ALLENSTOWN Town officials are gearing up for another state project that might weigh on their purse strings.

A state plan to create a 40-mile bike path extending along Interstate 93 would place Allenstown along the route. The roughly half mile that would pass through the town would cost $291,000, said Selectmen Chairman Sandra McKenney.

"I think a bike path is a great idea. It'd be a safe place to ride. But, with what may happen at Bear Brook State Park, it'd be a financial burden with the town," she said.

The state is also exploring the feasibility of putting in ATV trails at the state park. Town officials have maintained the trails will financially burden the town, with increased calls for emergency services and the cost to patrol the trails.

The state's plan would extend the bike path through 11 communities and would be open to joggers, bikers, walkers, rollerskaters and even horseback riders.

McKenney said the state pledged to work with the town, but the project entails an 80 percent funding from the federal government and a 20 percent pickup from the state or local level.

"We'd also have to maintain it," she said. "There is some grant money available, but we'll have a public hearing to find out if the townspeople want this. If they do, we'll go after the grant."

The trail would run from Hooksett, hook onto Canal Street in Allenstown and run into Pembroke.

McKenney said the state has made it clear that it will take the privately owned rail bed needed for the project by eminent domain if necessary.

"It's still in the early stages, but ultimately, it will be up to us to maintain our part of the trail," said McKenney. "And we can't afford that."