Massachusetts recognizes signing of Great American Outdoors Act

The Baker-Polito Administration recently applauded the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act.

The bipartisan legislation, signed by President Donald Trump on Aug. 4, ensures permanent full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program and addresses deferred maintenance in national parks across the country including the commonwealth’s Cape Cod National Seashore, Minuteman National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park and Boston National Historical Park.

“Massachusetts has incredible natural resources and open space throughout the state, and our administration is committed to continuing to invest in our parks,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “We’re grateful to the Massachusetts’ congressional delegation for its support in passing this historic legislation that will help ensure the commonwealth’s national, state and local parks maintain their environmental and recreational benefits.”

“This legislation ensures funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund is stable and secure in perpetuity, ensuring local parks in Massachusetts can make important improvements,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “Parks and historical sites across the commonwealth will receive significant funding and critical maintenance as a result of this legislation, and we applaud the Massachusetts congressional delegation for its work to conserve these precious natural resources for generations to come.”

The Great American Outdoors Act permanently funds the LWCF at $900 million per year to secure public access, improve recreational opportunities and preserve ecosystem benefits for local communities. The legislation will also appropriate $1.9 billion per year for five years in non-taxpayer money for deferred maintenance at properties managed by the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Education.

“Massachusetts is home to an abundance of national parks and historical sites and beautiful state and local parks close to home that offer unique recreational opportunities, critical habitats that support our biodiversity and important landmarks for our country,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “The Great American Outdoors Act will help ensure that the commonwealth’s natural resources are preserved for the continued enjoyment of the public.”

With an estimated $20 billion deferred maintenance backlog on federal public lands, the Great American Outdoors Act will establish the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to ensure the protection of critical public lands and serve as an economic stimulus for local economies. Massachusetts is home to 15 official national park service sites that welcome over 10 million visitors annually. Locally, it is estimated that Massachusetts has a backlog of approximately $244 million in deferred maintenance at National Parks properties across the state.

Aimed at supporting and preserving conservation programs, the LWCF continues its mission to protect parks and public lands, sustain working landscapes and rural economies, and increase access for recreation for all Americans. The legislation ensures non-taxpayer funds collected annually from offshore energy receipts to be spent on the improvement of access to public lands.

LWCF funds can be used for designing, acquiring and developing outdoor recreation facilities, and the commonwealth will be looking at ways to use these funds to address climate change, promote equity and improve the health of community residents. Since being authorized by Congress in 1964 the LWCF has funded 523 projects in the commonwealth from the Appalachian Trail to the Cape Cod National Seashore and many projects in between including parks and recreational infrastructure totaling almost $117 million.

In Massachusetts, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs administers LWCF grants on behalf of the national park service and offers these funds through a grant program to municipalities with an up-to-date Open Space and Recreation Plan, as well as to the departments of conservation and recreation and fish and game.

The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced $4 million in MassTrails Grants to 55 local trail projects throughout the commonwealth. The grant program, created by the administration, supports the state’s network of trails with projects dedicated to the construction, maintenance and improvements for a variety of public trails, including hiking trails, bikeways and shared-use paths.