Friends of Maine State Parks Announces Pilot Project
Vehicle Passes for day-use provided to 10 libraries across Maine
MAINE - The Friends of Maine State Parks, in cooperation with the Bureau of Parks and Lands, are
pleased to announce a pilot program to provide Maine State Park Vehicle Passes
for day-use at Maine State Parks to ten (10) community libraries located across the
State of Maine.
The ten
libraries include Belfast Free Library, Bridgton Public Library, Curtis
Memorial Library in Brunswick, Dyer Library in Saco, Ellsworth Public Library,
Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle, Rockland Public
Library, Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft, Shaw Public Library in
Greenville and the South China Public library. Each library has received an annual Maine
State Park Vehicle Pass to be checked-out and used by library patrons. The Vehicle Pass allows a vehicle with up to
17 people to access any of the Bureau of Parks and Lands’ 48 state parks and
historic sites for the day.
Many
libraries throughout Maine currently purchase these passes and loan them out to
their patrons as they do books. The Friends of Maine State Parks have purchased
the annual Maine State Park Vehicle Passes for distribution to the libraries to
help stimulate park use.
President,
Steve Curtis, said, “the Friends of Maine State Parks worked hard to launch
this program by Memorial Day to enable library patrons who have a library card
to take advantage of the Vehicle Passes to access Maine State Parks all season.” Steve also expressed appreciation for
the enthusiasm and commitment of the ten libraries in partnering with The
Friends of Maine State Parks to make this pilot program a reality.
The Friends of
Maine State Parks intend for the program to be a two-year commitment. The community libraries could continue the
program on their own if they found it to be successful. “This is a win-win for both State Parks and
the libraries,” Curtis said.
The Friends
of Maine State Parks is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote,
enhance and help improve the operation, maintenance, and attendance at Maine’s
48 State Parks and Historic sites. The
new pilot project is aimed directly at linking communities with Maine State
Parks and enhancing awareness of outdoor recreation.
Please
contact Charlene Daniels at (207) 287-2209 for more information.
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