Beginning in May, there have been three articles with regard to Lake George Regional Park in the Morning Sentinel. With this letter, I am addressing the May 2 article with regards to “improvements” on the west side. These “improvements” have happened because of a grant, fundraisers, and three $100,000 “gifts.”

Fees to access the park continue to be excessive given the impact on this community. Overall, in the state of Maine, state park fees range from $3 to $ 7 for adults and seniors from $1 to $2. All children under 12 are free. These include the ocean parks. At Lake George, adults are $8, children 5-11 are $4, and children younger than 5, senior citizens and veterans are free. These are for day passes. Season passes for an individual are $60, a family is $90 and groups are $5 per person.

Somerset County is one of the more disadvantaged counties in the state. Canaan is home to many families who struggle financially. Take, for example, a single mother with four children (unless she has one under 5) will be looking at $24 for a couple of hours; $24 she likely can’t afford. A family who recently visited had to pay $80 to access the park. Needless to say, they won’t return. Two factions in Canaan have come together with community members to organize fundraisers towards family season passes; 75 families benefited thanks to Canaan Farmers Hall and the Canaan Elementary. Is this necessary? Apparently.

Who is the LGRP Corp. benefitting with their elaborate plans? It’s certainly not the local community. The LGRP Director Darryll White stated that, ” There’s a lot of love for this place (the park).” Excessive self-love is called narcissism. I believe LGRP and its acolytes have engaged in just that.

Maureen Delahanty

Canaan