Preserving More than Land

Those who still doubt the benefits of the Land for Maine’s Future program should talk to officials in Washburn. The small Aroos-took County town of 1,600, west of Presque Isle and Caribou, has “been in the economic doldrums for 20 years,” says Town Manager Jim Gardner.

What the town did have going for it is its location at the junction of the Aroostook Valley and Bangor and Aroostook railroads. One of the earliest LMF projects was the purchase of rights of way on portions of the railways, converting the abandoned railbeds into multiple- use trails. More than 70 miles of trail are now used for snowmobiling, walking, bicycle riding, horse riding and other activities.

Many of the trail users now stop at Griffin’s One Stop. The combination gas station, convenience store and restaurant has become the second largest employer in Washburn. When he considered locating his business in Washburn, Art Griffin was told such a small town could not generate enough sales volume. Six years later, Mr. Griffin attributes his store’s success to the trails. During the winter, up to half his gas sales are to snowmobilers and in the summer as many as 30 ATVs may be lined up for gas and food.

An old three-story construction building recently sold for $250,000 and is being touted as a bed and breakfast for trail users. Four new homes have been built in town and three families from out-of-state have moved into homes near the trail.

These are small numbers given the size of Maine’s economic problems, but they are significant to Washburn and communities like it across the state. The beauty of the LMF program is that it focuses on local needs and desires, while keeping in mind the statewide benefits of conserving land.

The Washburn success story and three others are detailed in a recent study of the LMF program done by The Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy at the University of Maine and the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. “Our research finds that LMF is a well-conceived, wisely administered, and widely supported program,” the review team writes. The program “has avoided becoming politicized and it has evolved thoughtfully to respond to new understandings of the role of land conservation and economic development in Maine. The general perception is that LMF well and truly serves the people of Maine,” they conclude.

The review was commissioned because LMF has not been thoroughly vetted since it began in 1987. What was found is that this is one of the most universally praised programs in state government. It overcame some initial setbacks – criticism from those opposed to land conservation in general, a spotty record of marking properties and trails – to preserve 98 parcels from one corner of the state to another. They range from boat launches to coastal trails to vast forestlands to mountaintops. Each project has required support from the local community.

Given its track record, there should be no doubt in the minds of lawmakers that the LMF coffers, which ran dry this year, must be replenished. Gov. John Baldacci has proposed a $60 million bond that will fund the program for three years. This doubling of the fund’s annual allotment would be a good investment. Just ask the folks in Washburn.