For generations, this country’s national parks have offered visitors the opportunity to experience aspects of nature that have been preserved as they were a century ago or more. The challenge facing the facilities managers responsible for maintaining these areas assets for future generations is the sever lack of funding that generally plagues other organizations — K-12 schools, public universities and government office buildings, among them — that rely on taxpayer dollars.
2020’s Great American Outdoors Act sought to change the deferred maintenance challenge for national parks, and the results are showing, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
For the past four years, national parks have experienced significant benefits from the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. Congress implemented a $6.65 billion plan in 2020 — the largest investment in park history — to prioritize and protect national parks.
This funding has so far addressed more than 400 critical repair and maintenance projects across the system, such as crumbling park roads, worn-out trails and outdated water systems. It also addresses issues to improve visitors’ experience and safety. Among the upgrade and renovation projects in national parks are these:
Grand Canyon National Park. Through a $220 million investment, the Great act is tackling one-quarter of the park’s total deferred maintenance needs. Key projects are underway to upgrade deteriorating utilities such as water, electrical and communication on the North Rim and to replace a wastewater treatment plant on the South Rim.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A $35.2 million investment from the act will rehabilitate roads and structures across the park, including drainage improvements on the Newfound Gap Road. The project also will include constructing ADA-accessible parking spaces, fixing bridges and repaving asphalt.
Gateway National Recreation Area. The act’s $28.3 million investment will replace or rehabilitate three critical shoreline stabilization structures in this New York and New Jersey park. These key structures aim to safeguard historic buildings, major roads, multi-purpose paths, parking lots and a ferry dock from coastal hazards.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
