At Acadia National Park in Maine, the National Park Service (NPS) announced Dec. 18, 2025, that it had awarded major contracts to complete the construction of seasonal employee housing at Harden Farm.
A $3.4 million contract will connect the site to the town of Bar Harbor's sewer system, and a $7.4 million contract will build an additional 28 bedrooms for park employee housing.
In September 2024, NPS contracted with King Construction of Machias, Maine, to construct the first 28 bedrooms of employee housing. The latest agreement for the second phase of housing also was awarded to King Construction to bring the remaining 28 bedrooms to life. The total of 56 bedrooms between the two phases is a significant addition to Acadia's housing inventory.
Identified as a potential site for workforce housing in 1959, Harden Farm is currently home to only eight existing bedrooms constructed in 1960. Over the past several years, however, NPS began designing a plan to add the new employee bedrooms on the Harden Farm campus.
In addition, NPS contracted with McKenzie Construction and Site Development in Washington, D.C., to connect the Harden Farm site to the nearby Bar Harbor sewer system.
The construction at Harden Farm is possible because of donations from the nonprofit Friends of Acadia, including funds from its Raise the Roof campaign, a $2 million grant from the National Park Foundation, money from the National Park Service's Centennial Challenge and Housing Improvement Programs and Helium Act funds.
"Thanks to generous donations from Friends of Acadia and the National Park Foundation, along with significant federal funds, seasonal employees at Acadia will have a place to live," said Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider in a news release. "As we have seen this summer, [the park] needs employees to clean and stock restrooms, rescue injured adventurers, manage visitor centers and complete countless other tasks to keep Acadia open and accessible. The future housing at Harden Farm will make it possible for the best and brightest rangers to accept positions in Acadia."
NPS admitted that a severe housing shortage exists in the communities surrounding Acadia National Park. If the park cannot provide a bedroom for prospective seasonal employees, most individuals could not find a place to live within commuting distance to the park. More regularly, this also is the case with prospective permanent staff.
"Friends of Acadia is proud to partner with Acadia National Park to help create attainable housing that supports the seasonal staff who make the park's visitor experience possible," said Eric Stiles, Friends of Acadia's president and CEO. "These employees are essential to protecting Acadia's resources and welcoming millions of visitors each year, and they deserve a safe, stable place to call home. By investing in housing, we're investing in the future of the park and the people who care for it. We are incredibly grateful to our members and community who helped make this possible by contributing to our Raise the Roof campaign and to the National Park Foundation for their support."
Lise Aangeenbrug, the chief program officer of the National Park Foundation, said, "We're proud to support Acadia National Park and the Friends of Acadia in their effort to address the need for employee housing. By working together, we can find creative, local solutions to take care of the dedicated professionals who care for our national parks and create unforgettable experiences for visitors."
Acadia Is One of America's Most Popular National Parks
Known as the "Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast," Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats and a rich cultural heritage.
The park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres along the Maine coast — including Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, Isle au Haut and numerous other outer islands.
With 4 million visits a year, it is one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the country. Visitors enjoy 27 mi. of historic roadways, 158 mi. of hiking trails and 45 mi. of carriage roads.
