10 Parks Getting a Boost Through the Great American Outdoors Act

For the past four years, our national parks have experienced significant benefits from the historic and bipartisan passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. Thanks to the dedication of NPCA, our supporters and park champions on Capitol Hill, Congress implemented a $6.65 billion plan in 2020 to prioritize and protect our national parks — the largest investment in park history.

This funding has so far addressed more than 400 critical repair and maintenance projects across the National Park System, such as crumbling park roads, worn-out trails and outdated water systems. It also addresses issues to improve visitors’ experience and safety.

These improvements have generated substantial economic output, contributing $8 billion to the economy and creating more than 72,500 jobs.

Through 2025, the Great American Outdoors Act’s national park maintenance fund will continue to tackle essential repair projects in our national parks. However, this initial funding alone cannot fully address the impacts of decades of underinvestment, which have made these projects increasingly costly and challenging. To sustain the remarkable progress initiated by this act, NPCA is urging Congress to renew at least five additional years of the park maintenance funding to effectively safeguard our priceless natural and cultural resources and support the millions who visit them annually.

We highlighted nine Great American Outdoor Act success stories in 2022 and five more in 2023. Here are 10 additional park projects underway that are upgrading our National Park System to make them safer and more accessible for the people who visit them.

1. Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park is one of our country’s most popular national parks, offering more than 700 miles of trails, abundant wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. Traversing the Continental Divide, Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road is a top visitor attraction and the only roadway that provides an east-west link across the park. After years of welcoming millions of visitors — 3 million visitors in the summer season alone — the park’s critical roadway and nearby bridge are aging and unsafe.

Through a $26 million investment from the Great American Outdoors Act, 9.3 miles of Glacier’s historic Going-to-the-Sun Road are being rehabilitated, and the McDonald Creek Bridge is being replaced. The project consists of widening curves, updating pavement friction and enhancing traffic control. These improvements will maintain the area’s historic character and meet the demands of park visitation for decades to come.

2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains National Park consistently ranks among the most visited parks in our country, offering peaks, caves and valleys to its more than 13 million annual visitors. Scenic routes allow visitors to explore the park’s great landscapes. However, after years of wear and tear, some of these heavily used roads are no longer safe and are in desperate need of repair due to potholes, unstable shoulders and poor drainage.

A $35.2 million investment from the Great American Outdoors Act will rehabilitate park roads and structures across the park, including drainage improvements on its famous Newfound Gap Road. The project will also include constructing ADA-accessible parking spaces, fixing bridges, repaving asphalt and more. As the park’s annual visitation continues to rise, well-marked and maintained roads will protect visitors and prevent further infrastructure degradation.

3. Zion National Park, Utah

Reaching peaks of 8,700 feet, the red and pink sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park have attracted visitors for hundreds of years seeking world-class rock climbing, incredible plant and animal diversity, and stunning landscapes. Visitation rose from 2.8 million in 2013 to more than 5 million in 2021, with campsites, comfort stations and other visitor amenities bearing the burden of increased usage.

The Great American Outdoors Act will provide an $11.3 million investment to entirely rehabilitate several visitor facilities. The project will update 128 campsites by repaving roads and vehicle pads, refurbishing visitor utilities and renewing compliance with accessibility standards.

4. Gateway National Recreation Area, New York and New Jersey

Gateway National Recreation Area comprises three units across New York and New Jersey: Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook and Staten Island. Annually, it attracts more than 8 million visitors who enjoy its beaches, wildlife habitats, recreational facilities and historical landmarks. However, due to its coastal landscape, Gateway’s historic and cultural resources are vulnerable to storm surges and tidal damage.

The Great American Outdoors Act’s $28.3 million investment will replace or rehabilitate three critical shoreline stabilization structures. These key structures aim to safeguard historic buildings, major roads, multi-purpose paths, parking lots and a ferry dock from coastal hazards. By making these protective structures stronger against storms and sea level rise, the initiative supports safe access to Gateway and long-term preservation of its historic and cultural resources.

5. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

As America’s first national park, Yellowstone captivates visitors with its stunning landscapes, including mountains, rivers and world-renowned geothermal energy. It contains 60% of the world’s geysers. After decades of hosting millions of visitors, it has a growing backlog of deferred maintenance needs. Additionally, record flooding in 2022 significantly impacted the park, further underscoring the urgent need for major repairs.

The Great American Outdoors Act is tackling over a third of Yellowstone’s deferred maintenance backlog, focusing on critical projects, such as repairing 22 miles of the heavily traveled Grand Loop Road segment connecting Old Faithful and West Thumb.

Additionally, numerous projects are underway to rehabilitate and modernize employee housing throughout the park. And multiple projects will break ground this year to replace wastewater and treatment systems in Mammoth, Canyon Village, Grant Village and Old Faithful. Once completed, all of these projects will enhance visitor experiences, address safety concerns and preserve Yellowstone’s natural and cultural treasures.

6. Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

Bandelier National Monument commemorates and preserves 11,000 years of rich cultural history of the American Southwest. Visitors come to explore ancestral Puebloan homes, see petroglyphs and hike 70 miles of backcountry trails. However, Bandelier’s rich historical and cultural assets are vulnerable to environmental damage and must be properly protected as visitation to the park increases.

Through a $29 million investment from the Great American Outdoors Act, Bandelier National Monument will receive much-needed funding to address nearly half of its deferred maintenance needs. This includes replacing 60-year-old utility distribution and collection systems, which will improve potable water, boost electrical and natural gas distribution and upgrade communication systems. Funding will also rehabilitate existing sewer collection mains and reopen a historic visitor restroom.

7. Colonial National Historic Park, Virginia

Colonial National Historical Park plays a crucial role in preserving our nation’s history. From Jamestown, where America’s first permanent English colony was built to Yorktown Battlefield, where colonial forces overtook the British during the American Revolution, the park offers visitors a journey through history and natural landscapes.

A $140 million investment from the Great American Outdoors Act will protect hundreds of years of history and archaeological sites from sea level rise and future storms by stabilizing the eroding York River Shoreline and repairing 10 miles of the Colonial Parkway. Through these projects, serious deficiencies that threaten the archaeological and historical treasures of this park will be addressed so visitors can continue to enjoy and learn about the people and places that shaped our nation’s history.

8. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Visitors from around the world flock to Grand Canyon National Park to gaze upon millions of years of geological history — and also hike, fish or take guided excursions. As one of the world’s most visited natural wonders, Grand Canyon must balance skyrocketing visitation with preservation of its delicate ecosystems.

Through a $220 million investment, the Great American Outdoors Act is tackling a quarter of the park’s total deferred maintenance needs, addressing visitor experience and safety, meeting water quality standards and preventing future deferred maintenance. Key projects are underway to upgrade deteriorating utilities such as water, electrical and communication on the North Rim and replace a wastewater treatment plant on the South Rim. These improvements are critical to meeting code requirements and will support visitor services for the next 40 to 50 years.

9. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park offers millions of visitors every year the opportunity to explore the tallest sand dunes in North America. Many people come to sandboard and gaze at the nighttime sky.

Through a $12 million investment from the Great American Outdoors Act, many of the park’s deferred maintenance needs will be addressed, primarily improving 13 staff housing units to be safer and more accessible. The project will include updating architectural barriers, fire protection systems and outdated wastewater systems to last another 25 to 40 years. Enhancing these living accommodations will protect park staff who dedicate their lives to safeguarding our most treasured places and contribute to retaining a strong workforce.

10. Minidoka National Historic Park, Idaho

Minidoka National Historic Site tells the stories of the forced incarceration of 13,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. The site educates the public on this dark chapter of American history, but years of underfunding and deferred maintenance have put the park’s structures and stories at risk of being lost forever.

The Great American Outdoors Act is addressing half of the park’s total deferred maintenance needs by investing $5 million to preserve and safeguard three historic structures. Foundation work, structural repairs and seismic upgrades to meet building codes will protect the historical integrity of the Barrack Block, Mess Hall and Root Cellar while ensuring the buildings are safe for visitors and staff and minimizing the cost and frequency of future maintenance. Once completed, these three historic structures will be included in public tours that will further enhance the visitor experience.