A partnership between a free-to-use, online trails portal and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands is allowing users to find non-motorized state trails in Maine more easily and trail managers to monitor use and report conditions.

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Governor John E. Baldacci received the final report from the Governor’s Nature-Based Tourism Task Force and thanked them for their service, last December.

“Maine is lobsters, lighthouses, L.L.Bean, and so much more,” said Governor Baldacci. “Nature based tourism boosts economic development in every region of Maine.”

The task force was formed five years ago to implement recommendations by Fermata, a nationally known nature-based tourism consulting firm, to develop and expand nature-based tourism opportunities in Maine’s rural communities.

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The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Maine Department of Conservation, is announcing the publication of its new map focusing on Maine’s public reserved lands. The map is a comprehensive guide for recreation and tourism to the more than 500,000 acres of public reserved lands in Maine.

“We have so many special places in Maine besides our 48 state parks and historic sites,” said Will Harris, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) director. “We want to help Maine folks find their own special places to experience, to go camping, hiking, fishing and hunting, and in general to have a great time and create wonderful memories. We think our new map will help everyone do just that.”

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Aroostook State Park, Maine’s first state park, is increasing in size with the purchase of a 145.6-acre parcel located next to park lands.

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL), under the Maine Department of Conservation, purchased the parcel with $60,000 split between Land for Maine’s Future funds and federal Recreational Trails Program funds, plus a generous $55,000 donation of value from the parcel’s Massachusetts owner, Nancy Askin.

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A Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway at the Height of Land got underway with an official groundbreaking on August 14th. When Lady Bird Johnson visited the area 40 years ago, she saw the need to protect the view for future generations. The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust made it happen.

“That view says Maine,” said Governor John Baldacci, looking out over the tops of trees at Mooselookmeguntic Lake and the Bemis Mountain Range. “It’s an inspiration to everyone who sees it, and now it’s going to be that way forever.”

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The Maine State Parks Passport program is free at any one of the forty-eight state parks, and promises healthy fun. Organizers hope that it will inspire and encourage more people to visit the state’s diverse parks.

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A fifth Maine state park campground will open early this year because the weather is expected to be good and the park is ready, according to Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands officials.

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