PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 28, 2021
Visitation to the country’s most popular national parks, including Acadia, has been rising steadily for several years. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation in many locations as cooped-up Americans – prohibited from traveling overseas and yearning for some outside time away from home – have flooded into parks for vacation. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said Wednesday while opening a Senate subcommittee hearing on overcrowding at some national parks that while it is great to see so many Americans visiting these protected places, crowds are straining resources and “souring what should be a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.” Wednesday’s meeting was aimed at discussing different steps that are being taken across the country to address the situation.