SUN JOURNAL • July 19, 2020
As a state that relies heavily on tourism and recreation as one of its primary economic forces, Maine has been squandering one of its most valuable assets for far too long: the land and open space that locals and visitors love so much. Many people see recreation as a “non-essential,” but during the COVID-19 crisis, people have seen just how important these resources are. The Great American Outdoors Act, which would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, may soon become law. With those funds requiring a 50% match, there is a great need for the state of Maine to pass legislation that would establish a sustainable revenue stream to help local and state applicants leverage the increased LWCF funding, as well as other federal conservation and outdoor recreation-related funding programs. ~ Matthew Foster, director of parks and recreation, Farmington