SUN JOURNAL • April 11, 2020
As Americans across the country socially distance themselves due to COVID-19, many look to the open air and public spaces for their mental and physical wellness. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has invested $191.6 million in projects in the Pine Tree State alone, building and maintaining everything from community ballfields to wildlife preserves. That investment helps support a booming outdoor recreation industry that in Maine generates $8.2 billion in consumer spending each year and supports 76,000 jobs across the state. LWCF, in improving outdoor access, supports an $887 billion outdoor recreation economy. Fully funding the program can and should be part of our next economic stimulus package forthcoming later this month. ~ Colonel (Ret.) Steve Ball, Windsor