QUILCENE — More than a dozen people have volunteered to serve on a focus group that will study opportunities for off-road enthusiasts in East Jefferson County.

The volunteers represent the entire spectrum of off-road users. Some are club members and others are unaffiliated.

The group will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. on May 25 at the Quilcene Community Center.

Many of the nearly 50 people attending Thursday night’s meeting offered anecdotal accounts of areas that were once open for informal use being closed over the years.

Warren Steurer, county parks and recreation director, said growth and liability issues over the past 20-25 years have caused closure of areas that had been traditionally open for off-road vehicles.

“The users found more fences and more ‘keep out’ signs,” he said.

The current move started earlier this year when off-road club members Neil Morgan and Eric Holme approached Jefferson County commissioners about asking the state Department of Natural Resources to reconvey property to the county for off-road vehicle activities.