In June, the House Committee on National Resources introduced the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) 250, a proposal to extend the funding created by the original GAOA to continue repairing aging infrastructure in national parks and public lands. If passed, the legislation would authorize up to $1.9 billion annually for five years to continue repairing roads, trails, visitor centers, water systems, and other infrastructure.
Passed in 2020, the GAOA permanently funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund and created the five-year authorization of the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). While the GAOA remains in effect, the LRF authorization expired after fiscal year 2025.
Since its creation, the LRF has helped address hundreds of overdue maintenance projects in national parks. These investments have restored critical infrastructure, improved visitor experiences, protected cultural and natural resources, and supported jobs across the country. With a repair backlog of $24 billion and continued staffing shortages delaying critical projects, the LRF serves as a vital source of funding for national parks.
Specifically, the LRF has invested $22 million in restoration and repair projects at Indiana Dunes National Park. Among the accomplishments made possible by this funding is the restoration of three iconic historic structures: the Bailly Homestead, Good Fellow Camp Lodge, and the House of Tomorrow.
