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Maine's beloved outdoor trail network could receive millions of dollars of improvements under a proposal conservationists have asked lawmakers to put before voters.The state has long been a destination for hikers, cyclists, snowshoers and other outdoor adventurers, and the state has more than 14,000 miles of snowmobile trails alone. A proposal before the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/state-and-local" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maine Legislature</a> would ask voters to approve $30 million in public money for the design, development and maintenance of both motorized and nonmotorized trails.<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-national-park-service-faces-lawsuit-plan-remove-hundreds-stray-cats-historic-tourist-spot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FACES LAWSUIT OVER PLAN TO REMOVE HUNDREDS OF STRAY CATS FROM HISTORIC TOURIST SPOT</a>A coalition of more than 500 organizations, businesses and towns in the state has rallied behind the proposal. Members of the coalition, which includes ATV Maine, Maine Municipal Association and the Maine Youth Camping Association, said investing in the trail network is critical to boosting the state's economy."In literally every corner of the state, trails are a valued resource for connecting Maine people and visitors with the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/great-outdoors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">natural world</a> and reaching destinations to work and play," the coalition said in a statement. It added that the trails support tens of thousands of jobs.A committee of the Maine Legislature voted last Friday in favor of sending the proposal to voters. The next step is for the full Legislature to cast a vote. The proposal had not been scheduled for a vote as of Monday, a spokesperson for the Legislature said.The proposal states that the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry would provide the money to municipalities and nonprofit organizations via a competitive grant process. Trail networks around the state are operated by local governments as well as private clubs and conservation organizations.The proposal would appear on the statewide ballot in November if the Legislature approves it.The trail improvements should find broad appeal around the state, Pete Didisheim, advocacy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said while testifying in favor of the proposal."The trails <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/northeast/maine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">of Maine</a> are near and dear to us all, for hiking, biking, snowmobiling, skiing, running, walking, and many other activities," Didisheim said.

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published: 2024-04-01 19:44:43.000000000 Z
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 guid: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/businesses-environmental-groups-back-bid-massive-hiking-trail-overhaul-maine-voters
title: Businesses, environmental groups back bid to put massive hiking trail overhaul
 before Maine voters
categories:
- 232da9c8-f682-54e9-9b02-e46470bce71c
- fnc
- Fox News
- fox-news/us/us-regions/northeast/maine
- fox-news/topic/associated-press
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- fox-news/politics/state-and-local
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content: Maine's beloved outdoor trail network could receive millions of dollars
 of improvements under a proposal conservationists have asked lawmakers to put before
 voters.The state has long been a destination for hikers, cyclists, snowshoers
 and other outdoor adventurers, and the state has more than 14,000 miles of snowmobile
 trails alone. A proposal before the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/state-and-local"
 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maine Legislature</a> would ask voters to approve
 $30 million in public money for the design, development and maintenance of both
 motorized and nonmotorized trails.<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-national-park-service-faces-lawsuit-plan-remove-hundreds-stray-cats-historic-tourist-spot"
 target="_blank" rel="noopener">US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FACES LAWSUIT OVER
 PLAN TO REMOVE HUNDREDS OF STRAY CATS FROM HISTORIC TOURIST SPOT</a>A
 coalition of more than 500 organizations, businesses and towns in the state has
 rallied behind the proposal. Members of the coalition, which includes ATV Maine,
 Maine Municipal Association and the Maine Youth Camping Association, said investing
 in the trail network is critical to boosting the state's economy."In literally
 every corner of the state, trails are a valued resource for connecting Maine people
 and visitors with the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/great-outdoors"
 target="_blank" rel="noopener">natural world</a> and reaching destinations to work
 and play," the coalition said in a statement. It added that the trails support tens
 of thousands of jobs.A committee of the Maine Legislature voted last Friday
 in favor of sending the proposal to voters. The next step is for the full Legislature
 to cast a vote. The proposal had not been scheduled for a vote as of Monday, a spokesperson
 for the Legislature said.The proposal states that the Maine Department of
 Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry would provide the money to municipalities
 and nonprofit organizations via a competitive grant process. Trail networks around
 the state are operated by local governments as well as private clubs and conservation
 organizations.The proposal would appear on the statewide ballot in November
 if the Legislature approves it.The trail improvements should find broad appeal
 around the state, Pete Didisheim, advocacy director for the Natural Resources Council
 of Maine, said while testifying in favor of the proposal."The trails <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/northeast/maine"
 target="_blank" rel="noopener">of Maine</a> are near and dear to us all, for hiking,
 biking, snowmobiling, skiing, running, walking, and many other activities," Didisheim
 said.
summary: Over 500 entities have coalesced behind a Maine proposal to send a $30 million
 overhaul of the state&apos;s nature trail system to the ballot box.
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url: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/businesses-environmental-groups-back-bid-massive-hiking-trail-overhaul-maine-voters
image: https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/04/931/523/maine_trail_system.jpg?ve=1&tl=1

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