Courtesy of Friends of Acadia / Evie Linantud

Acadia National Park has recently been suffering from a severe lack of seasonal employee housing. No longer. 

On Tuesday, October 8, Friends of Acadia, a non-profit conservation organization, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony that celebrated the completion of one major construction project and the start of another that will open doors for park employees.  

The event heralded the Friends of Acadia’s completion of eight bedrooms on a 4-acre parcel at Dane Farm in Seal Harbor. Speakers, including Senator Angus King Jr. (ME-I) and National Park Service Deputy Director Lena McDowell, emphasized that housing options are essential to attract and retain employees dedicated to the ongoing preservation, protection and enjoyment of the park for current and future visitors. 

“Employees make it possible to fulfill our mission to protect and preserve these treasured landscapes and cultural features while offering world class visitor experiences. But limited housing options in and near Acadia, and other national parks, have made it harder for us to recruit and retain employees," said McDowell. "We are grateful for all of the partners and supporters working with us to find innovative solutions for this critical issue. We are committed to taking care of the people who take care of the parks, and providing better housing is a key step.”

Acadia National Park will build on the successes of the Dane Farm project by constructing 28 bedrooms at Harden Farm in Bar Harbor for seasonal housing. Identified as a potential site for workforce housing since 1959, Harden Farm is home to eight existing bedrooms. The National Park Service recently awarded a nearly $10 million contract to King Construction of Machias, Maine, who will begin work on Phase 1 of construction this fall. This project is being funded through the National Park Service’s Housing Improvement Program and Centennial Challenge Program, along with financial support from Friends of Acadia and the National Park Foundation. 

“National parks across the country are grappling with the challenge of providing quality housing for park employees,”  said Lise Aangeenbrug, chief program officer of the National Park Foundation. “The National Park Foundation is committed to pursuing innovative solutions. The partnership between NPS and Friends of Acadia serves as a best-in-class example of how our $2 million grant to NPS can accelerate philanthropic investments and leverage partnerships to provide quality housing for the people who care for our parks.”

Friends of Acadia’s President and CEO Eric Stiles noted the importance of the donors and partnerships that make these projects possible.

“Every donor, every dollar counts. Our long-term success in tackling this immense challenge is dependent on both public and private funding. Together, we’re making a difference, one bedroom, one park ranger at a time.” said Stiles. “The dynamic partnership between the park and Friends of Acadia allows us to tackle the housing crisis head on. This effort will have a 100-year impact on the park and unlock opportunities for people to establish and continue incredible careers in the park service that help to preserve and protect these cherished places.”  

“We are so grateful for everyone who has so graciously donated to these housing projects through Friends of Acadia as well as the incredibly generous support from the National Park Foundation,” said Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider. “The park and park visitors rely on the services of skilled employees and these new housing options strengthen our ability to recruit and retain a quality workforce.”

The National Park Service is currently in the final steps of project design and development for Phase 2 of construction at Harden Farm, which could allow for an additional 28 bedrooms to be built on the site.

Both Dane Farm and Harden Farm projects are supported by Friends of Acadia's $10 million Raise the Roof fundraising campaign, part of an ongoing and collaborative effort to help catalyze both near-term and long-term solutions to employee housing challenges at Acadia National Park.