The National Park Service (NPS) is working to increase recreational opportunities, improve visitor facilities, ensure history is honored and preserved and provide economic benefits for people and communities throughout the country, the agency said.
“NPS staff, supporters and partners are excited about the work taking place, under the leadership of the Department of the Interior, to provide the American people with extraordinary experiences in their national parks and to support programs that provide close to home preservation, conservation and recreational opportunities,” NPS Director Chuck Sams said. “Increased funding from sources including the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Great American Outdoors Act are enabling us to make tremendous progress on large-scale projects to upgrade infrastructure, increase green energy, address climate change, restore ecosystems, add recreational options, and preserve treasured landscapes.”
The NPS will use funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) and Department of Transportation grant opportunities, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to invest in the future of parks.
GAOA will provide funds for:
- $1.33 billion for high priority deferred maintenance and repair projects, including rehabilitation of bathhouses, wastewater systems and fences throughout the country.
- $336 million for State Conservation Grants, including $200 million for formula grants and $125 million for competitive Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grants. The Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2023 allows funding for states to staff positions to manage the grant programs and raise awareness of the technical and financial assistance they provide.
- $105.8 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Land Acquisition program These land acquisitions will provide for continuous visitor use and resource protection in these areas that are currently privately held but within defined park boundaries.
Through funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, the NPS will invest dollars and resources to prevent fires and protect ancient sequoia groves. Between 2020 and 2021, 13% to 19% of the world’s population of large giant sequoias were killed by three large wildfires, the NPS said.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 funded major construction projects including:
- At Mount Rushmore National Monument, rehabilitation, and expansion of the wastewater treatment plant.
- At the National Mall and Memorial Parks, repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to prevent water loss.
In 2023, the NPS will begin or continue work on projects with investments from the IRA:
- Leverage the NPS partnership with the congressionally created Presidio Trust to address $200 million of the maintenance backlog that is not otherwise eligible for deferred maintenance funding under the Great American Outdoors Act.
- Initiate conservation and ecosystem restoration projects to protect park lands and resources.
- NPS will begin to hire new employees using $500 million in funding from the IRA to support parks across the country.
The NPS said the agency will work to build sustainability into the NPS by creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. The 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act will improve employee housing to support that workforce and BIL funding will be used to improve recruitment and retention of youth, female and veteran wildland firefighters.
