A push to extend trail access in Pittsburgh, New Hampshire, is gaining momentum as local leaders advocate for keeping recreational trails open until Columbus Day weekend. The recent snowfall has revitalized the area, drawing visitors and boosting local businesses, with restaurants and motels reporting full occupancy over the weekend.

During a recent meeting of the New Hampshire House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee, community representatives highlighted the economic benefits of maintaining access to trails for off-highway recreational vehicles (OHRVs) and snowmobiles. They emphasized that the majority of local stakeholders, including the Pittsburgh select board, support the extension, citing a public hearing where 80 to 90 percent of attendees favored the proposal.

The discussions underscored the importance of outdoor recreation to the region's economy, particularly in light of recent challenges such as severe weather and job losses in traditional industries. One speaker noted the significant impact of tourism on local businesses, stating, "It affects everybody up there," and called for serious consideration of the trail extension.

Committee members engaged in a dialogue about the potential downsides of the legislation, with one commissioner asserting there were none, reinforcing the idea that keeping the trails open for an additional ten days would benefit the community without adverse effects.

As the committee weighs the proposal, local leaders remain hopeful that their voices will influence the decision, emphasizing the historical context of the trails and their role in supporting both the logging and tourism industries. The outcome of this discussion could have lasting implications for the economic vitality of the North Country region.