Maine Members of New Coalition Say National Parks Need More Money

2/27/2002

From: Andrea Keller of Americans for National Parks, 202-454-3332 Ken Olson of Friends of Acadia, 207-266-1061 (cell)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- At a press conference today, the new coalition of Americans for National Parks, including several organizations from Maine, called for an additional $280 million in the National Park Service's fiscal year 2003 operating budget to protect national parks across the country.

"With a growing number of visitors, America's national parks -- including Acadia -- face escalating challenges," said U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine). "That's why Congress must act to boost funding for America's national parks. The President has made clear he wants to eliminate the backlog of funding needed to keep our parks -- America's treasures -- in good condition, by investing $4.9 billion over the next five years to eliminate the backlog on maintenance projects and invest in staff, restoration, and other improvements. Congress must now act to meet this challenge, and secure the funding to keep America's parks in good condition so they can be enjoyed by future generations of Americans."

"On average, the annual operating budgets for our national parks are under-funded by 32 percent. Worse still is the finding that Acadia National Park in Maine is under-funded by approximately 53 percent. If we were to continue this trend, the vitality of our parks would decline even further -- leading to less resource protection, fewer programs for park visitors, and ultimately, less value to the community. We cannot allow this to happen to our nation's greatest treasures. The good news is that we are already moving in the right direction. For the current fiscal year, Congress approved an increase of $91 million for the Park Service's operating budget. But more needs to be done, and I pledge to work hard to make sure that our National Park System is brought up to full funding. This will take a commitment of several years, and it will not be easy during these times of economic uncertainty. I hope, however, that the Congress will understand that funding our national parks is an investment that will reap benefits for generations to come," said U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins (R-Maine).

"Maine's Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national park east of the Mississippi. Yet this magnificent jewel in the national parks system suffers from chronic underfunding which threatens both the management of its irreplaceable resources and the services provided to the millions who visit annually," said U.S. Representative Tom Allen (D-1-Maine). Congress must act to increase the funding for Acadia and our other national parks to assure that the people's parks remain open, accessible and well-maintained."

Research has shown that on average, the national parks receive only two-thirds of the funding needed to fulfill their mission. Research completed at Acadia just last month revealed that the park is approximately 53 percent under funded. More than one million items wait to be catalogued and preserved, education programs have been reduced, and scientific knowledge about the park's native plants and wildlife is limited.

"The Maine congressional delegation is working hard on this, but we need all Mainers to support the Acadia full funding effort. The park is the most visited destination in the state, and it needs a proper budget," said Ken Olson, President, Friends of Acadia, speaking at the press conference. An Americans for National Parks Steering Committee Member, Olson was in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday for the 2002 Conference of Americans for National Parks and lobbied Congress to increase funding for Acadia and all national parks.

Like so many other parks, Acadia National Park's cost of living increases were not offset by an operating increase in the president's fiscal year 2003 budget, forcing the Park Service to continue to manage park resources with limited funding.

A group of Maine-based organizations and private businesses called the Acadia Full Funding Coalition have joined Americans for National Parks. Members include the Acadia Corporation, Bar Harbor Banking and Trust, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Criterion Theatre, Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations, Havana Restaurant, Hinckley Marine Insurance, Maine Tourism Association, and Rupununi Restaurant.

"We need everyone's support," said Americans for National Parks Campaign Director Jennifer Coken, "because there's just too much to lose."

------ Americans for National Parks is a growing coalition of nonprofit organizations, businesses, trade associations, individuals, and other nonpartisan supporters of the national parks, working to encourage Congress and the administration to address the full needs of the National Park System. Campaign information is available at www.americansfornationalparks.org.