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

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park breaks ground on Texas White House rehabilitation project (www.nps.gov)

This project is being funded in part by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) passed by Congress in 2020 as part of a concerted effort to address the large maintenance backlog in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA's Legacy Restoration Fund provides up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors.
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams celebrates updated visitor center at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov)

“Projects like Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge’s Visitor Center illustrate how the Great American Outdoors Act is increasing outdoor recreation opportunities and enhancing people’s experiences in nature," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “It is exciting to see this innovation in action, where sustainable buildings in harmony with the environment ensure all people have the chance to connect with the natural world."
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Secretary Haaland Highlights President’s Investing in America Agenda in Alaska (www.doi.gov)

Secretary Haaland traveled to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to tour various GAOA-funded projects. The refuge received $13.5 million in GAOA funding to address more than 30 deferred maintenance backlogged projects, including improving river access and employee housing, creating a safer and more ecologically friendly access for visitors, and installing new culverts to improve fish passage in the Kenai Peninsula.
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National Parks of Boston Hosts Public Meeting on Restoration of Dorchester Heights Monument (www.nps.gov)

The National Parks of Boston began the more than $30 million restoration of Dorchester Heights Monument on September 15. Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), rehabilitation work will be complete by March 17, 2026, Evacuation Day, during the nation’s 250th birthday year. The Monument and its surrounding area remain closed to the public during the restoration.
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Marking 50 years of conservation successes in Michigan (www.fws.gov)

On her first visit to the Midwest Region, Director Williams stopped by Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Located along the lower Detroit River and western shoreline of Lake Erie - just 20 miles south of Detroit, Mich., and 50 miles north of Toledo, Ohio, the refuge provided a backdrop for Director Williams to learn about the latest from the Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation program’s work with many partners to conserve lake sturgeon. Her visit also highlighted the results of Great American Outdoors Act funding to increase access to public lands and waters in the greater Detroit metropolitan area. 
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Mammoth Cave National Park Celebrates Completion of Great American Outdoor Act Cave Trail Rehabilitation Project (www.nps.gov)

Mammoth Cave National Park officials and invited guests gathered inside Mammoth Cave today to mark the completion of a one-year project to rehabilitate approximately one mile of cave trail. The project was funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and has made significant improvements to cave infrastructure for visitor safety, tour experience, and natural and cultural resource protection inside Mammoth Cave.
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