By Sheridan Steele and W. Kent Olson, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Paul Haertel, Marla O’Byrne and the two of us represent a century-plus as park officials and nonprofit conservation executives. Below we address questions about a proposal by philanthropists to create a new national park in Maine. They would donate a Read More
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Exploring Katahdin Woods and Waters
In February I spent five days with students from Chewonki’s Maine Coast Semester exploring Katahdin Woods and Waters, the area east of Baxter State Park proposed for inclusion in the National Park system. The Maine Coast Semester is a four-month-long program for high school juniors. In the fall and again in the winter/spring, 42 participants Read More
The Case for a Katahdin Woods National Monument
By Edgar Allen Beem The Forecaster column Just in time for the centennial of the National Park Service and the final year of the Obama administration, philanthropist Roxanne Quimby and her family are seeking national monument status for the land east of Baxter State park they have been assembling in hopes of it becoming a Read More
Poliquin Bill Would Give Veto Power to Park Opponents
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial In late November, three members of Maine’s congressional delegation — Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin — sent a letter to the president laying out reasonable conditions for him to consider if he is to declare land in Maine a national monument. Read More
We Have a Path Forward for a New National Park, Recreation Area
By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Over the last four years, support has been growing in the Katahdin region, around Maine and across the country for a new national park and national recreation area on up to 150,000 acres east of Baxter State Park. The proposal has been fine tuned Read More
A National Park or a National Monument? North Woods Groups Shift Focus
Unable to convince members of Maine’s congressional delegation to introduce legislation for a North Woods national park, supporters are now hoping President Obama will use his authority to designate a national monument as a step toward eventual park status. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story In June 1916, President Woodrow Wilson Read More
Collins, King, Poliquin Offer Way Forward on National Park Issue
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Members of Maine’s congressional delegation deserve praise for seeking a sensible way forward on the contentious issue of a establishing a national park in northern Maine. In a letter to President Barack Obama dated Friday, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin outlined Read More
National Park Advocates Unveil Petition to Maine Delegation
BANGOR, Maine — A group supporting a proposed national park and recreation area in the Katahdin region on Tuesday unveiled a petition containing 13,580 signatures from people around the world who back the idea in hopes of convincing Maine’s congressional delegation to help make it a reality. Speaking at a press conference at the Charles Read More
Widespread Support in Maine, Across U.S. for New National Park
Petition Signers in 80% of Maine Towns, 50 States, and 53 Nations News release The petition was signed by more than 13,500 individuals living in 371 Maine towns, all 50 states, and 53 countries. The group also released a list of endorsements from groups, businesses, and individuals, and a compilation of public opinion surveys documenting Read More