Press Release Feb 5, 2016

National Parks Maintenance Backlog Nears $12 Billion

Maintenance Needs for Trails, Visitors Centers Grows from Last Year – Congress Needs to Boost Park Funding

WASHINGTON – The following is a statement by Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, following the National Park Service’s announcement today that its Fiscal Year 2015 deferred maintenance backlog reached $11.93 billion nationwide, a $440 million increase from the previous year.

“A nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog is further proof that the National Park Service does not have the funding and resources it needs to protect America’s favorite places.

“And this comes at a time when record-breaking crowds are visiting our national parks. This is the centennial year of the National Park Service. If Congress doesn’t make our parks a national priority in the federal budget now, then when? While Congress did begin to reverse years of declining funding for our national parks with its latest spending bill, the reality is that years of underfunding have significantly harmed our parks.

“Our parks preserve and protect some of America’s most treasured natural, historic and cultural sites. We must work together to ensure parks have the funding and resources they need to fulfill that mission. The best gift Congress can give to the Park Service on its 100th anniversary is to make sure this year’s budget includes significant increases to the agency’s maintenance and operations accounts. The Park Service needs these resources to tackle the backlog, fill vacant ranger positions, and put parks on the best path toward another century of service.”

Examples of maintenance backlog:

Santa Fe National Historic Trail, NM: The Old Santa Fe Trails Building, a National Historic Landmark, needs major work to replace and repair the exterior walls damaged by water and pest intrusion.

Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA: The Visitor Center needs to be rehabilitated for energy efficiency, safety and ADA access. Without rehabilitation, the center will continue to waste energy and tax payer dollars, provide inefficient light for visitors and the roof will continue to leak.

Cape Cod National Seashore, MA: A dozen structures need to be demolished that pose a danger to the public because they contain hazardous building materials and were deemed unnecessary and unsafe. The completion of this project decreases operational and maintenance needs of the National Park Service.

#

About National Parks Conservation Association:

Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its one million supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.

Read more from NPCA

  • Blog Post

    Making Our Mark on Capitol Hill: Advocating for the Great Lakes and National Parks

    Mar 2025 | By Crystal Davis

    The Great Lakes are healthier than they were a generation ago, but NPCA continues to promote their need for protection so we can maintain people’s health and economic well-being.  

  • Blog Post

    Parks Are Being Dismantled Before Our Very Eyes

    Mar 2025 | By Theresa Pierno

    Under the second Trump administration, we are in an unprecedented moment  in the long history of national park protection. The situation has become dire, but a record number of park…

  • Blog Post

    Seeing Recovery at Yellowstone

    Mar 2025 | By Michelle Uberuaga

    Nearly three years after major floods devastated portions of Yellowstone National Park, recovery is underway. But climate change and staffing shortfalls bring new threats to the world’s first national park…