maine national park

In the face of stiff local resistance, Roxanne Quimby’s family has withdrawn its proposal to create a 70,000 acre national park adjacent to Maine’s Baxter State Park, according to an article in the Bangor Daily News.

While family representatives say they’d still like to see a national park in northern Maine, they say they are stepping back to seek more input and come up with a better plan on how to protect the land.

The plan had met with strong opposition from outdoor recreation groups such as hunters and snowmobilers who worried they’d be shut out from using land they’ve traditionally been able to use. But hikers and kayakers who use the Baxter State Park area were also split on the idea, with some worried a national park would draw more crowds to the area and spoil the wilderness atmosphere.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Do you think we’ll still eventually see a national park in northern Maine? Are you happy or disappointed that the plan has been withdrawn?