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HISTORY, MISSION, METHODS:
Founded: 1986, 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, independent from Acadia National Park.
Mission: To preserve, protect, and promote stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations.
Methods: Raise private funds for the park and communities, advocate before Congress, counter threats to the park, and represent users in the betterment of its operations.
Milestones:
1986-1998
- Raised $3.4 million endowment to maintain the park’s 44-mile carriage road system in perpetuity
- Halted proposed heavy timber cut on 1,600 acres of land touching the park’s Schoodic border
- Achieved, with the park, a first-in-nation legislative jet-ski ban on all ponds inside a national park
- Donated two wheelchair-accessible horse-drawn carriages and endowed their maintenance
- Constructed and endowed 4,700-foot Acadian Ridge Trail, a public footpath on conserved private property
1999-2002
- Co-developed and co-funded the fare-free, propane-powered Island Explorer public transit system
- Raised $13 million for rehabilitation of 130-mile trail system, making Acadia the first national park with an endowed trail system
- Finished construction of the Great Meadow Loop Trail and Western Mountain Connector Trail
- Obtained $1 million grant from L.L.Bean to support and expand the Island Explorer bus system
2003-2007
- Purchased 369 acres in Trenton for the Acadia Gateway Center and attracted $7 million in congressional appropriations for the project, which will lessen the impact of traffic in the MDI region
- Received an additional $1.25 million from L.L.Bean to support the Island Explorer and establish the L.L.Bean Research Fellowships and Kids in Acadia programs
- Surpassed $10 million in cumulative grants to the park and communities
- Purchased and protected 25 acres on Acadia Mountain, threatened by development
By the Numbers*
- Endowments and other investments: $14.6 million
- Grants to park & communities (1995-2008): $13.4 million
- Operating budget: $3.3 million
- Number of staff: 9 (full-time)
- Number of FOA-funded seasonal staff serving park: 118
- Number of members: 3,575
- Magazine: Friends of Acadia Journal (3 issues/yr.)
*As of December 2008
Download our
Accomplishments &
Milestones Brochure
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