Massive new park designated in Maine--Video

Just yesterday, President Obama designated the US’s 413th national park site: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. It's located along the East Branch of the Penobscot River and is made up of 87,500 acres (that's big). An approximately a 2-hour drive west of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor and 1-hour drive north of Bangor, the new park is not very easy to get to--and that's likely a good thing.

(map from pressherald.com)

The land was donated to the federal government by Elliotsville Plantation Inc. (EPI), a private Maine-based foundation, whose fortune comes from the Burt's Bees line of products. Of course, there has been plenty of controversy---republicans complaining about a lame duck president backed by liberals who are forcing their agenda on Mainers who want nothing to do with it. Aaanyway...

I quote from the National Park Service press release "The west side of the park includes overlooks, a scenic loop road and will allow for traditional park uses like skiing, horseback riding, hiking, biking and fishing, while the east side of the park will allow for Katahdin-region activities like snowmobiling and hunting." It sounds to me like there will be something for everyone. I'm calling it good news (and it's just in time to be part of the National Parks Service's 100th birthday).