Pleasant Lake Recreational Loop

Making Bunker, Wilmot Center, Lakeshore and Pleasant streets safe for recreation

Town of New London Petition:

We, the undersigned residents of New London and or visitors to the Pleasant Lake area, petition the Selectman of New London to address improvements in road safety for walkers, joggers, cyclists, and other non-vehicle users traversing the named areas above. We encourage the Town to consider options provided by the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission to reduce vehicle speeds and increase safety. In addition, we request that the Selectmen encourage the New London Police Department to increase enforcement and discourage motorists from exceeding the posted speed limits.

Join the Pleasant Lake Recreational Loop Initiative

A Community Effort to Improve Safety on the Surrounding RoadsWhile Preserving What Makes Pleasant Lake Special
Pleasant Lake is one of New London’s most treasured recreational resources. Every day, residents and visitors use the roads surrounding the lake—not simply as roads, but as a connected recreational loop for walking, running, cycling, family outings, and enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

The Pleasant Lake Recreational Loop has been formed to promote the safe, shared use of this unique corridor by everyone, including:

• Walkers and runners
• Cyclists
• Families with children
• Seniors and individuals with mobility challenges
• Local college athletic teams
• Property owners and guests crossing between homes and the lake
• Motorists traveling through the area
Why Is This Needed?

The PL loop contains several inherent safety challenges to Users:

• Narrow shoulders
• Limited sight distances
• Sharp curves and steep embankments
• Increasing traffic volumes
• Higher vehicle speeds
• Multiple roadway property crossing needs to reach water
As recreation around Pleasant Lake continues to grow, these roads function as much more than transportation roads—they arealso a vital community recreation spaces that are popular across the community.

Our goal is not to limit access, but to improve safety for everyone who uses the loop.  Indeed, our effort will also allow more users to be safer

Our First Request

We respectfully ask the New London Select Board to:

• Request a comprehensive safety review of the Pleasant Lake Recreational Loop by the Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission.
• Include representatives of the Pleasant Lake Recreational Loop in future planning and design discussions.
• Evaluate practical safety improvements that balance the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, residents, and motorists.
Looking Ahead

Our coalition hopes to become a long-term community partner dedicated to protecting the recreational character of the loop through thoughtful, evidence-based solutions such as:

• Seasonal speed limits
• Traffic-calming measures where appropriate
• Improved signage and roadway awareness
• Public education initiatives
• Enhanced enforcement of existing traffic laws
• Community engagement through public meetings and future warrant articles
We believe safety and recreation can coexist while preserving the beauty and accessibility of Pleasant Lake for generations to come.

Please Support Our Petition

Your signature does not endorse any specific traffic measure.

It simply asks the Town to begin a professional safety review and ensure that residents and recreational users have a voice in shaping the future of the Pleasant Lake Recreational Loop.

Together, we can help make the Pleasant Lake Recreational Loop safer for all age groups and needs from children to seniors.

For further info call 603-848-9464