PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 1, 2021
This past year, we’ve seen people flock to parks and outdoor spaces like never before. Maine State Parks and Public Lands welcomed 3 million visitors, nearly 100,000 more people than in 2019. Camping rates at Maine State Parks increased by 8 percent in just a year. Investing in the outdoors can also provide an opportunity for economic recovery. State funding through the Land for Maine’s Future program is one of the most important tools we have to ensure all Mainers have nearby access to public open space, but the program is nearly out of money. Now is the critical time for the Maine legislature to pass a Land for Maine’s Future bond bill. ~ Betsy Cook, Trust for Public Land, and Shawn Gorman, L.L. Bean