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

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund has recently financed and will begin exterior rehabilitation and restoration work at the historic M’Clintock House at Women’s Rights National Historical Park. Beginning on November 4, 2024, this project will correct deteriorated exterior elements to include repairs to the windows and trim, doors and trim, replacing missing or damaged wood clapboard siding, and to the exterior wood basement bulkhead.

Funded through the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund (GAOA LRF), Virgin Islands National Park, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC), is in the process of stabilizing the Cinnamon Bay Danish Warehouse ruins. Thought to have been constructed in the late 17th century, it sustained significant damage during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Yesterday, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams joined a celebration in Colonial National Historical Park marking the completion of a $24 million shoreline restoration project supported by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund. The project, funded with approximately $12 million from GAOA and $12 million from the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), reinforced the infrastructure of the scenic road and extended its life expectancy.

In November, Colonial National Historical Park will move into a second phase of repairs to the historic Colonial Parkway. Made possible with approximately $123 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund, the full project is expected to be completed by June 2026.

Recently, Fort Larned National Historic Site reduced the park’s deferred maintenance backlog using funding available to National Park Service units through the Great American Outdoor Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund. These funds supported the replacement of aging roof surfaces, tuck pointing of historic stone masonry, window and door repairs, and the painting of wood features.

Recognizing both the opportunities presented by GAOA and the critical skills gap in the trades, the Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands (PPFL) Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) developed a specialized Individual Placement (IP) program, a shining example of innovative workforce development. This program showcases how GAOA funding can effectively support smaller to medium-sized parks and communities.

Thanks to funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund, construction work on significant improvements to the Chisos Basin area of the park is expected to begin May 1, 2025 and continue for approximately two years.

The National Park Service (NPS) is set to restore scenic vistas along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Supported by the Great American Outdoors Act, the project will rehabilitate 15 historic views between North Donaldson Overlook and Spout Run Parkway, allowing visitors to enjoy the iconic scenery of the route once again.

The historic Wick House Barn in Morristown National Historical Park is undergoing critical preservation work funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund. This project is halting the barn's deterioration and enhancing its overall condition, ensuring its preservation for the enjoyment of visitors.

The McGregor District of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge will be home to a new headquarters and maintenance facility at the Luster Heights Unit. This project addresses both deferred maintenance needs for the refuge and visitor access to public lands and waters. Funding for this $10,629,000 project has been provided by the Great American Outdoors Act and we expect to complete the work by 2026.