All this talk about improving the Weirs..is there an alternative?

[Acrossamerica]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Heh well let me stir the pot and make it boil over....

I guess I'm old school, I don't care about restaurants, entertainment, live or otherwise, shops, or really what is ever going on "in town" when I'm at the lake. All I care about is if the fishing is good and having a nice warm campfire every night.

The weirs as far as I'm concerned could be burned down or bulldozed to oblivion and I wouldn't really care either way. It would definitely look nicer after a good bull dozing.

Far as bike week goes, I wouldn't miss it if it never happened again.

Well well well, another of the "I've made it so pull up the draw bridge and the rest of the peasants be damned" crowd. Perhaps you would be more comfortable over on Squam Lake in Sandwich where anything commercial is treated like a case of Ebola.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Acrossamerica

Well well well, another of the "I've made it so pull up the draw bridge and the rest of the peasants be damned" crowd. Perhaps you would be more comfortable over on Squam Lake in Sandwich where anything commercial is treated like a case of Ebola.

Far from it, I'd be more than happy to see Weirs Beach turned into a parking lot and a nice FREE public boat ramp put in it's place.

[Acrossamerica]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Far from it, I'd be more than happy to see Weirs Beach turned into a parking lot and a nice FREE public boat ramp put in it's place.

I rest my case!

[Descant]

FLL, I doubt Donald Trump will build the hotel/casino you dream of. He's currently interviewing for another job, and I think he'll get it.

Part of the problem with this discussion is that too may people think the Weirs runs from the Vet's homes to the Superette. Docking and good food are also available at the Naswa and Akwa Marine. Faro is good, although we all think the public docks need help, and it isn't as close to the docks as the other two. Maybe we need that funiculare described a while back and then some bicycle rickshaws like they have in Atlantic City. For those who don't know, a lot of the development ideas for the Weirs came from Atlantic City in the 30's, beach (man made), boardwalk, Irwin's Winnipesaukee Gardens, contests like Miss Winnipesaukee.

Live music? There used to be a bandstand on top of the train station with a program every night, mostly sponsored by the Weirs Chamber of Commerce, which also sponsored the Sunday night fireworks. Oh, and two dance halls.

So, a lot of this has been done and fizzled out, partially because of the transition from motels to condos.

What gets people out of their condo? A lot of people head to Meadowbrook for concerts, big names, like the big names that used to be at the Gardens.

And, for those who bemoan the present Weirs, it seems to be busy when I go. Or, as Yogi put it, "It's so popular, nobody goes there anymore."

[camp guy]

Maybe somebody should explore the parallels between Weirs Beach and Hampton Beach. Both of these locations had "their day" quite a few years ago, and both of these locations fell on hard times (for whatever reasons). Also, both of these locations began to attract a, if you will, "non-family" clientele which had the effect of driving away any remaining family visitors. This situation created a reputation which spread rapidly, thus solidifying the idea of not going there. Time passed, lots of time, and both locations sunk heavily into disrepair, financial despair, and loss of any viable investment.

More time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to turn around. At Hampton Beach the big push to turn around involved the local Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce, and a ton of both local and State investment ($$$). The infrastructure was improved, the social climate was improved (with serious police intervention), and retail investment, to include both shops and restaurants, was improved. This took time and money, and a strong leadership.

Weirs isn't exactly the same as Hampton Beach, but the same formula might well apply. Weirs slipped, socially, to a location to which you didn't want to bring "your women and children", a location at which infrastructure was deteriorating rapidly, and a location in which investors were slow to make any investment at all, including State and local funds, let alone private funds. Again, time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to make changes. The rather rough and tumble (pronounced outlaw) crowd began to clean up its act, due to local policing; the infrastructure still needs work; and so does the retail situation.

The situation is sort of like the chicken and the egg, Which came first?, and who will spend the money first, the investor hoping to draw retail, or the retail dollar hoping to find a place to spend itself.

Weirs has a lot to offer, number one being Lake Winnipesaukee, and all it has to offer. It is also fairly easy to get to, either by land or water, and, actually, by air. Somewhere along the line there has to be a meeting of the elements involved to develop a plan which includes all elements to the satisfaction of all. Is this a pipe dream, no, but it won't happen overnight. Hampton Beach took a while to be re-born, and Weirs could enjoy the same fate.

[JasonG]

Originally Posted by camp guy

Maybe somebody should explore the parallels between Weirs Beach and Hampton Beach. Both of these locations had "their day" quite a few years ago, and both of these locations fell on hard times (for whatever reasons). Also, both of these locations began to attract a, if you will, "non-family" clientele which had the effect of driving away any remaining family visitors. This situation created a reputation which spread rapidly, thus solidifying the idea of not going there. Time passed, lots of time, and both locations sunk heavily into disrepair, financial despair, and loss of any viable investment.

More time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to turn around. At Hampton Beach the big push to turn around involved the local Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce, and a ton of both local and State investment ($$$). The infrastructure was improved, the social climate was improved (with serious police intervention), and retail investment, to include both shops and restaurants, was improved. This took time and money, and a strong leadership.

Weirs isn't exactly the same as Hampton Beach, but the same formula might well apply. Weirs slipped, socially, to a location to which you didn't want to bring "your women and children", a location at which infrastructure was deteriorating rapidly, and a location in which investors were slow to make any investment at all, including State and local funds, let alone private funds. Again, time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to make changes. The rather rough and tumble (pronounced outlaw) crowd began to clean up its act, due to local policing; the infrastructure still needs work; and so does the retail situation.

The situation is sort of like the chicken and the egg, Which came first?, and who will spend the money first, the investor hoping to draw retail, or the retail dollar hoping to find a place to spend itself.

Weirs has a lot to offer, number one being Lake Winnipesaukee, and all it has to offer. It is also fairly easy to get to, either by land or water, and, actually, by air. Somewhere along the line there has to be a meeting of the elements involved to develop a plan which includes all elements to the satisfaction of all. Is this a pipe dream, no, but it won't happen overnight. Hampton Beach took a while to be re-born, and Weirs could enjoy the same fate.

As someone who lived in hampton falls from 2008-2010 and then moved to Florida until 2015, I can say I noticed the changes at Hampton Beach. A work in progress? Sure, but I was amazed as the changes being made to clean it up along the beach. It looked respectable in many areas. Not so much the weirs, exactly the same as I remembered it, if not worse.

[garysanfran]

Irwin's Winnipesaukee Gardens...

http://lwhs.us/wei-winnipesaukeepier.htm

Then there was Teen Haven up the street.

Currently, not much to do after dark, or in the morning, or in the afternoon.

[greeleyhill]

Worse than I remember as a kid - way worse. I took my family there last summer. We rented the same cottage my parents rented when i was a kid which is walking distance to the Weirs. I really wanted to show them what i did when i was their age. We left the cottage for a a trip down memory lane and found and we couldn't get out of there fast enough. It was fourth of July weekend and it was busy (the beach area anyway) with unbelievable amounts of trash left by large, and I mean large, family cookouts. The town was definitely not on top of keeping up with trash removal - it was a real turn off. We walked to the end of the boardwalk, turned around and left as quickly as possible. Nobody said much - not me, my wife or my 3 kids. We were all just taking it in and wondering why we walked down there. We didn't even stop for ice cream. It was the beginning of our vacation and I was already thinking - wow - did I make a mistake of coming here? We dubbed the area "The Weirds" and never went back. Spent the rest of our nights at the cottage playing games or in Meredith by boat for dinner. We could see the weirs from our cottage which was nice, but I preferred to remember the area from when i was a youth. Exploring the arcades with my brother and friends. I don't plan on going back ever unless we need a pit stop from our boat or the place is completely renovated.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by greeleyhill

It was fourth of July weekend and it was busy (the beach area anyway) with unbelievable amounts of trash left by large, and I mean large, family cookouts. The town was definitely not on top of keeping up with trash removal

Hopefully you took that opportunity to teach the family about "carry-in/carry-out". Weirs Beach as with all state parks do not offer trash removal services. They hope that each visitor will do the right thing and clean up after themselves.

[garysanfran]

In the 60's, I remember a 100 mile water ski race that began and ended at The Weirs. It attracted a good crowd. There were also antique boat races along the Weirs front. After the races it was a little bit to eat and then we danced to Vanilla Fudge at The Gardens. Or was it Tommy James and the Shondells? I wonder what happened to these kind of activities? Liability concerns?

[Woodsy]

Another Weirs improvement...

Word on the street has it..... El Jimador is opening up where Michaels used to be in the Alpenrose Building.

Woohoo!


Woodsy

[fatlazyless]

It seems unusual the beach area at the Weirs has a carry in-carry out trash policy, no public trash receptacles, and costs 10-dollars to park your car there. If visitors pay 10-dollars for parking, it seems like there could be some trash receptacles as well?

After paying 10-dollars and learning there's no trash receptacle, beach visitors probably get annoyed and just leave their trash while thinking ...... what a dumb trash policy?

Don't the 79-NH state liquor stores have a free public trash receptacle just outside their entry/exit and it costs nothing to go window shop the liquor inside the store without actually making a purchase?

[Acrossamerica]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

It seems unusual the beach area at the Weirs has a carry in-carry out trash policy, no public trash receptacles, and costs 10-dollars to park your car there. If visitors pay 10-dollars for parking, it seems like there could be some trash receptacles as well?

After paying 10-dollars and learning there's no trash receptacle, beach visitors probably get annoyed and just leave their trash while thinking ...... what a dumb trash policy?

Don't the 79-NH state liquor stores have a free public trash receptacle just outside their entry/exit and it costs nothing to go window shop the liquor inside the store without actually making a purchase?

You miss the point. All state owned and operated parks from Weirs beach to the parks in the White Mountains operate under the premise that the only people who would use such a facility are of the granola crunching Birkenstock sandal crowd who understand that one "Always carries out what one brings in" This is because the employees who work for the state at the policy level are of this type and know none who would ever think of leaving their trash behind. Sadly they do not live in the real world so yes it would be logical to place a few trash cans around and use a bit of the $10 parking fee for the cast of reveal. But logic and Government seem to be oxymoronic in nature

[noreast]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

It seems unusual the beach area at the Weirs has a carry in-carry out trash policy, no public trash receptacles, and costs 10-dollars to park your car there. If visitors pay 10-dollars for parking, it seems like there could be some trash receptacles as well?

After paying 10-dollars and learning there's no trash receptacle, beach visitors probably get annoyed and just leave their trash while thinking ...... what a dumb trash policy?

Don't the 79-NH state liquor stores have a free public trash receptacle just outside their entry/exit and it costs nothing to go window shop the liquor inside the store without actually making a purchase?

Is that true? that's ridiculous.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

It seems unusual the beach area at the Weirs has a carry in-carry out trash policy...

Don't the 79-NH state liquor stores have a free public trash receptacle just outside their entry/exit ....?

I rarely see people having a BBQ/picnic at the state run liquor stores.

Comparing apples to oranges rarely works as intended.

[fatlazyless]

Yes ...... well .....if the state can place a trash can for customer use at their state liquor stores ...... then why not also place a trash can at the Weirs Beach state beach/historic site which charges 10-dollars for parking?

[garysanfran]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Yes ...... well .....if the state can place a trash can for customer use at their state liquor stores ...... then why not also place a trash can at the Weirs Beach state beach/historic site which charges 10-dollars for parking?

I agree with FLL.

Also, there are trash receptacles all along Weirs Blvd. These must be regularly serviced. It is unbelievable that there are none near the most populated portion of that area...The beach.

Given some of the minor stories covered in the Daily Citizen and The Sun, this would rate far more important to the local community than who's unknown cousin is marrying someone from Boca Raton. It also offers a photo opportunity of the offending piles of refuse.

I do know that the beach is machine "groomed" with some sort of schedule. Maybe an attempt to sift the hypodermic needles from the sand?

[jbolty]

In all likely hood the state has a policy of carry out. It's in the best interest of the city to place and empty trash cans, regardless of who is responsible but there will be the inevitable war over turf when two governments collide.

[fatlazyless]

.........oooopsie-doopsie ........ there's got to be about ten or so very large trash receptacles all around the beach parking lot which must get emptied by the city .... so's what do I know .....not much?

Could be there's no trash receptacles on the sandy beach and people are expected to use the trash cans back at the nearby parking lot or something since it looks like maybe the beach belongs to the state, and the p-lot belongs to the city.....or something......duh?

[Dave R]

I have a very simple solution to the Weirs. They should allow overnight docking (with strict restrictions and limitations to prevent people from using it as a marina) for a fee. They'd be the only town that allows it and the novelty would attract boaters and they would spend money (especially on drinking (which is high profit) since they would not need to operate the boat afterward). Restaurants and bars would thrive. The town could use the fees collected to improve the area.

Regarding limitations and restrictions, I would propose the following: "Overnight" means 6PM to 11AM. After 11, you gotta leave. Boats would be limited to one night stay per 10 day period. The person in charge of collecting fees would also decide what boats go where in order to make good use of the inner spots in the narrow dock spacing.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Yes ...... well .....if the state can place a trash can for customer use at their state liquor stores ...... then why not also place a trash can at the Weirs Beach state beach/historic site which charges 10-dollars for parking?

I am not sure how many of these liquor stores are actually in state owned buildings, but I would guess most, if not all are in a leased facility which would make it the landlords responsibility for trash removal from the outside receptacles.

Also keep in mind that the state owned parks and beaches are not funded by tax dollars nor are they "turning a profit". If you want to add additional services to beaches than you can expect Concord to either increase "user fees" or increase property taxes.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by greeleyhill

We left the cottage for a a trip down memory lane and found and we couldn't get out of there fast enough. It was fourth of July weekend and it was busy (the beach area anyway) with unbelievable amounts of trash left by large, and I mean large, family cookouts. The town was definitely not on top of keeping up with trash removal - it was a real turn off. We walked to the end of the boardwalk, turned around and left

There is a particular problem on the Fourth of July. A large, no make that VERY LARGE, group most from the Lawrence Mass. area inundates the beach every year on that day. The vehicle traffic starts at 6 AM and the beach fills up fast. Area businesses have had problems with some of the group. It is no surprise that they do not pick up after themselves.

The subject has been covered before but it is a difficult problem to solve and remain politically correct.

[valhala]

The issue with Weirs Beach on July 4th has now carried over to most weekends in July and August. Regretfully, my family and I avoid that area on weekends now. What I see left behind is a sign of the times; disrespect for the area and others who may also like to enjoy the beach. It looks like a campground - charcoal grills left for trash, hammocks and bedding strung from tree to tree, people sleeping in tents, loud music from the cars that are parked in the lot, pots, pans, garbage, and more. this all gets left behind. It is chaos, and unsafe to walk through there at times.
The owners of the Winnepesaukee Pier have let the building and the mini golf course area become run down. And now, from what I have heard, there won't even be an operating gas dock.
This thread could probably go on for years to come, and nothing will have changed. We are saddened by it, but still try to visit the area for walk on the boardwalk, an ice cream, or a ride on the Mount ( though pricey for the family).
It has so much potential.

[webmaster]

This video I shot on July 4th weekend in 2011 gives a good view of the activity at Weirs Beach:

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by webmaster

This video I shot on July 4th weekend in 2011 gives a good view of the activity at Weirs Beach:

great video
it is not like that now that is for sure

[radioman]

Nothing will change until the town comes up with a "Plan" I wonder if they care or if they are even capable of creating such a thing!!

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by radioman

Nothing will change until the town comes up with a "Plan" I wonder if they care or if they are even capable of creating such a thing!!

There is a plan. Here is a summary graphic.

http://www.cityoflaconianh.org/uploa...n%20Poster.pdf

R2B

[radioman]

R2B. Thank you for the info, very interesting! I wish to apologize if I have offended anyone, but I think that you understand my point.

[MGWillia]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

There is a plan. Here is a summary graphic.

http://www.cityoflaconianh.org/uploa...n%20Poster.pdf

R2B

Very interesting plan. What's the age on it? Is it still moving forward? I'm personally excited for the possible performance space. Hope to hear something about it.

[Just Sold]

Originally Posted by MGWillia

Very interesting plan. What's the age on it? Is it still moving forward? I'm personally excited for the possible performance space. Hope to hear something about it.

The date on the plan is 2007 so it was done 9 years ago and not much has happened since.