Committee unanimously supports Sen. Daughtry bill to increase accessibility at Maine state parks and historic sites

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, March 29, the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee voted 10-0 in favor of a bill from Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick. LD 988, “Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to Conduct an Accessibility Study of All Maine State Parks and Historic Sites and to Develop a Plan to Remove Access Barriers,” would make Maine state parks and historic sites more accessible for the disability community.

“Despite decades of progress, we can – and must – do more to ensure that our state’s beautiful, iconic outdoor spaces are accessible for all Mainers,” said Sen. Daughtry. “After the department completes ongoing and scheduled parks with American Rescue Plan funding, I’m hopeful this bill will ensure that we leave no remaining accessibility barrier in place. I’m grateful to the committee for its support, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to vote for this bill. Together we can show Maine’s strong commitment to the meeting the needs of the disability community.”

LD 988 would require the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to conduct an accessibility study of every Maine state park and historic site. The study would identify barriers to physical and program accessibility, and develop a remediation plan to prioritize and remove these barriers. The plan would list, categorize and prioritize all the barriers. It also would provide a schedule with dates for removal for each barrier and include a reasonable estimate of the costs of removing the barriers. Under an amendment from the committee, the department would submit its report to the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee by Dec. 31, 2025.

“I joined the disability community fast and furious at the age of eighteen by being rendered a quadriplegic instantly as a passenger in a car accident. Once you live a life on wheels, most of the world around you becomes an obstacle,” wrote Jessica Russell, in testimony in support of the bill for the public hearing. “Give us spaces where anyone at any age and in any condition can have a reprieve from their day to day life. Think about how you feel after a walk through the woods or the way ocean air just hits different. We all want that and that is why we all live in Maine.”

In 2021, Maine’s 48 state parks and historic sites welcomed more than 3.3 million visitors and generated more than $100 million in revenue for Maine’s economy. The Mills Administration allocated $50 million to support Maine’s state parks and historic sites, including making improvements and upgrades to bath houses, entrance booths, visitors centers, playgrounds and walkways.

The bill now goes to the Senate and House for additional votes.

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