The National Park Service will be working to invest in the future of national parks.
Efforts will go toward increasing recreational opportunities, improving visitor facilities, ensuring critical moments in history are honored and preserved and providing economic benefits for people and communities throughout the country, a Feb. 1 news release 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,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in the release.
One of the projects will be $105.8 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund's Land Acquisition Program, including Haleakala National Park, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Cumberland Island National Seashore and Saguaro National Park, the release reported.
Additionally, $1.33 billion will go toward high-priority deferred maintenance and repair projects at areas including Hot Springs National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Everglades National Park, Hawaii parks, Gateway National Recreation Area and Colonial National Historical Park, according to the release.
State Conservation Grants will receive $336 million for states to staff positions to manage the grant programs and raise awareness of technical and financial assistance offered, the release reported.
Funding for the projects will come from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, the Great American Outdoors Act, the Federal Lands Transportation Program, the Inflation Reduction Act and U.S. Department of Transportation grants, according to the release.
“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,” Sams said in the release.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund uses federal funding to acquire private property in the boundaries of national parks. No taxpayer money is used, the National Park Service’s website said.
