Читать книгу Hike the Parks: Acadia National Park - Jeff Romano - Страница 34

Friends of Acadia (FOA) preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations. The nonprofit membership organization works with the park to identify places and projects where its members’ expertise and assistance can most benefit Acadia’s critical needs. FOA works on the park’s hiking trails, supports the Island Explorer bus service, and maintains other programs to enhance visitor experiences.

The carriage roads were financially supported by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Through his leadership, the roads became more than a way to get from here to there. Constructed between 1913 and 1940, the carriage roads feature a system of seventeen stone-faced bridges and a handful of gatehouses. The stone-faced bridges were designed to fit the surrounding landscape by complementing each location’s unique stream and geology.

Rockefeller worked with landscape architect Beatrix Farrand to ensure the carriage roads were lined with native trees, shrubs, and plants—sixty varieties were planted along the corridors. Farrand designed the plantings to feel seamless, as if the new flora had existed before the roads were constructed.

Biking Paths. The latest addition to Acadia’s trail network is more than 8 miles (12.9 km) of bicycle paths on the Schoodic Peninsula. This network has a similar feel to the carriage roads of Mount Desert Island, but with a less elaborate design. The trails are used by bikers and hikers to enjoy this quieter corner of the park.