The conversation around creation of a new Maine national park continues. Recently, over 13,500 signatures in support of the proposal for a new national park and national recreation area in Maine’s North Woods were delivered to each member of our congressional delegation.

I truly hope that Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin take note of the outstanding support for this proposal and take action.

Of the four, only Rep. Pingree has publicly supported the proposal from the beginning. Our congressional delegation has dragged their feet for too long.

The writing is on the wall. A nationally recognized Republican polling firm showed that 67 percent of voters in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District support the proposal. Other polls show similar support statewide.

It is noteworthy that organizations like the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce and the Houlton Chamber of Commerce, which understand the economic plight of the region all too well, endorse the proposal wholeheartedly. Maine’s most trusted economists concluded that a national park will create hundreds of new jobs.

I challenge Maine’s congressional delegation to listen to the majority of their constituents and introduce national park legislation today. I guarantee their actions will be celebrated.

Evelyn Dunphy

West Bath