WASHINGTON — On August 4, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees to celebrate the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). This will be one of six entrance fee-free days in 2024.
The GAOA marked a big step forward in funding for national park infrastructure, providing over $6 billion for maintenance and repair projects in national parks throughout the country.
“The Great American Outdoors Act is one of the largest infusions of funding in the history of the National Park Service, enabling us to make long-needed repairs and improvements on everything from iconic buildings to trails, roads, bridges, lodges, campgrounds, utility systems and landscapes,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams in a news release.
More than 250 national parks across all 50 states, 5 territories and the District of Columbia are benefitting from GAOA. Over 600 projects are being funded, ranging from replacing a split-rail fence at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park to rehabilitating a campground at Zion National Park.
NPS officials report much of the infrastructure in national parks is aging and unable to properly accommodate the growing number of visitors. GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund authorized up to $1.3 billion per year from 2021-2025 for transformative projects that protect resources and provide opportunities for recreation, education and enjoyment for current and future visitors.
“GAOA is the driving force behind much needed infrastructure repairs and updates taking place in national parks, including the projects to repair and restore Foothills Parkway, Newfound Gap Road, and Lakeview Drive in the park,” said Barbara Hatcher, chief of facility management for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the release. “However, with more than 12 million visitors a year using and enjoying the roads, an ongoing source of funding and maintenance is crucial to ensure the proper care of these investments.”
Parks are utilizing GAOA funds to help restore, repair and improve accessibility to infrastructure throughout the parks.
Visit the official news release to read more examples of GAOA in action.
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