Maine will spend $50M to rev up an 'economic engine' — state parks

Courtesy / Office of Gov. Janet Mills Gov. Janet Mills Wednesday announced the launch of a $50 million initiative to rebuild infrastructure at state parks.

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By Laurie Schreiber

A new plan to spend $50 million on upgrading parks across Maine represents the first meaningful investment in their infrastructure for over 15 years, according to the state.

And the investment comes at a time of record visits to the 48 state parks and historic sites.

Gov. Janet Mills announced the initiative Wednesday with remarks at Camden Hills State Park, and said funds from the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan would pay for the upgrades.

“With this funding, we will undertake the important and long-neglected work of rebuilding our parks as part of our effort to improve the experience they offer and to secure their place as vital economic engines in communities across Maine,” she said in a news release.

At the park in Camden, money will go to pave the summit road to Mount Battie, improve drainage, replace or renovate trails to improve accessibility, and expand electric hook-ups and water service in the campground.

Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands, said, “This funding will support trails, campsites, and other infrastructure, further improving a system of parks that already attracts millions of people each year.

"State parks serve as part of the foundation for Maine’s $3 billion outdoor economy, helping to make our state an attractive place to live and work while also generating visitor spending that helps create jobs across the state.”

In 2021, parks and sites operated by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry drew more than 3.3 million visitors, who are estimated to have generated more than $100 million in revenue for Maine’s economy.

But lack of significant investment over the past 15 years has forced the department to defer maintenance on roads, trail systems and other infrastructure.

The new infrastructure investments will include:

Enhancements to visitor experience, such as repairing restrooms and shower facilities, expanding Wi-Fi, and renovating visitor centers and overnight shelters;
Structural upgrades and deferred maintenance, such as addressing structural deficiencies in bridges and roads, redesigning park entrance stations, making accessibility improvements, and modernizing equipment at park headquarters; and
Public safety and environmental management improvements, such as upgrading boat launches, refurbishing playgrounds to meet safety standards, restoring masonry on historic sites, upgrading septic systems, and mitigating erosion on recreational trails.