How investing in our public lands can help in the midst of a public health and economic crisis
Maintaining our parks and creating new recreation opportunities are critical
Weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, the Great American Outdoors Act was introduced in the Senate, with bipartisan support and tweeted endorsement from President Trump. The bill combines two popular programs that support conservation, rural economies, and access to outdoor recreation throughout the country — addressing the maintenance backlog at national parks and establishing permanent full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
As the country faces an unprecedented public health crisis, the Great American Outdoors Act is more important than ever. Public lands are a rare space where people can spend time in a responsible and socially distant way, benefitting both mental and physical health. As we recover, rural economies that have been hit hard by the effects of the pandemic will benefit from jobs and new recreational opportunities and infrastructure, serving locals and boosting tourism, if the act is passed.
From trail building and park maintenance to guides, gear shops, and restaurants, the outdoor recreation economy supports a wide range of jobs and businesses in rural communities. Nationwide, 7.6 million jobs are tied to outdoor recreation, and national public land recreation accounts for $51 billion in visitor spending. By increasing funding to maintain and protect public lands throughout the country, the Great American Outdoors Act can help us to move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic through good jobs, economic development, and increased outdoor recreation opportunities for all.
Addressing the parks backlog
As of 2018, the National Park Service had a backlog of $11.9 billion in maintenance projects spread across their 419 units. From repairing roads to maintaining trails and other recreational infrastructure, the park service needs funding to take care of the jewels of America’s public land system and produce enjoyable and inspiring experiences for visitors from around the country and the world.
Addressing the backlog would be a significant economic driver. National parks had over 327 million visits in 2019, bringing business to local hotels, restaurants, guide services, and more. In 2018, Great Smoky Mountains and Grand Canyon National Parks each drove nearly $1 billion in visitor spending, and maintained 13,737 and 12,558 direct jobs respectively.
An analysis in 2019 found that completing all of the projects in the National Park Service’s backlog would create 108,364 jobs, including construction and infrastructure, supply and other off-site support activities, as well as jobs induced by economic development resulting from the projects. 62 percent of these jobs would be located in states with unemployment rates higher than the national average.
The Great American Outdoors Act would establish a “National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund” within the Treasury that will receive funds from energy development revenues, up to $1.9 billion annually. This account will be available, without needing further Congressional approval, for maintaining our parks and public lands.
Permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is one of America’s most significant conservation programs. For the past five decades, the program has used a portion of the royalties collected from offshore oil and gas production to fund conservation projects at no cost to taxpayers. Because of this commonsense arrangement, LWCF is widely popular. It was permanently reauthorized in early 2019 as part of sweeping public lands legislation, passing with broad bipartisan support: 92 to 8 in the Senate and 363 to 62 in the House.
LWCF funding is divided between federal and state programs. The federal side is focused on filling in gaps of public land, providing funding for the government to purchase “inholdings” from willing sellers to increase protection of and access to public lands. On the state side, funds are provided as grants to enhance local public lands and outdoor recreation. From trail maintenance to baseball diamonds, LWCF provides the funding to improve recreation facilities and infrastructure for all Americans.
Not only do these local projects increase the ability for people to access the outdoors, they also drive the outdoor recreation economy that is becoming the backbone of many communities throughout the West. Outdoor recreation is estimated to be an $887 billion economy, supporting 7.6 million jobs. Outdoor recreation is providing an alternative to boom-and-bust cycles of energy development that many Western communities have been caught in.
Although last year’s permanent reauthorization was an important step, full and dedicated funding is necessary to ensure the continued success of the program. While LWCF is eligible to receive $900 million annually, actual funding is allocated by Congress. As a result, LWCF has only been fully funded twice since its inception in 1965.
Here are a few projects that could be funded through LWCF if the Great American Outdoors Act passes
In Wyoming, the City of Green River has proposed a grant to save Riverside Memorial Park from river encroachment. In 2014, high spring flow washed out the banks of the river, threatening the park. This grant will fund fortifying the bank and replacing an antiquated playground. The park has historic, recreational, and economic value to the town. Expedition Island, where John Wesley Powell embarked down the Green River on his historic 1869 first documented descent through the Grand Canyon, is accessed via Riverside Memorial Park. From here, tourists and locals can view the Kokanee Salmon spawn, access a whitewater park, and bring kids to play on the playground and enjoy the green space.
In Arizona, two pending projects demonstrate the wide range of users that LWCF projects can benefit. Construction and development of Peralta Regional Park includes a variety of recreational opportunities, from camping and rock climbing to stargazing at night. The park will be near the metropolitan Phoenix area, increasing access to the outdoors for the city’s population. Another important project is an inclusive playground and splashpad in the city of Show Low. Located at an existing city park, this project will add a 17,000 square foot inclusive playground for all children, with and without disabilities and critical illnesses, who can play side by side with their peers and families. The project will offer wheelchair transfer stations, stainless steel molded slides, parallel play, musical equipment to encourage collaboration and creativity, and other interactive play equipment to stimulate social and cognitive growth. This addition will ensure that all children can play and exercise in a safe and fun outdoor setting.
As the country combats and recovers from the current pandemic, it is critical that we invest in our parks and public lands, benefitting both our public health and local economies. By reducing the maintenance backlog in our national parks and funding local recreation projects, the Great American Outdoors Act can help outdoor enthusiasts, businesses, and rural communities throughout the country.
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