Four Stories to Celebrate Four Successful Years of the Great American Outdoors Act

On August 4, 2024, the Department of the Interior celebrates four years of the Great American Outdoors Act's (GAOA) success and impact across the country with a fee-free day on public lands. Over the past four years, this landmark Law has funded critical infrastructure investments on public lands, from restoring the historic Saratoga Battlefield Tour Road in New York to improving pedestrian and vehicle access to the diverse ecosystems of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Through GAOA, the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund was established to fund overdue maintenance needs in our nation's public lands and Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools. To date, the Legacy Restoration Fund has contributed to 326 projects across all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and multiple territories to make transformational and long-lasting improvements to recreation facilities, Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools, historic structures, roads, water treatment facilities, and other vital infrastructure projects. GAOA Legacy Restoration Fund projects enhance the safety, accessibility, and experience for all visitors to public lands, while also bolstering climate resilience and investing in local communities by creating good-paying jobs.

In honor of four successful years of this legacy investment, we are highlighting four GAOA Legacy Restoration Fund projects and the benefits they bring to the public and wildlife.