Seawall campground eyed for $4.1 million face-lift

SOUTHWEST HARBOR – One of Maine’s most popular campgrounds will get a $4.1 million face-lift next year if a plan by Acadia National Park gets final approval.

Park officials will accept public comment on their plan through early January and hope to begin the rehabilitation of Seawall Campground and Seawall Picnic Area next September.

The project is part of the park’s overall general management plan to upgrade and improve park facilities and accommodations.

“The facilities have needed upgrading, particularly the utilities and making things universally accessible for all of our visitors,” Lee Terzis, cultural resources program manager, said Thursday.

The Seawall plan calls for three major policy changes, in addition to extensive physical improvements to the campground and picnic area, used by 80,000 visitors a year.

The changes:

. Banning all generators.

. Prohibiting firewood collection.

. Limiting RVs to 35 feet in length and 12 feet in width.

According to the 97-page environmental assessment on the project, park officials think the noise from generators spoils the natural sound of the campground and disturbs other campers. Generators, which have caused recurring conflicts between campers for years, are used to power appliances in RVs, according to the park report.

Firewood collection will be banned, according to the report, because of the damage done to vegetation by campers scouring the campground for wood. Some campers apparently also pick up coarse woody material from both the campground and picnic area that should not be used for firewood.

The park also intends to begin limiting the size of RVs because newer models offer pullouts and awnings that are too wide for the space available.

The campground and picnic area are located along Route 102A in Southwest Harbor. The campground includes 213 individual sites, including 43 for RVs and 66 for small trailers or tents with car access. The remaining 104 campsites are walk-in tent sites.

The physical improvements will restore deteriorated conditions at the campground, officials say, and restore the original National Park Service rustic design style of the facilities and landscape. The improvements will include:

. Upgrading facilities, utilities, drainage and roads and making the campground and picnic area handicapped-accessible.

. Rehabilitating historic features at the campground by upgrading campsites and two of eight comfort station buildings, and implementing a revegetation plan to reverse some of the damage done by the high volume of visitors.

. Increasing privacy between campsites to reduce interactions between nuisance animals and conflicts among visitors.

Seawall Campground meets the criteria for listing as a National Historic Place because of its significant cultural landscape, according to park officials. It covers 120 acres and is one of only three overnight camping facilities at Acadia.

The public can get a copy of the environmental assessment study for the project, which explains the improvements in detail, by writing to the park at P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor 04609-0177; or calling 288-5463. Written comments on the plan may be mailed to the park superintendent through Jan. 4, while e-mail comments will be taken through Jan. 6. The e-mail address is judyhazenconnery @nps.gov