Maine has to stop saying no to new ideas.

A major landowner in the Katahdin region wants to donate land to create a national park and a national recreation area, along with $40 million to fund operations and maintenance.

National parks are great. People love them, and they like to visit them.

But people like Jim Robbins (Maine Compass, “Quimby’s ‘big idea’ still a bad idea; she gets no national park as legacy,” Aug. 8) say no. If it’s not a mill, they don’t want it.

I don’t get it. Roxanne Quimby and her family are willing to put their money behind something real in our community. But we’re too afraid to say yes. We are throwing away opportunity with both hands.

I’m done saying “no.” Our communities are suffering. It’s time we had leaders who are willing to do something about it. I urge Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and Reps. Bruce Poliquin and Chellie Pingree to step up to the plate.

Crossing our fingers and hoping that some big company comes into town isn’t a plan. It’s a daydream.

Marsha Donahue

Millinocket