Proposed DNCR/Kearsarge bike trail
Resident opposition to a state-managed bike trail due to land clearing, conflicting information on application status, and a petition with 200 signatures presented to the board.
The proposed DNCR/Kearsarge bike trail has generated resident opposition centered on land clearing, emergency access, parking, and inconsistent DNCR communications. The Conservation Commission first addressed the project in April 2026 and the Select Board took up the matter in May 2026 after a 200-signature petition was submitted.
The proposed DNCR/Kearsarge bike trail first surfaced as a formal topic during the Conservation Commission's April 1, 2026 meeting, when members reviewed a letter from the DNCR Commissioner regarding the trail and began discussing coordination needs with state and local entities.
At that meeting the Commission identified specific concerns including emergency response capabilities, parking availability, the risk of 'spider trails,' and long-term maintenance responsibilities, leading to an agreement that the DNCR would conduct a site visit and notify the Commission.
The Commission also noted the need to coordinate with town departments and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and to develop a list of required conditions before any further action.
The issue reached the Select Board on May 26, 2026, when resident Sam Bower reported conflicting information from the DNCR about whether the trail application had been approved for public comment or denied.
Bower presented a petition bearing approximately 200 signatures opposing the project along with letters of concern focused on land clearing.
The Select Board responded by agreeing that clarification from the DNCR was necessary and designated Molly Sanders as a point of contact for further communications.
No formal position or vote on the trail itself has been taken by either body; both have limited their actions to information gathering and condition-setting.
The Select Board will seek clarification from the DNCR; the Conservation Commission awaits the DNCR site visit and plans to develop a list of required conditions.
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