New Laconia Beach Regulations

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The new regulations include no cooking, no loud music, as well as prohibitions on smoking and alcoholic beverages.

This should change the makeup of the crowds and the use of the beaches, especially on holidays.

It will be interesting to see the level of compliance and enforcement.

From the Laconia Sun:

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...4b0f471d7.html

That certainly will change things especially during the summer holidays. Many of the beach goers from Mass came here because they could BBQ and drink on the beach.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[XCR-700]

In the last many years my fellow Mass residents have been treating the Weirs beach like their personal property that they bought for the price of admission, and they seem to come with little respect for others. Not saying they are looking for trouble, most seem pleasant and happy enough, they just seem to think they world thinks as they do and enjoys what they enjoy and they dont ever seem to get it that some come to Weirs for a quiet family day to rest and enjoy the surroundings.

In the last 15 years I have also noticed that its not just weekends and holidays, these crowds can be there on weekdays and they stake out huge chunks of space, there will be groups of people playing football and too often trampling small children while doing so, blaring music way too loud, and basically acting like they own the place rather than sharing it with others.

I stopped taking vacations years ago and do lots of mid-week day trips to avoid the weekend crowds, and in the last 10+ years I have noticed that there a lot of other folks doing the same. Not sure if they have the same flexibility I do, or they work different shifts or maybe weekends and/or non regular schedules but it often surprises me how many day-trippers will be at Winnipesaukee on weekdays.

I dont know that there is much you can do to fix the lack of manners/consideration for others, and I think its sad that cooking will be eliminated, but I do think this may help tone things down just a bit.

It would be sure nice to see people remember that the lake and its beaches and town docks are shared space and tone down the "I'll do what I want" attitudes. But I suppose that was as set of values from a different era,,,

[8gv]

I will miss the smokey aroma of various seasoned meats being BBQ'd as I idle through the Weirs Channel.

On the bright side, if there is enforcement the air may be clear enough to catch a wiff of some two stroke exhaust.

Ahh... the sweet smells of summer!

[Woody38]

I also would like to post my view. That said I will revert to my past usual saying "if I say something will it change anything". Probably not esp to the I have rights crowd.

____________________________________

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

[map]

I live in the Weirs. So far, some have ignored the signs regarding cooking.

I’m also wondering if you will see more people gravitate toward the state parks so they can cook. Of course, they would have to make reservations for most of the ones with beaches.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by map

I live in the Weirs. So far, some have ignored the signs regarding cooking.

I’m also wondering if you will see more people gravitate toward the state parks so they can cook. Of course, they would have to make reservations for most of the ones with beaches.

They already have! Not a spec of real estate is available at Ellacoya and Wellington State Parks. I was told it is becoming too expensive to maintain the beaches due to daily trash pickups. A lot of folks bury their garbage in the sand. I happen to see one mother bury a dirty baby diaper! That episode alone made me avoid public beaches!

[MeredithMan]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

They already have! Not a spec of real estate is available at Ellacoya and Wellington State Parks. I was told it is becoming too expensive to maintain the beaches due to daily trash pickups. A lot of folks bury their garbage in the sand. I happen to see one mother bury a dirty baby diaper! That episode alone made me avoid public beaches!

There is sometimes a lot of noise that the majority of the water access is privately owned and there needs to be more "public beach access". Why? So the place can be treated like ****?

My place is near one of the lesser-known public beaches in Meredith. 9 years ago, when we first bought our place, the only people that used it were some of the weekly renters in the seasonal places nearby. Everyone was quiet and off the beach by dinnertime/early evening. The volume of beach-goers has grown exponentially, and last year was crazy-town. I can't even count the number of people who would go out on their floats and tie up to my mooring ball, (boat was at dock). When I would say, "please get off my mooring", they typical response would be, "Why? You're not using it" or, "I'm just floating here, man..." "It's private property; please get off" There was even one crew last year who tied their floats to my neighbor's DOCK, till the neighbor came out and went bonkers.

And, there were also the midnight, 1, 2, AM drunken beach parties, skinny dipping, fireworks, and once a camp fire. I'll usually give a little slack for 15-20 minutes so as not to be a total A.H., as most leave after that time, but there have been a few calls to the police, (especially with the middle of the night campfire).

So, back to my original question...why should there be more public beach access when the folks who use it don't give a rat's a**??

I'll get off my soapbox now...

[Descant]

It's not just beaches. Hiking trails, conservation lands, parks, etc are all being overwhelmed. When amusement parks, ball parks and the like got shut down last year, people started finding "new" places.

[map]

Originally Posted by MeredithMan

There is sometimes a lot of noise that the majority of the water access is privately owned and there needs to be more "public beach access". Why? So the place can be treated like ****?

My place is near one of the lesser-known public beaches in Meredith. 9 years ago, when we first bought our place, the only people that used it were some of the weekly renters in the seasonal places nearby. Everyone was quiet and off the beach by dinnertime/early evening. The volume of beach-goers has grown exponentially, and last year was crazy-town. I can't even count the number of people who would go out on their floats and tie up to my mooring ball, (boat was at dock). When I would say, "please get off my mooring", they typical response would be, "Why? You're not using it" or, "I'm just floating here, man..." "It's private property; please get off" There was even one crew last year who tied their floats to my neighbor's DOCK, till the neighbor came out and went bonkers.

And, there were also the midnight, 1, 2, AM drunken beach parties, skinny dipping, fireworks, and once a camp fire. I'll usually give a little slack for 15-20 minutes so as not to be a total A.H., as most leave after that time, but there have been a few calls to the police, (especially with the middle of the night campfire).

So, back to my original question...why should there be more public beach access when the folks who use it don't give a rat's a**??

I'll get off my soapbox now...

That’s terrible.

I think it the beaches were at least limited to NH residents that would help big time. Volume would be greatly reduced.

[FlyingScot]

We all like to forget that nothing is free. They should charge admission and funnel the money into clean up and maintenance.

[map]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

They already have! Not a spec of real estate is available at Ellacoya and Wellington State Parks. I was told it is becoming too expensive to maintain the beaches due to daily trash pickups. A lot of folks bury their garbage in the sand. I happen to see one mother bury a dirty baby diaper! That episode alone made me avoid public beaches!

This is very disturbing. I wish the NH state parks were for NH residents only.

[Tank151]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

In the last many years my fellow Mass residents have been treating the Weirs beach like their personal property that they bought for the price of admission, and they seem to come with little respect for others. Not saying they are looking for trouble, most seem pleasant and happy enough, they just seem to think they world thinks as they do and enjoys what they enjoy and they dont ever seem to get it that some come to Weirs for a quiet family day to rest and enjoy the surroundings.

In the last 15 years I have also noticed that its not just weekends and holidays, these crowds can be there on weekdays and they stake out huge chunks of space, there will be groups of people playing football and too often trampling small children while doing so, blaring music way too loud, and basically acting like they own the place rather than sharing it with others.

I stopped taking vacations years ago and do lots of mid-week day trips to avoid the weekend crowds, and in the last 10+ years I have noticed that there a lot of other folks doing the same. Not sure if they have the same flexibility I do, or they work different shifts or maybe weekends and/or non regular schedules but it often surprises me how many day-trippers will be at Winnipesaukee on weekdays.

I dont know that there is much you can do to fix the lack of manners/consideration for others, and I think its sad that cooking will be eliminated, but I do think this may help tone things down just a bit.

It would be sure nice to see people remember that the lake and its beaches and town docks are shared space and tone down the "I'll do what I want" attitudes. But I suppose that was as set of values from a different era,,,

So you're there at the Weirs checking ID's and verifying all/most beach go'ers are from Massachusetts to make that statement? WOW, you're pretty good!

I'm from Massachusetts and know several Laconia Police officers and they have informed me that most folks on the beach are locals and Manchester NH area.

Most lakefront property on Winnipesaukee are owned by MASS and NY residents.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by Tank151

So you're there at the Weirs checking ID's and verifying all/most beach go'ers are from Massachusetts to make that statement? WOW, you're pretty good!

I'm from Massachusetts and know several Laconia Police officers and they have informed me that most folks on the beach are locals and Manchester NH area.

Most lakefront property on Winnipesaukee are owned by MASS and NY residents.

Ya Im super good at it, its called reading license plates, no need to even check, you almost cant avoid seeing them. Even better yet, most of them have brackets/surrounds around the license plate that list the car dealers name and a quick scan shows a whole lot of cars from Lawrence area. Not that it really matters, but facts are stubborn things.

So happy you are an actual authority on the matter and your friends in Laconia are actually IDing NH residents as also being part of the group using the beach, but as any reasonable person, when Im there I try to say hello to others and occasionally have a conversation with people visiting the lake and from my experience there is a disproportionate number of Massachusetts visitors at Winnipesaukee who are from north of Boston.

Hope thats all not a problem for you.

Its only a problem for me when I see them acting badly, then it doesn't really matter to me where they come from, its just a point of information to note. In the end bad behavior is annoying regardless of where you come from and not more tolerated by actual life long Winnipesaukee residents. Ive seen many crusty locals who have been that way their whole life, so they cant blame it on the changes. And I have seen some locals who have tolerated the changes very well when I know if I were them I would be not pleased by some of the challenges.

Ultimately I guess I should be happy that if there are problems with bad behavior that it comes from locals and people from Manchester and not my fellow MA residents, after all we all know the term MASSHOLE never really applys to us or any of our neighbors, right ;-)

[John Mercier]

As a local, and a native of Laconia, I don't think we can define it as ''bad behavior'' when we never had rules against it.
Some things are rules/laws being broken, but the three signs are signifying new rules for that beach.
The Weirs is rather unique among the city beaches in that it is more of a commercial venture. The area is designed to be a tourist draw, so we get people from everywhere.
But it has not performed up to the expectations of those that suggested spending a lot of tax dollars to improve it.
The location has more benefits than Meredith (Rte 3 not being as significant a deterrent to commerce and an actual sandy beach with shallow entry), but has never really reach the zenith of the desired outcome.
These new regulations may limit the number of beach goers, but will also funnel more beach goers toward the commercial establishments.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

As a local, and a native of Laconia, I don't think we can define it as ''bad behavior'' when we never had rules against it.
Some things are rules/laws being broken, but the three signs are signifying new rules for that beach.

Please don't make excuses--plenty of well known rules on litter and public consumption. Plus, your mom may have mentioned that being impolite is (almost) always bad behavior

[John Mercier]

Litter is not a ''new rule''.
Public consumption is not a ''state law'' and Laconia doesn't hold tightly to any such ordinance... only public intoxication - which is a bit more than consumption.

As for being ''polite''; that is more of a social issue.
It isn't something that becomes enforceable until the ordinance. Which is what the new signs are about.

We work on people being ''polite'' as much as we can... but sometimes it has to become an ordinance. But we don't consider it ''bad behavior''... just an uniformed situation.

If I listed what I was taught on being polite, it would stun most people...
Many things I could do, but was taught never to do.

[TiltonBB]

Some opposing views at the Monday night Laconia city Council Meeting.

“We need to take a look at the ordinance regarding beaches,” Mayor Andrew Hosmer said later in the meeting. “We should be looking at how do we make people feel welcome.”

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...c08f94de9.html

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Some opposing views at the Monday night Laconia city Council Meeting.

“We need to take a look at the ordinance regarding beaches,” Mayor Andrew Hosmer said later in the meeting. “We should be looking at how do we make people feel welcome.”

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...c08f94de9.html

There is quite a difference between making people feel welcome and saying we will rent you the beach to do anything you want including burying your dirty diapers in the sand and blasting music for everyone else to hear.

Clearly its difficult to regulate manners and reasonable behavior, and sometimes rules are too restrictive and have negative and unintended consequences.

Its tough to strike a good balance, especially where dealing with people who have very different preferences and standards.

In a perfect world you would have the beach and sandbar and the quieter versions, but so far we have not been been able to pull that off, so rules/regulations become necessary attempt to strike a balance and in the end you probably don't really satisfy the party group or the more reserved people.

The struggle continues,,,

[fatlazyless]

Weirs Beach - Endicott Rock Park ... http://www.laconianh.gov/1034/Weirs-...cott-Rock-Park


Rules & Regulations ... www.laconianh.gov/238/Rules-Regulations



Swim Rules/Beach Rules:

"3. Inflatables, life jackets, swim fins, snorkels, and tubes are not permitted in the water."

While this Rule #3 does not specifically mention a 2" x 30" foam swim noodle tied tightly around one's waist to make it a swimmer's belt by threading a 5/16 x 48" line down through the foam noodle center hole and securing it around your waist with a good knot it is probably safe to assume that Rule #3 would apply and a swim noodle belt would be get the NO-GO from the Laconia beach monitor, town employee, who is stationed on Weirs Beach.

Except, the home made swim noodle belt works incredibly GOOD as a swim training, personal safety aid to keep you safe while swimming and help to make you a better and stronger swimmer.

If you want to increase your safety and level of swim confidence so you have positive buoyancy and conserve your strength and energy without the fear of drowning, you should definitely try swimming the breast stroke and side stroke while wearing a 2" x 30" foam noodle tied very tight around your waist ...... and you will want to go swimming again and again ..... with the swim waist noodle belt!

If you want to swim just like 'Tarzan the Ape Man' - Johnny Weissmuller, or like that swim hottie, Esther Williams, then you should try practice swimming with a swim noodle belt tied tight around your waist!

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Weirs Beach - Endicott Rock Park ... http://www.laconianh.gov/1034/Weirs-...cott-Rock-Park


Rules & Regulations ... www.laconianh.gov/238/Rules-Regulations



Swim Rules/Beach Rules:

"3. Inflatables, life jackets, swim fins, snorkels, and tubes are not permitted in the water."

While this Rule #3 does not specifically mention a 2" x 30" foam swim noodle tied tightly around one's waist to make it a swimmer's belt by threading a 5/16 x 48" line down through the foam noodle center hole and securing it around your waist with a good knot it is probably safe to assume that Rule #3 would apply and a swim noodle belt would be get the NO-GO from the Laconia beach monitor, town employee, who is stationed on Weirs Beach.

Except, the home made swim noodle belt works incredibly GOOD as a swim training, personal safety aid to keep you safe while swimming and help to make you a better and stronger swimmer.

If you want to increase your safety and level of swim confidence so you have positive buoyancy and conserve your strength and energy without the fear of drowning, you should definitely try swimming the breast stroke and side stroke while wearing a 2" x 30" foam noodle tied very tight around your waist ...... and you will want to go swimming again and again ..... with the swim waist noodle belt!

If you want to swim just like 'Tarzan the Ape Man' - Johnny Weissmuller, or like that swim hottie, Esther Williams, then you should try practice swimming with a swim noodle belt tied tight around your waist!

As a fan of the super noodle your post makes me wonder if it might be possible to hide a noodle belt under an oversized Tee shirt. God knows I have enough "spare tire" to help with the camouflage ;-)

Well it was just a thought.

I'm always looking for that Homer Simpson like experience and letting a super noodle do all the work floating me is just about right,,,

[map]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Weirs Beach - Endicott Rock Park ... http://www.laconianh.gov/1034/Weirs-...cott-Rock-Park


Rules & Regulations ... www.laconianh.gov/238/Rules-Regulations



Swim Rules/Beach Rules:

"3. Inflatables, life jackets, swim fins, snorkels, and tubes are not permitted in the water."

While this Rule #3 does not specifically mention a 2" x 30" foam swim noodle tied tightly around one's waist to make it a swimmer's belt by threading a 5/16 x 48" line down through the foam noodle center hole and securing it around your waist with a good knot it is probably safe to assume that Rule #3 would apply and a swim noodle belt would be get the NO-GO from the Laconia beach monitor, town employee, who is stationed on Weirs Beach.

Except, the home made swim noodle belt works incredibly GOOD as a swim training, personal safety aid to keep you safe while swimming and help to make you a better and stronger swimmer.

If you want to increase your safety and level of swim confidence so you have positive buoyancy and conserve your strength and energy without the fear of drowning, you should definitely try swimming the breast stroke and side stroke while wearing a 2" x 30" foam noodle tied very tight around your waist ...... and you will want to go swimming again and again ..... with the swim waist noodle belt!

If you want to swim just like 'Tarzan the Ape Man' - Johnny Weissmuller, or like that swim hottie, Esther Williams, then you should try practice swimming with a swim noodle belt tied tight around your waist!

Floats, etc. are allowed since no lifeguards. Though I think they should always be allowed. Seems like a silly rule. They are allowed at state parks with or without lifeguards.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

There is quite a difference between making people feel welcome and saying we will rent you the beach to do anything you want including burying your dirty diapers in the sand and blasting music for everyone else to hear.

Clearly its difficult to regulate manners and reasonable behavior, and sometimes rules are too restrictive and have negative and unintended consequences.

Its tough to strike a good balance, especially where dealing with people who have very different preferences and standards.

In a perfect world you would have the beach and sandbar and the quieter versions, but so far we have not been been able to pull that off, so rules/regulations become necessary attempt to strike a balance and in the end you probably don't really satisfy the party group or the more reserved people.

The struggle continues,,,

As they attract some customers, they are pushing away other customers.
It really just takes a management team willing to do the work and define their customer.

[LongBay]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

As they attract some customers, they are pushing away other customers.
It really just takes a management team willing to do the work and define their customer.

The define our customer has been clearly made. We just need the town leadership to do the work we taxpayers pay them for. The majority of homeowners and tax payers of Laconia don’t want day trippers to overrun the beaches with their trash, play loud music and pollute the water we drink. If the day trippers donÂ’t feel welcome with our signs, they can stay home and trash their own place.

I am sure there are folks who will still come that share our values and will not be offended by a few signs. Meanwhile, I bet these folks will be more likely to buy lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants.
What it comes down to, do you want to keep one business that sells disposable charcoal grills happy or bring in outside clientele who will open up their wallets and visit one of the many local restaurants?

[John Mercier]

I'm a 55 year old native of Laconia... and in my lifetime it has never been clear what the Weirs' customer is.

From what I can tell, it is a party beach based on the ''Live Free or Die'' anything goes concept.

I know for some years it tried water parks and other family venues... but none of that seems to have stuck.

[LongBay]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

As they attract some customers, they are pushing away other customers.
It really just takes a management team willing to do the work and define their customer.

The define our customer has been clearly made. We just need the town leadership to do the work we taxpayers pay them for. The majority of homeowners and tax payers of Laconia don’t want day trippers to overrun the beaches with their trash, play loud music and pollute the water we drink. If the day trippers don’t feel welcome with our signs, they can stay home and trash their own place.

I am sure there are folks who will still come that share our values and will not be offended by a few signs. Meanwhile, I bet these folks will be more likely to buy lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants.
What it comes down to, do you want to keep one business that sells disposable charcoal grills happy or bring in outside clientele who will open up their wallets and visit one of the many local restaurants?

[Tank151]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

Ya Im super good at it, its called reading license plates, no need to even check, you almost cant avoid seeing them. Even better yet, most of them have brackets/surrounds around the license plate that list the car dealers name and a quick scan shows a whole lot of cars from Lawrence area. Not that it really matters, but facts are stubborn things.

So happy you are an actual authority on the matter and your friends in Laconia are actually IDing NH residents as also being part of the group using the beach, but as any reasonable person, when Im there I try to say hello to others and occasionally have a conversation with people visiting the lake and from my experience there is a disproportionate number of Massachusetts visitors at Winnipesaukee who are from north of Boston.

Hope thats all not a problem for you.

Its only a problem for me when I see them acting badly, then it doesn't really matter to me where they come from, its just a point of information to note. In the end bad behavior is annoying regardless of where you come from and not more tolerated by actual life long Winnipesaukee residents. Ive seen many crusty locals who have been that way their whole life, so they cant blame it on the changes. And I have seen some locals who have tolerated the changes very well when I know if I were them I would be not pleased by some of the challenges.

Ultimately I guess I should be happy that if there are problems with bad behavior that it comes from locals and people from Manchester and not my fellow MA residents, after all we all know the term MASSHOLE never really applys to us or any of our neighbors, right ;-)

XCR-700 YOU'RE NOT THAT GOOD! I walk by the Weirs each day and last week I surveyed the parking lot (4 days in a row) and on average NH plates were 68%, MA plates 21% and the other 11% consisted of other various states.