WOW Trail extension?

Some New Hampshire residents are seeking permission from the state to extend Laconia’s popular WOW (Winnisquam, Opechee, Winnipesaukee) Trail from Lakeport to The Weirs along a state-owned railroad corridor. The 5-mile addition is the last of three construction phases envisioned by the trail’s developers, who began planning the project back in 1982. Phase II was opened in the fall of 2016.

The existing WOW Trail is a 10-foot wide, paved pathway used by walkers, runners, and bicyclists. It parallels the Concord-Lincoln railroad corridor, which the state currently leases to the seasonal Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. Construction of the trail extension could cost between $4 million and $5 million— funded by private donations along with state and federal grants.

In order to move forward, the developers of the WOW Trail must get permission from the Laconia planning board and the NH State Department of Transportation to extend the trail. While advocates for the project believe they have political and public support on their side, nearby residents of two private, gated developments have filed a lawsuit to stop the extension.

Opponents of the Trail expansion— namely, homeowners from the South Down and Long Bay communities— claim the new recreational path will draw crime. Specifically, they worry about the possibility of trail-goers trespassing on their property. Further, they claim the fencing that would accompany the path and cross the shorefront would be an eyesore. They also contend that the trail’s location could make it harder for them to get boats across the tracks to the water.

Proponents of the WOW Trail extension say these concerns are baseless. The Laconia Chief of Police, Matt Canfield, assures residents that the current WOW Trail is safe—he even goes for frequent runs along the existing path. There are financial benefits to the trail, too: according to a 2012 economic impact analysis by the Belknap County Economic Development Council, the completed WOW Trail could increase the new visitor spending by $1.78 million annually. The report also showed that properties near the current Trail tended to experience an increase in property values.

What’s your opinion? Should the state allow the WOW trail extension on state-owned property? Leave a comment — yes or no — and tell us why.