Severe storms and heavy use have left Maine’s hiking, ATV and snowmobile trails in tough shape, supporters of a $30 million statewide bond said Tuesday.

The Partnership for Maine Trails includes outdoor businesses, ATV and snowmobile clubs and land conservation organizations such as the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

Angela Arno, executive director of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, said Maine has an opportunity to establish itself as the state with the best trails on the East Coast.

“In recent years, trail designers have been mapping out new trails even as they assess the cost of repairing existing trails that have been hammered by the storms and increased use,” she said during a press conference in Bangor’s Cascade Park.

If approved by voters, the state’s first-ever $30 million trails bond would be administered by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands as a competitive grant program. Towns, organizations and clubs could apply for funding to design, maintain or build trails.

All types of trails will be eligible for funds, including motorized, nonmotorized and multi-use trails.

The head of the Maine Snowmobile Association said local clubs need help to keep the trails in good shape.

“If it wasn’t for this trail bond, we’d be taking a step back,” said Al Swett, president of the Maine Snowmobile Association. “I feel Maine has got an incredible, incredible future for the trail system in Maine.”

Question 4 is one of three bond questions facing voters on Nov. 5.

Question 2 asks voters to approve a $25 million bond for research and development and Question 3 is a $10 million bond to restore historic buildings.

Bonds require two-thirds approval from lawmakers before they can appear on a statewide ballot. Given the current makeup of the Legislature, that means all three bonds received bipartisan support.

The Partnership for Maine Trails is registered with the state in support of the trails bond, but no group is registered in opposition, according to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices.

Voters will also decide Question 1, a citizen initiative to set a $5,000 limit for contributions to certain political action committees and Question 5, which asks whether voters approve changing the state flag to the Pine Tree Flag.

Supporters of the trails bond say improving and expanding recreational opportunities will benefit Mainers and visitors alike.

“We have lots of opportunity to build new trails,” said Steve Kasacek, assistant director of the Outdoor Sports Institute. “Build new trails that will connect kids to schools, get people far out in the wilderness, get people to mountain tops, ocean views. Trails bring so many benefits.”