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

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.

The southern portion of Old Mine Road, between Worthington State Forest and Millbrook Village, on the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is set to re-open on September 20 after receiving a major upgrade with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

Deep beneath the desert, Carlsbad Caverns National Park holds not only a world of natural wonder, but it has also brought to the surface a new successful preservation model. With funding by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), history above ground received some much-needed care.

Secretary Haaland and Assistant Secretary Estenoz toured restoration projects on the Blue Ridge Parkway funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), including Doughton Park and Laurel Fork Bridge. To address long-overdue maintenance and infrastructure needs, the Blue Ridge Parkway has received $253 million total from GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), helping improve visitor experience and public safety.

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams finished a multi-day trip to Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin where he met with Tribal nations, reviewed large-scale infrastructure repair and improvement projects funded by the landmark Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), and celebrated the NPS birthday with park staff and visitors on August 25.

Construction began today on a major project to replace the sinking seawalls around the Tidal Basin and along the Potomac River in West Potomac Park. The Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund is providing approximately $113 million for a long-needed restoration of the seawalls and sidewalks of one of the country’s most iconic landscapes.

Death Valley National Park repaired three water system breaks during July 2024, which was the park’s hottest month on record. Fortunately, the Great American Outdoors Act will provide approximately $62 million next year to complete critical upgrades to the park's largest water and wastewater infrastructure systems, which are in the Furnace Creek area.

Fort Pulaski National Monument recently completed a critical $300,000 project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) that rehabilitated the historic fort’s iconic brickwork and ventilation systems. To commemorate the four-year anniversary of GAOA on August 4, Fort Pulaski will join national parks throughout the country in offering free entrance that day.

On August 4, 2024, the Department of the Interior celebrates four years of the Great American Outdoors Act’s (GAOA) success and impact across the country with a fee-free day on public lands. Over the past four years, this landmark Law has funded critical infrastructure investments on public lands, from restoring the historic Saratoga Battlefield Tour Road in New York to improving pedestrian and vehicle access to the diverse ecosystems of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.