National Park Foundation Celebrates Introduction of the “National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022”

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Park Foundation welcomed the introduction of the National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022 by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Angus King (I-ME) in the United States Senate, and Representatives Bruce Westerman (AR- 04) and Raul Grijalva (AZ-03) in the House of Representatives.

As the Congressionally chartered, official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation applauds the legislation which builds upon the tremendous work of the National Park Service Centennial Act by reauthorizing the Foundation’s existing appropriation. In line with the National Park Service Centennial Act, which authorized up to $5 million in annual appropriations to the Foundation through fiscal year 2023, National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act requires a dollar-to-dollar match, doubling the impact and extending the investment even further. The legislation would also increase the authorization level up to $15 million per year through 2030, thereby increasing the potential impact of private donations to national park projects made to NPF at an even greater rate.

“We proudly support the National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022 and commend Sens. Portman and King, and Reps. Westerman and Grijalva for introducing this vital legislation,” said National Park Foundation President and CEO Will Shafroth. “Since receiving federal funds for the first time in 2018, the National Park Foundation has leveraged the federal funding through the power of private philanthropy to match and more than double this critically important federal investment, adding to the tens of millions of private, philanthropic dollars the National Park Foundation and a growing community of park partners invest in America’s national parks each year.”

To date, the Foundation’s appropriation paired with private philanthropy has supported a vast range of programming and projects, including service corps, historical preservation, and wildlife conservation.

Examples include:

• Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., received approximately $2.3 million ($455,000 from federal appropriations) to create immersive exhibits using interpretive graphics, artifacts, film, interactive touchscreens, flipbooks, and other dimensional objects to more deeply engage visitors with the life and legacy of Dr. Woodson.
• New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia received $75,000 ($37,500 from federal appropriations) to fund a six-person service corps crew for 10 weeks. In addition to New River Gorge, the crew spent time at Gauley River National Recreation Area and Bluestone National Scenic River, which are jointly managed as one unit. The service corps crew focused on trail maintenance throughout the entire trail network across all three parks, helping to ensure visitors have a safe and positive experience while keeping wildlife and the surrounding environment protected.
• Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument received $100,000 ($50,000 from federal appropriations) to improve and expand camping access and facilities near the historic Lunksoos Camps on the East Branch of the Penobscot River. The improved camping area includes two group sites and five single-party sites for public use. Accessible by road and river, the campground was built to NPS standards for walk-in sites and features ADA toilet facilities, one ADA-compliant site, and connecting trails. Campers will find level, well drained sites equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-proof food storage boxes. Group sites have wood tent platforms nestled into a wooded slope.

Learn more about the positive impact the National Park Foundation and partners are making for parks and local communities across the country at www.nationalparks.org/our-work.