Fundraiser at Hermit Woods supports phase IV expansion of WOW Trail

MEREDITH — The WOW Trail organization will host a fundraising event at Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery, to support the trail’s extension from Weirs Beach to Meredith, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

This is phase IV of the Winnipesaukee Opechee Winnisquam, or WOW, Trail, which will extend the recreation path 4 miles, allowing bicycles and pedestrians to go from Weirs Beach to Meredith or vice versa, staying on the trail the entire route.

Allan Beetle, president of the WOW Trail, said the event will be an intimate gathering in the winery’s loft, with a presentation about the development of phase IV. Beetle said they can hold about 70 people in the room, and have sold over 60 tickets already.

“There's a specific group of people where [they're] looking to come, those who are really interested in seeing the Meredith to Weirs Beach section of the Wow Trail happen,” Beetle said. “And so far, we have a lot of community leaders and business leaders who are coming to attend. So, we're excited about it.”

The event is presented by Fifty-Five Main Kitchen & Bar and Stephens Landscaping Professionals. With the purchase of a ticket, guests will enjoy an appetizer buffet from Patrick’s Pub & Eatery and Hermit Woods, as well as craft beer from Stoneface Brewing, spirits from Tamworth Distilling, and Hermit Woods wine. The gathering also features a live silent auction and a piano performance from Chris Mega, local pianist, composer, and executive director of Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra.

The Wow Trail currently runs from Elm Street in Lakeport, through downtown Laconia, to the Belmont town line, connecting with Belmont’s Winnisquam Scenic Trail, for a total of 4.25 miles.

Although phase III, which will extend the trail from Lakeport to Weirs Beach is still being discussed, Beetle said they are going ahead with phase IV in the meantime.

“For a variety of reasons, it makes more sense that we put our efforts right now into phase IV, Weirs Beach to Meredith. Ideally, we would want to have a contiguous section coming from Lakeport to Weirs Beach to Meredith, but it's just not the right timing,” Beetle said. “Some of the easements, some of the realities of getting phase III done are not quite there yet. So, we're really putting our efforts in Weirs Beach to Meredith.”

Beetle said the extension from Weirs Beach to Meredith has its own challenges, and they are still in the early stages of working them out. The railroad corridor along the planned route for the WOW Trail extension has areas where it is very narrow, or contains steep slopes and exposed rock formations. Besides these engineering challenges, Beetle said there is also the obstacle of easements along the proposed trail route.

“When we address those challenges, and can put a plan together, then at that point, we would be looking to fund a detailed engineering plan, construction drawing level plan, and then the funding, of course, to build it.”

The funding for the extension will be close to $5 million, according to Beetle, and “its own project is coming up with the funding.” Major public and private funding will be needed, beyond community fundraisers.

The WOW Trail was first conceptualized in 1982, by the Lakes Region Planning Commission. Phase I was completed in 2010, running from Lakeport to North Main Street, near the Laconia Public Library. Phase II was completed in 2016, running from the downtown Laconia train station to the Belmont town line, connecting to the Winnisquam Scenic Trail.

“We’re really wanting to go from Meredith, through Laconia, Belmont, Tilton, to Franklin — to downtown Franklin, and to the Northern Rail Trail,” Beetle said. “That's about 25 miles. And of that 25 miles, probably 8 miles is already built. And that's leaving 16 to 17 miles to be built. That's the big picture. That's the regional effort.”