ASSOCIATED PRESS • March 20, 2022
Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine and Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana said last week they want to know the impact of increased attendance on the parks, visitors and surrounding communities. They’ve called on National Park Service Director Charles Sams for a congressional briefing about the subject. The senators said there have been “historic numbers of National Park visitors,” including at Acadia National Park. The senators said Acadia’s attendance grew from about 2.5 million to about 4.1 million in that time. The senators wrote that the park system “is one of our nation’s greatest treasures, and as such we must be vigilant in ensuring that they continue to be available for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of this and future generations.”