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Post by dano on Oct 6, 2009 18:31:06 GMT -5
On Tuesday, Oct 13th, 2009 at 7pm there is going to be a meeting at the Gorham Town Hall to discuss the possilbe trail from Gorham to Jericho Mountain State Park. Here is the press release. You should see it soon in the papers. State of New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development DIVISION of PARKS and RECREATION 172 Pembroke Road, PO Box 1856, Concord NH 03302-1856 Phone: 603-271-3556 Fax: 603-271-3553 Contact: Amy Bassett 603-271-3556 abassett@dred.state.nh.us For Immediate Release Information Session to be Held on Trail Opening of Presidential Rail Trail (Concord, NH) On Tuesday, October 13th, the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation’s Bureau of Trails will hold a Public Information Session about opening sections of the Presidential Rail Trail in Gorham to include ATV use. The Bureau will provide information about opening portions of the trail to summer ATV use in order to connect Jericho Mountain State Park to the Success Trail via a southern route through Gorham. The session will be held at the Gorham Town Hall in the Public Meeting Room at 7:00pm. The Bureau of Trails is a bureau within the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. The Division is comprised of the Parks Bureau, Bureau of Historic Sites, Bureau of Trails and Cannon Mountain. The division manages 71 properties, including state parks, campgrounds, historic sites, trails, waysides and natural areas. The Division is one of four divisions of the Department of Resources and Economic Development. To learn more about the Division of Parks and Recreation, visit www.nhstateparks.org or call (603) 271-3556.
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Post by kencanam on Oct 26, 2009 17:49:22 GMT -5
Dan,
Do you know the outcome of this meeting?
Ken
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Post by dano on Oct 26, 2009 18:33:24 GMT -5
Ken, The BoT is taking comments until I believe Nov 5th via the mail and e-mails. Then I believe it will go into commitee for further review. I think that it may be back in front of the Gorham Selectmen at some point later this year or beginning of next year. I am sure I will hear from Chris or Bill on this. I also have been told that there is a meeting this Thursday done in Gorham to see if there is any interest in forming an atv club. Hope this helps...I will post things as I hear it....
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Post by kencanam on Oct 26, 2009 19:15:12 GMT -5
Is there a way for out-of-towners to comment? We had 11 guys up there this weekend and we'd all love to bring our families up in the summer for a camping weekend and having direct access from Moose Brook would be a no brainer.
Ken
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Post by hdysans on Oct 26, 2009 21:47:45 GMT -5
Yes, there is a way for for you to make comments to the State. Simply go to the link below, click on the date of 10/21/2009. That should give you a map of the proposal, although it doesn't. I've e-mailed the State to have it fixed. There also you will have an e-mail address that you can write your e-mail and send it to the State. Let me know if you have any trouble. www.nhtrails.org/trail-news-and-conditions/news.aspxThank You hdysans
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Post by hdysans on Jan 14, 2010 16:58:41 GMT -5
Hello atv riders. Here is an article that appeared in todays paper concerning the withdrawal of the Proposed Presidential Trail connection from Jericho Park to Gorham/Berlin. I am very very disappointed in this decision and still do not know "why". But I haven't given up yet.
Henry
State Withdraws Proposal for A.T.V. Use on Rail Trail
January 14, 2010 Craig Lyons Berlin Daily Sun
GORHAM — The state Department of Resources and Economic Development has withdrawn its proposal to open the Presidential Rail Trail forseasonal use by all terrain vehicles but may revisit the plan in one year.
While the state has made no formal announcement regarding the proposal,Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache in a letter to Selectmen, dated Dec. 31, 2009, stating that his agency has stopped pursuing the idea but may revisit it.
“The agency has received many comments both in favor and opposed to this proposal; however at this time we have decided to withdraw the proposal and will be reviewing more data in the future,” Gamache wrote. “We do not plan to revisit this proposal for at least another year and shall notify the town when, and if, the proposal is reinstated,” the letter adds.
The proposed A.T.V. route would run along the existing rail trail along the east side of the Androscoggin River, crossing over the old rail trestle, crossing the Jimtown Road and winding up in Moose Brook State Park. The expanded use would help connect Gorham to the newly created route that connects both the Jericho Mountain State Park trails to the Success trails. Gamanche could not be reached for comment.
The trails bureau held a public hearing in October to collect feedback on the proposal and more than 60 people attended. Local residents at the hearing voiced both support and opposition for the proposal.
Proponents of the proposal felt expanding the trail use to A.T.V.s in the summer would benefit restaurants, motels and other businesses by attracting A.T.V.ers to Gorham.
Many people at the hearing raised concerns about the strain the expanded A.T.V. use would put on law enforcement, and also that it would make using the trail more difficult for hikers, bikers and other non-motorized uses.
Randolph residents voiced opposition to the proposal because they didn’t want the A.T.V. use on the trail to expand into the town. “I applaud the decision the Bureau of Trails to withdraw their proposal for ATV access to the Presidential Rail Trail,” said Jimmy Olson, of Randolph and an opponent of the state’s proposal to allow A.T.V. on the rail trail. “Our concerns over this proposal stem from the fact that an adequate study of the effects of this action had not been made. What would the impact be on current, non-motorized users, on policing and enforcement resources, on abutters to the trail, and on the trail itself, to name just a few?”
“The Jefferson Conservation Commission has proposed to sponsor such a study, and many of us feel this is the right place to start,” added Olson.
For now, from Gorham, A.T.V. riders won’t be able to access trails like this in the Berlin and Success trail systems. The New Hampshire Trails Bureau has withdrawn its proposal to allow A.T.V. use on the Presidential Rail Trail connecting Gorham and Berlin, but the Bureau says it may revisit the idea in another year. (GAIL SCOTT PHOTO)
[WMRR Home]
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rabid
Full Member
Posts: 126
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Post by rabid on Jan 14, 2010 17:17:51 GMT -5
The Bureau has many options at where to expand the trail system. So they may just be going toward easier routes.
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Post by gotmoxie on Feb 3, 2010 20:43:57 GMT -5
ATV trail connection stirs business query
BY GAIL SCOTT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN Feb 3, 2010
GORHAM —The possibility of an ATV Berlin/Gorham trail link brought a new business inquiry to selectmen at their Monday meeting. Mike Guay, of Gorham, speaking for an unnamed businessman, asked the selectmen if they were for or opposed to an ATV trail between Gorham and Berlin. Guay said the businessman has a thriving operation in N. Conway, renting canoes, kayaks, snowmobiles and ATVs. Indeed, said Guay, this business is pretty much the recipient of the ATV/Snowmobile rental business once handled by Jericho Sports, because Jericho is so busy with sales and service. Therefore, the businessman is considering opening a rental business in Gorham but wanted to sound out the selectmen about whether or not they opposed the rail trail link proposed last year by the state. This proposed link was shelved by the state for a year when apparently the state got the impression that there was town opposition to it. This impression was engendered, because, among other things, at a hearing on the subject last year, selectmen did not voice an opinion on the project, suggested Interim Town Manager Bill Jackson. Selectmen Chairman Yves Zornio explained that the selectmen had told N.H. Bureau of Trails Supervisor Chris Gamache, who conducted the hearing, that they would be there to listen but not to comment. Zornio said that the selectmen felt that it was up to the state to present its plan to them, but that the state had not done so. As for the rental business Guay described, Zornio said that the selectmen welcomed new business to the town. They would be pleased to hear the businessman’s plan. Zornio proposed that the businessman speak with officials at the Bureau of Trails for more information about the proposed rail trail link and whether or not it would be brought forward again. Also, the selectmen said they would be quite willing to hear a plan to solve the questions of linking town businesses with such a trail, if it comes into being. “We would look forward to having a new business in town—even ski rentals,” said Zornio. “We wish you luck.” “I will pass the word and see if we can get a proposal on paper,” said Guay, “starting with the state.”
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rushl
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by rushl on Feb 5, 2010 8:49:55 GMT -5
Thanks for that update from the Berlin Daily, I live in southern nh and am very much interested in whats going on with the atv trails.
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Post by hdysans on Feb 5, 2010 20:00:04 GMT -5
This connector trail from Jericho to Gorham is certainly not a dead issue. I have gathered a lot of information and am "getting my ducks lined up". The reason that the State withdrew this proposal was "no support". The support from the ATV community simply was not there in comparison to the "support" from many citizens of Randolph and other "big name groups". The information that they received was altogether different from what the State has proposed. I won't get into details here, but I can assure all atv'ers that I won't give up on this. I have worked on this for 5-6 years. I will need the support of all of you if this is to happen. More to come in the coming months/weeks. Please fell free to e-mail me personally at hdysans@ne.rr.com with any thoughts or ideas. I will always answer you. And don't believe what the local newspapers say. They get most everything wrong and edited as this above article is wrong.
Henry Sanschagrin
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Post by kencanam on Feb 6, 2010 8:43:36 GMT -5
Henry,
If letter of support need to be written let me know and I'll write one! As a southern NH rider I was really hoping to see this trail opened up as they had talked about direct access to it from the Moose brook Campground. Right now I have ridden in the park with my buddies but all of our families camp and I can tell you right now, the 10 wives of the guys I ride with will spend a lot more money in town then the husbands out on the trail.
Ken
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Post by hdysans on Feb 6, 2010 9:39:21 GMT -5
Thank You Ken for this support. I am also gathering names and addresses of supporters like yourself. Maybe with enough support, we could possibly turn this thing around. Would you please e-mail me at hdysans@ne.rr.com. Thank You Henry
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rushl
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by rushl on Feb 6, 2010 10:00:01 GMT -5
hi, I'm hoping maybe somebody can help me with directions to Pisgah state park. I went there once off of 119 and drove up this horrible hill to some power lines. I could never bring a trailer up there, is there a another entrance?
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Post by hdysans on Feb 6, 2010 10:48:05 GMT -5
Pisgah State Park is in the southwest corner of NH close to the Mass. border. Check NH Bureau of Trails web site for a map.
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rushl
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by rushl on Feb 6, 2010 11:05:00 GMT -5
I have checked the map and anything else I can get my hands on but very difficult for direction. Thank you
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