The Washington Post provides feature-length coverage of an ongoing, long-lasting controversy over a proposal by a wealthy landowner to donate 87,500 acres for the purposes of creating a new national park.
Brady Dennis reports on the efforts of Roxanne Quimby, "the wealthy, polarizing co-founder of Burt’s Bees," to donate 88,000 acres of "Maine’s pristine North Woods" for preservation as a national park.
"Her effort has bitterly divided this corner of New England," writes Dennis "where shuttered paper mills have led to crippling unemployment and a shrinking population, and where distrust of the federal government runs as deep as the rivers and streams."
The occasion for Dennis's coverage of the controversy was a visit to the area by National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, who encountered both support and anger.
According to Dennis, however, residents have voted against the park, the governor and legislature are opposed the proposal, and "Maine’s congressional delegation refuses to introduce the measure necessary to create a national park." The only option, then, is for President Obama to declare the land a national monument using authority from the Antiquities Act.
The article includes a lot more detail about the effort by Quimby and her son, Lucas St. Clair, to build support for the proposal.
FULL STORY: Proposed national park is a multimillion-dollar gift wrapped up in distrust
President Obama Designates New National Monument in Maine
The announcement that 87,500 acres of land in Maine's North Woods would become a national monument came the day before the centennial of the National Park Service. The designation is also sure to be controversial.
New River Gorge is America's Newest National Park
The 72,000-acre West Virginia gem joins an illustrious list as the 63rd U.S. national park.
Maybe National Park Entrance Fees Won't Triple After All
After public outcry, Department of the Interior officials seem to have changed their mind about raising the price of entrance fees into National Parks.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service