Arizona is one of the largest recipients of parks-related project funding under the Great American Outdoors Act for 2020 and 2021.
Projects in the state received $110M in 2020 and $159M this year.
GAOA monies are primarily spent for national parks but are also available for federal lands and tribal schools.
The National Park Service has been underfunded for years, according to officials. The deferred maintenance amount was $11.9B in 2018. Arizona’s portion of that shortfall was more than $507M, of which $313.8 was for Grand Canyon National Park.
Economic development officials say the funding is essential for not just the parks, but for the surrounding areas, as well.
Funding under the act, which is provided by offshore oil and gas leases, is eventually expected to provide up to $1.9B a year nationally.
Projects in Arizona that will receive funding include a wastewater treatment project at the Grand Canyon, as well as improvements at the Petrified Forest and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. (Source)