Bar Harbor resolution seeks full funding of Acadia's maintenance needs
Photo / Dave Clough
One of the many vistas of Acadia National Park. The park, which provides a major boost to Maine's summer tourism industry, is one of 17 national parks that could see a fee increase as a way of generating revenue for infrastructure improvements.
The Bar Harbor Town Council agreed to sign a congressional resolve, called “Resolution of the Bar Harbor Town Council for the Support of the National Park System,” that supports the role that the national parks play as economic drivers in their communities. It also encourages Congress to make sure that the maintenance and repair backlogs in these parks are appropriately funded moving forward.
Kathie Summers-Grice, a consultant hired by Pew Charitable Trusts, the environmental group pushing the resolve, said that Bar Harbor joins about 125 communities nationwide that support similar resolutions.
Summers-Grice said the resolution was sent to the council well before a proposed fee increase put forward by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. However, she said, as a result of the proposed increase, some cities and towns, including Bar Harbor, have included language in the resolution that says they support reasonable fee increases but oppose the NPS’ proposed increase.
Zinke's proposed increase is supposed to generate revenue for improvements to aging infrastructure, including roads, bridges, campgrounds, waterlines, bathrooms and other visitor services.
During the peak season at each park, the entrance fee would be $70 per private, non-commercial vehicle, $50 per motorcycle and $30 per person on bike or foot. A park-specific annual pass for any of the 17 parks would be available for $75.
For now, the entrance fee for private vehicles is $25, for motorcycles $20 and for individuals $12. The annual pass goes for $50.
Acadia’s deferred maintenance backlog is now estimated at $71 million.
Editor's note: This updates an earlier version of the story to reflect additional information provided to Mainebiz by Summers-Grice.
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