LTREC open houses

The Laconia Trails and Rails Exploratory Committee (LTREC) is hosting a series of open houses to discuss the W.O.W. (Winnisquam-Opechee-Winnipesaukee) Recreation Trail, the prospective ten mile hiking and biking track traversing the city between Belmont and Meredith.

The first open house will be held on Thursday, January 12 between 5:30 and 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Laconia Police Station on New Salem Street.

Following the railway corridor, the trail is intended to connect to trails in neighboring communities and ultimately form a link in a network of regional trails. The first phase of the trail, the 1.1 mile stretch linking Lakeport Square and Veteran's Square, will be funded by a grant of $240,000 from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) augmented by $85,000 in contributions from the city and private donors.

The board of LTREC has applied for a second grant from the DOT to begin the next phase of the project running from downtown to Belmont. Meanwhile, Belmont plans a trail from Mosquito Bridge to the Laconia line, which once complete will create an unbroken trail from Lakeport to Belmont.

LTREC also plans open houses in February, March and April as well as the annual W.O.W. Sweepstakes Ball at the Winnipesaukee Expo Center in May. Those with questions about the project can contact Theresa Lamson at the Greater Laconia-Weirs Beach Chamber of Commerce (524-5531).