Visitors and Neighbors of Acadia National Park: Planning for the Future

Manning, Robert

'In 1985 a social science research project was begun at Acadia National Park. The purpose of the research was to learn more about the people who visit the Park or who otherwise have a direct interest in the Park. This information might then be incorporated into Park planning and management. After an initial series of meetings it was decided that two surveys should be conducted, one focusing on Park visitors and the other on residents of Mt. Desert Island who live in and around the Park. Park statistics indicate that nearly four million people visit Acadia each year. Yet little was known about these people beyond their sheer numbers. Selected information about visitors would be helpful to park managers. Moreover, Acadia occupies only about half of Mt. Desert Island with the other half divided among four communities. Of necessity, the Park must be planned and managed in concert with the people who comprise these communities.' 'Sampling of Park visitors began in the summer of 1985 and was repeated on a smaller scale in the following fall, winter and spring. Visitors were contacted at a variety of locations in the Park and asked to participate. Participants were mailed a questionnaire to their home address. Response rate for the survey varied from 77 to 87 percent across the four seasonal samples. Sampling of Mt. Desert Island residents began in the summer of 1986. A ten percent systematic random sample was taken from the property tax roles of the four communiteis on Mt. Desert Island. Property owners selected were mailed a questionnaire to their home address. Response rate to the survey was 83 percent.' Contents include: executive summary, introduction and study objectives, study methods, study findings - visitors, visitor characteristics, visitation patterns, visitor satisfaction, visitor opinions and attitudes, study findings - residents, resident characteristics, visitation patterns, resident satisfaction, resident opinions and attitudes, management implications, carrying capacity, crowding, diversity in outdoor recreation, beyond park boundaries, and conclusions. /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND