Should we be concerned using the WOW trail in downtown

[belawinn]

Originally Posted by joey2665

I am certainly pro gun but I think walking jogging or biking on the WOW Trail with a hand gun kind of takes the enjoyment out of it.

I have seen several people post that they say the trail is unsafe but I have jogged the trail many many times and have never had an issue. I have occasionally seen some beer cans along the trail but all in all they keep it pretty clean.


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Have also walked and jogged the trail quite a bit, every weekend day all summer for 5 summers. Woman, alone. Have seen some characters and litter. Seems people hang in the woods near opechee shoreline. Have also seen LPD shooing off a guy in a tent. No one has ever bothered me. Like anyplace else be aware and keep your eyes open. Keep one ear without ear bud. Couple times someone caught me by surprise or was weird but just kept moving. Mostly everyone says good morning back.


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[Andromeda321]

Originally Posted by belawinn

Have also walked and jogged the trail quite a bit, every weekend day all summer for 5 summers. Woman, alone. Have seen some characters and litter. Seems people hang in the woods near opechee shoreline. Have also seen LPD shooing off a guy in a tent. No one has ever bothered me. Like anyplace else be aware and keep your eyes open. Keep one ear without ear bud. Couple times someone caught me by surprise or was weird but just kept moving. Mostly everyone says good morning back.


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Yes. I am also a woman and have traveled to 60-odd countries on six continents, most of them alone, and many were WAY less safe than New Hampshire. Never had any trouble, and never carried a weapon, just relied on common sense.

It must be exhausting to go through life always afraid.

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by Andromeda321

It must be exhausting to go through life always afraid.

So true!!!

[Major]

I guess all of the Forum tough guys can make light of significant criminal activity on the WOW trail. As stated previously, the WOW Trail is an avenue of egress for criminals. The City has published the number of incidents (calls) for the WOW Trail, something like 150 incidents over a six-year period. This number does not include the number of homeless people living in camps off of the WOW Trail that require evacuation from time-to-time. You may find this de minimus, but I find it very disturbing. I don't want to live in a community that tolerates or is immune to criminal behavior. I guess I can't be too surprised given the investment in Section 8 housing and in rehab centers.

Laconia is changing, and not for the better. A murder on Blueberry Lane (as a kid I knew to stay away from there so I guess it has always been a bad place) and Pleasant Street closed of to search for the murderer, who is still at large. Pleasant Street was a place where all of the rich folk lived. Not now, I guess.

If you spend any time downtown, you notice it, scraggly young men roaming around in backpacks. It is not a safe place.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Major

I guess all of the Forum tough guys can make light of significant criminal activity on the WOW trail. As stated previously, the WOW Trail is an avenue of egress for criminals. The City has published the number of incidents (calls) for the WOW Trail, something like 150 incidents over a six-year period. This number does not include the number of homeless people living in camps off of the WOW Trail that require evacuation from time-to-time. You may find this de minimus, but I find it very disturbing. I don't want to live in a community that tolerates or is immune to criminal behavior. I guess I can't be too surprised given the investment in Section 8 housing and in rehab centers.



Laconia is changing, and not for the better. A murder on Blueberry Lane (as a kid I knew to stay away from there so I guess it has always been a bad place) and Pleasant Street closed of to search for the murderer, who is still at large. Pleasant Street was a place where all of the rich folk lived. Not now, I guess.



If you spend any time downtown, you notice it, scraggly young men roaming around in backpacks. It is not a safe place.

For real? Mont Vernon had one of the most grisly murders in the last decade--terrible things happen everywhere.

And 150 incidents in 6 years? That's, like, 2 per month, with absolutely no info on what an "incident" is. We had a dozen "incidents" in my high school TODAY.

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[Biggd]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

For real? Mont Vernon had one of the most grisly murders in the last decade--terrible things happen everywhere.

And 150 incidents in 6 years? That's, like, 2 per month, with absolutely no info on what an "incident" is. We had a dozen "incidents" in my high school TODAY.

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I would agree, 150 incidents in 6 years is not an unusually large number.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by Major

I guess all of the Forum tough guys can make light of significant criminal activity on the WOW trail.

WE GET IT! You are one of those self-entitled NIMBY people that will go to great lengths to make sure this does not happen on State owned property that is near your gated community.

Just contact your State Reps and give it a rest already. This venue can not grant you your request.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Major

I guess all of the Forum tough guys can make light of significant criminal activity on the WOW trail. As stated previously, the WOW Trail is an avenue of egress for criminals. The City has published the number of incidents (calls) for the WOW Trail, something like 150 incidents over a six-year period. This number does not include the number of homeless people living in camps off of the WOW Trail that require evacuation from time-to-time. You may find this de minimus, but I find it very disturbing. I don't want to live in a community that tolerates or is immune to criminal behavior. I guess I can't be too surprised given the investment in Section 8 housing and in rehab centers.

Laconia is changing, and not for the better. A murder on Blueberry Lane (as a kid I knew to stay away from there so I guess it has always been a bad place) and Pleasant Street closed of to search for the murderer, who is still at large. Pleasant Street was a place where all of the rich folk lived. Not now, I guess.

If you spend any time downtown, you notice it, scraggly young men roaming around in backpacks. It is not a safe place.

Major: I have always disagreed with you on this issue. I own commercial property in downtown Laconia and also travel the WOW trail and conditions have definitely improved over the past few years.

It is my contention that the crime rate regarding the trail is greatly exaggerated and has nothing at all to do with the atual trail itself.

Similar incidents existed along the rail tracks long before the trail existed. As with any "city" it is always more dangerous to travel alone at night and wee hours of the morning along any path. Be vigilant, travel during the day and with a partner if possible and all should be fine.

[Trail Goer]

Where's Paul Blart when you need him?

[Major]

My objection to the WOW trail has very little to do with living in Long Bay. I think it's a waste of taxpayer money. Instead of looking for ways to reduce our real estate taxes, the City of Laconia is hell bent on ways to increase our taxes. Just look at the Colonial Theater. What initially was represented as a 2-3 Million Dollar project is now 17 Million Dollars. Like the Colonial Theater, the WOW trail is a feel-good project that will ultimately contribute very little to making Laconia better.

Unfortunately, the die has been cast. There is very little that can be done to undo the emphasis on Section 8 housing and drub rehab facilities.

Outdoorsman made me laugh, though. That's the first time I've ever been called "Entitled!" Those who know me would find that very funny.