National Park Service Invest $750 Million in Recovery Act Funding

The National Park Service announced on Wednesday, April 22 that $750 million from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be used to fund 750 restoration and
protection projects across the country, according to Environment News Service. “Today, by
investing $750 million to restore and protect America’s most special places, we are
creating a new legacy of stewardship for our national park system while helping our economy
stand up again,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “These projects at places like
Ellis Island in New York and Dinosaur National Monument in Utah are ready to go and will
create jobs in communities across the country.” All the projects are long-standing
priorities of the National Park Service. They will benefit large parks such as Yellowstone
National Park, which will receive more than $9 million to overhaul an antiquated wastewater
treatment facility, as well as smaller parks like Perry’s Victory and International and
Peace Memorial in Ohio, where $7 million will be spent in the first phase of renovating the
monument that commemorates Oliver Hazard Perry’s naval victory during the War of 1812.
Other allocations include $54.7 million for six mitigation projects to prepare for the
removal of the Elwha Dam and restoration of the Elwha River basin at Olympic National Park
in Washington state; $30.5 million to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and $7.3
million to restore the District of Columbia War Memorial at the National Mall and Memorial
Parks in Washington, D.C.; $5.5 million to rehabilitate Independence Hall Tower at
Independence National Historical Park in Pennsylvania; and many more. “This important
reinvestment in the crumbling infrastructure of our national parks is a step that will
create jobs in large and small communities nationwide, and help to restore our nation’s
heritage for our children and grandchildren,” said Tom Kiernan, president of the nonprofit
National Parks Conservation Association. “There is much more to do to restore our national
parks, but this is progress.” The $750 million is part of the $3 billion allotment to the
Interior Department. In order to qualify for funding from the Recovery Act, which Congress
passed in February, the projects must address the department’s highest priority mission
needs, generate the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time, and create
lasting value for the American public. For a complete list of projects under the Recovery
Act, visit www.interior.gov/recovery/nps