The nation's recreation infrastructure will benefit from more than $37 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
The funding will go to improve recreation infrastructure in national forests and grasslands, including “$19 million for recreation sites and $18 million for cabins and historic buildings,” a Sept. 23 news release said.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides for the funding.
“Public lands have seen a remarkable surge in visitors over the past two years as people sought outdoor experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in the release. “It is an important reminder that our recreation facilities play a crucial role to so many people.”
To accommodate more visitors and better safeguard the natural resources close to the sites, the Forest Service will provide funding that fix problems and enhance recreation areas priority. A list of authorized projects, which the Forest Service is preparing, will be made public later this year. The projects should be implemented within five years of approval.
The Forest Service will consider tribal input during the project selection process, giving priority to investments that account for tribal communities’ needs. It’s thought that such projects will recognize “the positive social and economic” effects of enhanced recreation infrastructure for promoting heritage and cultural tourism.
