Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund Newsroom

The legacy of early European settlers to the John Day Basin is being safeguarded. Supported by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed by President Donald J. Trump in 2020, the roofs of the historic Cant barn and shearing shed were restored. The project brought together park staff and a GAOA-funded Maintenance Action Team, including skilled craftspeople from the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) and Traditional Trades Advancement Program interns. These teams specialize in preserving historic structures, enabling the National Park Service to complete projects in small and medium-sized parks while passing critical trade skills to the next generation.

The Department of the Interior today celebrated the completion of the George Washington Memorial Parkway North Section Rehabilitation, a once-in-a-generation renewal of one of the region’s most beautiful and heavily used routes into the nation’s capital. Made possible through President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act, the $167 million project delivers lasting improvements to safety, reliability and visitor experience while preserving the historic character of this nationally significant parkway.

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Carbella Recreation Site recently received essential upgrades to make it more accessible to the public. The enhancements, made possible with the help of Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) funding, will ensure this slice of heaven continues to welcome users long into the future.

Two Bureau of Land Management road-maintenance projects in south Valley County, Montana, will soon begin construction, thanks to Great American Outdoor Act funding, officials with the BLM’s Glasgow Field Office announced, today. On or around June 10, contractors will begin to repair a 2022 washout on Cactus Flats Road, restoring public vehicle access to the north side of Willow Creek, weather permitting. Following that work, contractors will replace three large (48-60 inches in diameter) culverts at Triple Crossing Road that are nearing the end of their service life.

Buck Island Reef National Monument has begun restoration of the island’s only land-based hiking trail. Supported by President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, the project will rehabilitate the 1.8-mile Buck Island Trail, a critical visitor access route in the remote marine national monument. Crews have conducted trail maintenance, cleared overgrown vegetation, installed and repaired erosion-control features, and will replace aging signage to improve safety and visitor experience on the trail.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park today celebrated completion of a portion of an $8.1 million roadway reconstruction project. This marks a significant milestone in ensuring safe, reliable access to the park ahead of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, supported by President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund.

Independence National Historical Park and Independence Historical Trust will hold a public ribbon cutting on July 1 to celebrate the multi-year, $43 million renovation of the historic First Bank of the United States. The Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, signed into law by President Trump in 2020, provided the National Park Service with $39.3 million to restore the interior and exterior of the national historic landmark and make critical improvements to enable public visitation for the first time in decades, including replacing leaking metal roofing, stabilizing, cleaning, and repairing marble and brick masonry, enhancing accessibility, correcting moisture incursion problems, and updating the electrical and HVAC systems.

The Department of the Interior today announced the completion and reopening of the rehabilitated Tidal Basin and Potomac River seawalls, marking a significant infrastructure milestone supported by President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act. Following a ribbon‑cutting ceremony led by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the newly restored area is now open for public access.

The National Park Service broke ground today on an approximately $14 million project to rehabilitate employee housing at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020, the project will rehabilitate 13 existing park housing units located within the park.

The Old Mine Road, a scenic and historic 375-year-old route on the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, will undergo significant repairs starting on April 6. A 3.5-mile section of road at the northern end of the park, between Route 560 and Route 206, will be under construction. A portion of the route between Jager Road and Route 206 will be closed until the end of summer to enable the work. The repairs are part of a $16.9 million project in the park funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020.