The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Brian Langley, owner of Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth, is a former state senator.
On a busy summer weekend in Maine, as families strap kayaks to their cars or check into camps along the coast, most visitors aren’t thinking about aging facility building conditions or wastewater systems. Instead, they’re planning a sunrise drive through Acadia National Park or a hike along a granite ridge overlooking the Atlantic.
As a business owner in Downeast Maine, my livelihood depends on visitors drawn to Maine’s public lands and outdoor activities. When our parks and public lands are well maintained, local businesses like mine thrive, and Mainers benefit from a growing tourism economy.
But when deteriorating infrastructure restricts visitor access, or limits the visitor experience, it impacts not just the parks — but those of us who depend on the parks each year to bring visitors from around the world to enjoy our state. The quality of these experiences directly impacts the number of visitors that come to Maine each year — and if that quality suffers, so too does the impact on the greater economy that depends on these visitors.
That’s why the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act was so important. Passed by Congress and signed by Donald Trump in 2020, the law created the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, providing dedicated funding to address long-overdue maintenance on federal lands. The fund expired last year, and Congress is now considering the America the Beautiful Act to extend funding for another eight years.
Maine’s congressional delegation played an important role in supporting the Great American Outdoors Act, and I’m grateful to Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Angus King for backing this bipartisan effort to maintain our public lands.
In Maine, that investment has delivered real results.
Each year, millions of visitors come to experience Maine’s national parks and public lands. Acadia National Park alone welcomed more than 3.8 million visitors annually in recent years, making it one of the most visited national parks in the country. Those visitors spend money in nearby communities — at small shops, lodges, outfitters, and restaurants like mine — supporting local jobs and helping sustain rural economies. But it’s not just here that benefits. Many of these visitors fly into Portland or even Boston and make their trip north to Acadia part of an economic journey that benefits a large portion of the state.
Outdoor recreation is a significant driver of Maine’s economy, supporting roughly 30,000 jobs and contributing about $3.4 billion annually to the state’s economic output. For many communities, especially those near public lands, that activity makes the difference between a short tourist season and a stable local economy.
The Great American Outdoors Act helped address critical repairs on public lands across the country, including infrastructure improvements that support visitor access and safety in places like Acadia National Park. Projects funded through the Legacy Restoration Fund have helped maintain roads, trails, and facilities that millions of visitors rely on each year.
But the job isn’t finished.
Public lands across the country still face billions of dollars in deferred maintenance. Roads need resurfacing. Bridges need repair. Water and wastewater systems must be updated to safely serve the growing number of visitors exploring our parks.
Any responsible property owner knows that sometimes you have to spend money to save money. When I recently replaced the roof and rescreened the deck at my restaurant, it wasn’t because they were about to collapse, but because waiting would have turned small problems into big, expensive ones. A leaky roof turns into major structural damage. A neglected bridge becomes a safety hazard. Equipment that could have been repaired ends up needing complete replacement. When property owners ignore maintenance, they aren’t saving money — they’re simply postponing costs and making them worse.
The same principle applies to our public lands.
The America the Beautiful Act would extend the Legacy Restoration Fund for eight more years while strengthening project reporting and transparency. That means federal land managers would have the tools they need to address maintenance issues before they become bigger, more expensive problems.
For small businesses like mine, that stability matters. When roads are safe, trails are open, and visitor facilities are in good condition, people come to experience Maine’s outdoors — and they return year after year. When infrastructure falls behind, tourism-dependent businesses feel the effects first.
As Congress considers the America the Beautiful Act, lawmakers from both parties should recognize that maintaining public lands isn’t just about conservation. It’s also about supporting small businesses, rural jobs, and local communities across Maine.
When visitors pull into a park entrance this summer, they may never notice the repaired pavement beneath their tires or the upgraded water system serving a campground. But businesses across Maine will.
Keeping our national parks and public lands maintained isn’t just good stewardship.
It’s good business for Maine.