roll‑call vote and the motion carried.

The approval accepts the group's liability coverage as provided to the city authority and leaves responsibility for on‑site restoration and post‑event repairs with the event organizers. Council did not attach additional reparations or monitoring conditions on the record during the meeting.