MAINE – Leading voices from Maine’s outdoor recreation, conservation, and economic development communities today launched a campaign urging voters to invest in Maine’s trails by voting Yes on Question 4 on November’s ballot.
Question 4 will provide sorely needed funding to repair and expand all types of trails statewide by creating a first-ever $30 million Maine Trails Bond.
The newly created Partnership for Maine Trails includes leading outdoor businesses, ATV and snowmobile clubs, and land conservation organizations who will be contacting Maine voters from now through Election Day with voter education materials about the importance of voting Yes on Question 4.
“Question 4 offers a rare opportunity for Mainers across the state to come together and support something we all value – our trails, the ones we enjoy today and the ones we can build for tomorrow,” said Emmie Theberge, Outreach Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “Over the past 15 years, Maine voters have approved more than $1 billion for highway bonds, but we’ve never had an opportunity to vote for a Trails Bond. Now we’ll get the chance.”
Despite their importance, many trails are in dire need of repair and enhancement, especially after unprecedented storms and record levels of use. Communities and organizations across Maine are developing exciting plans for expanded trails but lack the funding to make them a reality. Currently, Maine invests almost no public funding in trails.
“The Maine Trails Bond will help reaffirm Maine’s status as a national leader in outdoor recreation and further boost our $3 billion outdoor recreation economy,” said Jenny Kordick, Executive Director, Maine Outdoor Brands. “Investments in trails are an investment in our entire state, helping make Maine a desirable place to live, work, visit, and do business. Our outdoor brand and our outdoor industry will be strengthened by the Maine Trails Bond.”
“ATV Maine strongly supports this broad-based, statewide effort to invest in all types of trails for motorized and non-motorized users,” said John Raymond, President of ATV Maine and Northern Timber Cruisers. “Voting Yes on Question 4 will help trail clubs build and maintain the trails that are used by thousands of Mainers and visitors every year.”
“Having worked with communities and groups throughout Maine to map out more than 500 miles of potential new trails, I’m awed by Maine’s potential,” said Steve Kasacek, Assistant Director, Outdoor Sport Institute. “But what really excites me is the opportunity to use trail building for education purposes and workforce development, creating jobs and career paths in trail design and construction, as well as helping draw new people to Maine. I can speak from personal experience. My family and I moved to Maine in no small part because of the state’s current trails and the potential for future trails.”
“Maine has the potential to become broadly recognized as the state with the most incredible trails in the Eastern United States,” said Angela Arno, Executive Director, Piscataquis County Economic Development Council. “Outstanding trails could easily become part of Maine’s brand identity, drawing people to our state for recreation, to support and start businesses, and to relocate. Investing in trails through passage of the Trails Bond will provide economic, community, and public health benefits for generations to come.”
How the Maine Trails Bond will work:
The Bureau of Parks and Lands will administer $30 million over four years ($7.5 million per year) in competitive grant funding to towns, organizations, and clubs;
Funding will support the design, maintenance, and construction of trails, prioritizing accessibility and sustainable design standards;
The Bond will provide equal access for all types of trail projects, including for motorized trail use, non-motorized uses, and multi-use trails; and
The $30 million will help leverage other sources of public and private funding to support trail projects.
The Maine Trails Bond (L.D. 1156) was introduced in 2023 by Rep. Jessica Fay (D-Raymond) and Sen. Russell Black (R-Franklin County). More than 520 Maine towns, organizations, businesses, and clubs signed a letter urging the Legislature to pass the legislation, which an overwhelming majority of the House and Senate did in April 2024. Governor Mills signed the final measure, sending it to the November ballot to be considered by Maine voters.
The coalition that has endorsed the Maine Trails Bond includes 75 Maine cities and towns, 168 businesses, 41 ATV and snowmobile clubs, 43 statewide organizations, and 193 local organizations. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce, L.L. Bean, Maine Municipal Association, Maine Snowmobile Association, ATV Maine, Bicycle Coalition of Maine, New England Mountain Bike Association, Maine Tourism Association, and Maine Outdoor Brands are but a few of the entities supporting the bond.
“We’ve seen explosive growth in trail use in Carrabassett Valley over the past decade, and there’s no sign of it slowing down,” said Deb Bowker, Recreation Director, Town of Carrabassett Valley. “I’m thrilled that Maine voters will have an opportunity to vote for the Trails Bond, which could help Maine trails rival any in the country.”
“Maine’s trails and trail clubs bring people together and help them access some of Maine’s most spectacular places,” said Al Swett, President of Maine Snowmobiling Association. “For too long, we’ve been underinvesting in our trails. But that could soon change, if Maine voters endorse the Maine Trails Bond on November 5th – which I think and hope they will.”
“As a wheelchair user and lifelong resident of Maine, I grew up in a time when accessibility was not at the forefront of most people’s minds. That’s why I’m so enthusiastic about the Maine Trails Bond,” said Enock Glidden, Outdoor Accessibility Specialist. “If passed by Maine voters, this bond will help provide new accessible opportunities for people like me to be surrounded by nature and reap the benefits of what Maine’s outdoors has to offer.”
“A growing number of Mainers are looking to our statewide network of outdoor recreational trails to connect with the natural world and enjoy time with family and friends. That’s why Maine’s land trusts strongly support passage of Question 4, a measure that will support communities and organizations like ours that are working hard to improve and expand trail experiences around the state,” said Angela Twitchell, Director, Maine Land Trust Network.
“We’ve been delighted to see the groundswell of support that’s emerged over the past two years for this proposed investment of $30 million in Maine trails,” said Gabe Perkins, Executive Director of Inland Woods + Trails and Co-Coordinator of the Maine Trails Coalition. “Now we need to get the Maine Trails Bond over the finish line with a big Yes vote on Question 4.”
“Passing the Maine Trails Bond will greatly increase outdoor recreation funding opportunities, including in rural towns like Rumford, where promoting and enhancing outdoor recreation is a key part of our economic diversification strategy,” said George O’Keefe, Jr., Rumford Town Manager and Economic Development Director. “We are eager to apply for a grant from the Maine Trails Bond to help with major trail projects we’re planning in the 450-acre Rumford Community Forest. We’re especially pleased at the inclusive approach of the Maine Trails Bond, which will support opportunities for all types of trail use.”
“Access to the outdoors is Maine’s most important quality. Whether it’s after work, on the weekend, or on vacation, trails are where we all turn to recharge and get away from the problems of the day,” said Brent West, Executive Director of the High Peaks Alliance. “On private or public land, trails need to be funded, that’s why we urge Maine voters to vote Yes on Question 4.”
“Mainers and visitors have long enjoyed access to trails that connect communities to the outdoors, but we can’t take this critical infrastructure for granted,” said Matt Markot, Executive Director, Loon Echo Land Trust. “As more people discover the benefits of time on the trail, we must invest with a goal of securing existing trails and creating new trail access where it’s needed most. Many other states are investing in their trails because they understand the return on investment that this infrastructure provides. It’s time for Maine to do the same by passing Question 4.”
“Trails support outdoor recreation for residents and visitors alike, and they bring economic activity to rural Maine,” said Steve Tatko, Vice President of Land, Research and Trails for the Appalachian Mountain Club. “An investment in trails is an investment in the lifeblood of our communities.”
The Maine Trails Bond is one of three bond measures that will be on the November ballot. Question 2 provides $25 million for research and development to promote technology innovation; Question 3 provides $10 million to restore historic buildings owned by the government and nonprofit organizations; and Question 4 provides $30 million for the design, development, and construction of nonmotorized, motorized, and multi-use trails.
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Publish date : 2024-09-13 23:00:00
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