More groups urge closing campgrounds

HELLO PEOPLE: Have you looked at the COVID-19 CASES MAP on Unionleader.com? Clearly Merrimack, Strafford, Hillsborough, and Rockingham counties have a great deal of cases because they border Essex, Middlesex, and Worcester Counties in Mass. And people living in the NH counties will be able to travel freely because their license plates say "Live Free or Die" even though they are just as apt to carry Covid-19 North to the Mount Washington Valley or Franconia Notch of any other beloved areas of the White Mountains. Maybe we should ALL stay out of those areas until we get control over this.The White Mountains are a second home to our family: we've been camping and staying in hotels (and contributing to the economy in a myriad of ways - and paying taxes) for many years. Since about 1965 to be exact. Even though we live in Mass. we have had a seasonal campsite for 24 years in the MWV.

Just had to get this off my chest.

P.S. We really care about the welfare of all people during this crisis.

This is very simple Carroll County has a low number of covid-19 cases. Where you live has a VERY high number of cases. More people have died from covid-19 in your state than have gotten sick in New Hampshire.

Let me put it too you this way. We are all making huge sacrifices to slow this down. It sucks you might not be able to go to your camper, It sucks that you might loose some money you put down on a deposit. Here's the thing though when you get all teary eyed about it you sound out of touch and over privileged. This is serious. I'm sorry you can't do the leisure activities you like. I work at a hospital in Northern NH and guess what a lot of us can't do the leisure activities we want either.

This objectively makes you look bad. Just like when the forest service closes a trail head and that closed trail head is full of cars with your states plates. This isn't about you it's about a community trying to protect itself.

As a New Hampshire resident, I do understand Conway's concerns about lots of folks from many different places coming up for recreation, but I live in Conway in the summer as a seasonal camper in a campground. I consider Conway my summer home. It has been for the past five years. Someone reported they've already seen 100's of out of state plates in the area. So...anyone can still come to NH and to Conway, but I can't go to my summer home? It just seems there should be some exceptions or restrictions put in place, without shutting down all the private campgrounds. I want to be just as safe as everyone else and unfortunately there are folks out there, who are not practicing social distancing, but I think for the most part what I see, are people abiding by the guidelines.

I get the concern. It’s sad for those of us from MA that ARE being responsible at home and CAN continue to social distance while at our seasonal camp But I get the concern. But what I really want to know is: if the campgrounds stay closed, do we get our seasonal fees (almost $4,000) refunded?

Was very distressed to see Sununu opening up campgrounds.The population increase raises the potential for infection to spread. Please think about the citizens here, and the limitations of our medical system. We have emergency backup planned with temporary sites, but do we evenw ant tothink about needing them?

So I wanted to share my opinion on the campgrounds. I completely understand some of the opinions that have been stated. No one wants to spread the COVID-19 virus to anyone or anywhere. Maybe there is room for compromise, lets keep the campground closed for what's left of April, and then for May and revisit the situation in June. Maybe a little more time is what we all need but I certainly don't believe keeping all the campgrounds closed for the whole year is going to help the economy in the Washington Valley. I do come up every year and yes I do come from Massachusetts but I also do take insult to the comments that it's only Massachusetts residents that come to New Hampshire. There are Maine, Vermont and most definitely our Canadian neighbors. Maybe another compromise could be that the campground could only accept campers that are in self contained units and not have any tent campers at this time. Just a Massachusetts outsider feeling the need to put in my two cents.

For the NH residence that are urging closure of the camp grounds I am from MA and have been coming to Mount Washington valley for 30 years and want no harm to come to anyone. Today Vermont is opening small business and soon so will MA will be also. You need to find away through this issue and save your small business or you will bankrupt your state and towns. Take a word from Gov Baker the numbers predicted aren't even close in MA for what they predicted. You need to protect your vulnerable citizens and get back to work to get taxes paid so they can be cared for correctly. Some of the decision that have been made are ridiculous at best, why did you close golf courses what is wrong with 4 people walking in a fairway with no carts. no pro shop etc. What is wrong with a person fly fishing on the Saco ?? Camp Grounds with RV (not tent Camping) bring our own supplies with us and yes we some times go to get groceries on a limited basis. I love this area and it was finally starting to look like most small business could survey from year to year that will not be the case if no one can make money to pay your taxes etc. Your Gov is trying to save the big picture and I hope he is successful for all of us. NH can not afford to tell your #1 and #2 highest paying industries to stay away for long as without MA to support your work force your towns will go broke.

Have RI, MA, CT, NY opened their campgrounds? Of course not. Gov Baker doesn’t want people flocking to the Cape either. I’m fine someone who owns a second home and wanting to use it as long as they follow the guidelines of all the NE states, and that is self-quarantine for fourteen days. Weekend campers can’t do that. Campgrounds are extremely social. It’s a good time for Gov Sununu to relent.

Bartlett can't pay for it services now, no tax money=no pay for schools, services, ect. Housing prices will plunge because all those people who are buying them won't want to come here anymore.Why not just put gates up across RT 16 in Ossipee and let the tumble weeds take over.

Would that Mean that if you own a trailer at a campground you would not be able to go there, even though you pay taxes?

That’s fine if you want to close your campgrounds. Then you need to keep your residents from working in Massachusetts and give us back our taxes that we pay for our seasonal places