Rusty McLear - Let's explore the best use of the state-owned railroad right-of-way in the Lakes Region

Along with many in the Lakes Region, I’ve been following with great interest the ongoing expansion efforts of the WOW Trail — a long ago planned regional bicycle trail that would link Meredith to Weirs Beach, Lakeport, Downtown Laconia, and beyond to New Hampshire’s Northern Rail Trail.

It seems to me that the question isn’t IF the WOW Trail should be built on this spectacular State of New Hampshire owned land. The question I believe we need to be asking is HOW it should be built.

To the best of my knowledge, we’ve never explored what the best use of this valuable state owned land might be, and it seems to me that it’s about time that we do this. Let’s take an objective approach to this regional rail trail project and look at this from the perspective of what would be in the best interest of the State of New Hampshire and the communities through which this land travels.

What is the economic impact of the land as it’s currently used? What would be the economic, health and alternative transportation benefits of a regional bicycle trail in the Lakes Region?

It’s no secret that we have traffic challenges during our busiest tourist seasons and, with the positive news of plans for redevelopment in Weirs Beach, it seems especially timely to explore whether an alternative transportation corridor for visitors and locals alike would put some wind in the sails of this redevelopment effort.

Preserving public access to our public lands and waterways is essential, and transforming this state owned land into a year-round public recreation space would do just that. It’s about time that we get this WOW Trail project completed. Let’s study how best we can do this and go from there. I’m ready to lend my support and I hope you are too.

(Rusty McLear is the president and chief executive officer of Mill Falls at the Lake in Meredith and is also the co-developer of the Hooksett Welcome Centers on Interstate 93.)