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

Thanks to Great American Outdoor Act funding, rural travelers in south Valley County, Montana, can again cross over Pearson’s Coulee when driving on Cactus Flats Road. Great American Outdoor Act funding also provided the means for the BLM to replace three large (48-60 inches in diameter) culverts on nearby Triple Crossing Road that were nearing the end of their service life.

Beginning July 6, 2026, Voyageurs National Park will initiate a major infrastructure project to replace an aging underwater powerline that provides electricity to the historic Kettle Falls area. Funded through the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020, this work will improve safety, reliability and visitor experience in one of the park’s most iconic destinations.

Construction is underway at the Wounded Knee District School in Manderson, South Dakota. The Wounded Knee District School Board approved work to replace campus buildings and improve housing facilities, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. These projects mark the first major construction investment at the school since its construction in 1961.

The legacy of early European settlers to the John Day Basin is being safeguarded. Supported by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed by President Donald J. Trump in 2020, the roofs of the historic Cant barn and shearing shed were restored. The project brought together park staff and a GAOA-funded Maintenance Action Team, including skilled craftspeople from the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) and Traditional Trades Advancement Program interns. These teams specialize in preserving historic structures, enabling the National Park Service to complete projects in small and medium-sized parks while passing critical trade skills to the next generation.

The Department of the Interior today celebrated the completion of the George Washington Memorial Parkway North Section Rehabilitation, a once-in-a-generation renewal of one of the region’s most beautiful and heavily used routes into the nation’s capital. Made possible through President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act, the $167 million project delivers lasting improvements to safety, reliability and visitor experience while preserving the historic character of this nationally significant parkway.

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Carbella Recreation Site recently received essential upgrades to make it more accessible to the public. The enhancements, made possible with the help of Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) funding, will ensure this slice of heaven continues to welcome users long into the future.

Two Bureau of Land Management road-maintenance projects in south Valley County, Montana, will soon begin construction, thanks to Great American Outdoor Act funding, officials with the BLM’s Glasgow Field Office announced, today. On or around June 10, contractors will begin to repair a 2022 washout on Cactus Flats Road, restoring public vehicle access to the north side of Willow Creek, weather permitting. Following that work, contractors will replace three large (48-60 inches in diameter) culverts at Triple Crossing Road that are nearing the end of their service life.

Buck Island Reef National Monument has begun restoration of the island’s only land-based hiking trail. Supported by President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, the project will rehabilitate the 1.8-mile Buck Island Trail, a critical visitor access route in the remote marine national monument. Crews have conducted trail maintenance, cleared overgrown vegetation, installed and repaired erosion-control features, and will replace aging signage to improve safety and visitor experience on the trail.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park today celebrated completion of a portion of an $8.1 million roadway reconstruction project. This marks a significant milestone in ensuring safe, reliable access to the park ahead of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, supported by President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund.

Independence National Historical Park and Independence Historical Trust will hold a public ribbon cutting on July 1 to celebrate the multi-year, $43 million renovation of the historic First Bank of the United States. The Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, signed into law by President Trump in 2020, provided the National Park Service with $39.3 million to restore the interior and exterior of the national historic landmark and make critical improvements to enable public visitation for the first time in decades, including replacing leaking metal roofing, stabilizing, cleaning, and repairing marble and brick masonry, enhancing accessibility, correcting moisture incursion problems, and updating the electrical and HVAC systems.