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Maine has a long tradition of outdoor recreation. Hunting, fishing, hiking, paddling, skiing, snowmobiling, biking and other outdoor pursuits are part of the state’s brand.
Increasingly, these activities draw people to Maine, both to visit and to live.
These activities are also a vital part of the state’s economy. Outdoor recreation contributes $3 billion a year to the state’s economy and supports 41,000 jobs.
Maine ranks fifth in the nation based on the portion of state gross domestic product that comes from outdoor recreation, according to federal government data. Economic benefits from this activity, including total employment and wages, grew faster than the economy as a whole in 2022. That year, employment in outdoor recreation in Maine grew by more than 7 percent.
This growth doesn’t happen on its own. Recreational opportunities and amenities are needed to draw people and to ensure that they can safely participate in outdoor activities.
Trails — for snowmobiling, ATV riding, hiking, cross country skiing, biking and other ventures — are an essential part of this equation.
For the first time, Maine lawmakers have the opportunity to show support for a significant state investment in recreational trails.
LD 1156, which was held over from last year’s legislative session, proposes a bond for $30 million for trails, for non-motorized and motorized recreation. The funds, which would require matching money, would be administered by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. The funds would be awarded on a competitive basis, with an emphasis on multiple use trails and projects that emphasize accessibility and sustainability. All trails must be open to the public.
If LD 1156 is passed by the Legislature, voters would then be asked to approve the bond. Nearly every year, voters have approved bonds for road work. Increasingly, recreational trails are also essential infrastructure.
Maine is home to many noteworthy trails, including the Appalachian Trail, Down East Sunrise Trail, Eastern Trail and an extensive Interconnected Trail System for snowmobiles. But, communities and other groups from one end of the state to the other would like to maintain and build more trails, and to make existing ones better accessible to people with a full range of abilities.
Take Skowhegan, for example. The town is investing in outdoor recreation infrastructure and providing free outdoor activities and gear to our local community members. It is building Maine’s first whitewater park and planning for 50 miles of multi-use trails, which would be interconnected with the town’s business district.
“Having the opportunity to apply for trail funding via this bond would help Skowhegan continue to realize our vision for becoming an outdoor recreation mecca,” Kristina Cannon, the Executive Director of Main Street Skowhegan, told lawmakers in testimony in support of the bond last year.
Last year, the Bangor Daily News reported on the $650 million in investment that is anticipated over the next few years in Skowhegan.
“This is because people know that outdoor recreation infrastructure will attract new talent, businesses, residents, and tourists — all of whom will support their investments,” Cannon told members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.
The trail bond bill, which has bipartisan sponsorship, is supported by more than 500 groups, from town to outdoor retailers to diverse sporting groups. A 2019 poll found that nearly three-quarters of Mainers supported a bond to build and expand recreational trails in the state.
With so much agreement and support, lawmakers should pass LD 1156. Two-thirds support is needed to put the bond on the ballot, where Maine people will ultimately decide whether to support these investments in trails and outdoor recreation.