Economic Contributions of National Park Infrastructure Investments
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), authorizing up to $1.3 billion per year from Fiscal Year 2021 through Fiscal Year 2025 for crucial investments in National Park Service infrastructure. Funding of this magnitude provides the NPS with the opportunity to revitalize parks, protect critical resources, expand recreational opportunities, and focus on long-term sustainable operations for the next century. Use of these funds on NPS projects also supports billions in economic activity in communities across the nation. Since the initiation of the GAOA in 2020, the LRF has provided over $5.7 billion in infrastructure investments to national park projects. These funds are supporting 72.6 thousand job-years, $5 billion in labor income, $15.9 billion in economic output, and are contributing $8 billion to the US GDP.
NPS Legacy Restoration Fund economic impacts by Fiscal Year
| Job-years | Labor Income ($ Billions) |
Economic Output ($ Billions) |
Value Added ($ Billions) |
|
| Fiscal Year 2021 | 15,350 | $1.04 | $3.20 | $1.66 |
| Fiscal Year 2022 | 16,100 | $1.09 | $3.33 | $1.72 |
| Fiscal Year 2023 | 12,250 | $0.83 | $2.67 | $1.34 |
| Fiscal Year 2024 | 14,160 | $0.95 | $3.13 | $1.54 |
| Fiscal Year 2025 | 14,700 | $1.04 | $3.57 | $1.76 |
| Total | 72,560 | $4.95 | $15.90 | $8.02 |
The image is an infographic titled "Great American Outdoors Act". It includes an illustration of an eagle flying over a guard-railed road along a river heading towards a mountain range.
Text reads "The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) authorizes up to $1.3 billion per year from FY 2021 - FY 2025 for crucial infrastructure investments. These funds and projects help revitalize your national parks and generate billions in economic activity in communities across the nation by:
- Supporting 72,560 jobs
- Creating $5 billion in labor market
- Contributing $8 billion to the nation's gross domestic product.
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF)."
More information about the LRF economic methods and estimates are provided in the following report:
Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund for national parks: Economic impacts of fiscal year 2021 funding
Last updated: April 12, 2024