Creating a world-class park

To the editor:
    Northern Maine possesses some of the most pristine forest, mountain and wildlife areas in the nation. During my career I had the opportunity to visit many of our nation’s parks, (Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Everglades, Big Sur, Little Bighorn, Mount Rainier, Hoover and Grand Cooley) and hundreds of other parks both here and in Canada. I am absolutely convinced that we have a wilderness area that could far exceed any I have seen. I will describe it, but first you must think big!
    Starting at the split in the road at the south entrance to Baxter Park and the Golden Road, develop a light electric/hybrid rail system to replace the road system through Baxter Park to Mattagammon and return the line south through what is now mostly Roxanne Quimby land to the Millinocket starting point. The Quimby land already has an excellent roadbed that would greatly reduce the cost of installing a light rail system that would engender the pubic with the wildlife without interfering. The rail system would be very environmentally friendly while allowing the pubic access to some fantastic wildlife and scenery.
    Expand the Golden Road to incorporate light rail to Greenville, Oxbow, and Portage Lake. The possibilities are endless as to what the many towns that are close to a line like this could do. This like no other would bring tourists up close to a working forest and educate them on what Mainers do. Most parks have the infrastructure in place and operating before any major resorts spring up, but guide service, tours, fishing in all seasons, snowmobile excursions, nature walks, guided hikes on park trails, cross country skiing and many more as you could imagine.
    Of course anyone can dream, as you can see I do, but if you don’t share the dream it will never become a reality. This could be done and the funds could be raised, I believe we need something of this magnitude to provide opportunities for our children to live and enjoy the great Maine woods, as we have all these years.
David Robinson
Sherman