KENNEBEC JOURNAL • June 28, 2023
Why does the Maine Trails Bond (L.D. 1156) legislation deserve our support? L.D. 1156 is the catalyst we need to help establish and maintain the infrastructure Maine needs to meet the demand of its adventure seeking residents and visitors. Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that Maine is in the top five states with the highest percentage of GDP value coming from outdoor recreation. Maine’s outdoor recreation economy brings in $3 billion annually, employs tens of thousands of people and has been one of the only industries in Maine to grow nearly 20% in the wake of COVID-19. Maine has always been and will increasingly become the place to play for much of the Northeast. This is a call to action to pass the Maine Trails Bond Act. ~ Matthew L. Foster, director of parks and recreation, Farmington