Op-Ed | National Parks Need More Than Love Right Now—They Need Lasting Investment

In this opinion piece, Chris Lehnertz and Cassius Cash, leaders of the Parks Conservancy and Yosemite Conservancy, come together to urge bipartisan reauthorization of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). The GAOA has been a critical lifeline for national parks across the country, here's why its reauthorization will ensure a lasting commitment for park infrastructure, ecological integrity, and public access for future generations: 

A Critical Moment for National Parks 

America’s national parks are at a crossroads. From the storied walls of Alcatraz Island in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) to the towering granite face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, these iconic places are more than scenic landmarks—they're vital to our economy, environment, and national identity. 

But national parks face swirling uncertainty around federal funding and staffing in this moment, threatening the future of these beloved spaces. One thing is certain: The bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), passed in 2020, was a historic step forward, with critical funding to address the multibillion-dollar maintenance backlog in national parks.  

This GAOA funding isn’t permanent. It was passed with a five-year limit and is set to expire in mid-2025. Without reauthorization, combined with reduced funding, policy shifts, and increasing environmental pressures, we could see years of progress undone. Without park rangers, well-maintained trails, and functional visitor facilities, these beloved places will deteriorate. 

Bipartisan Action is Needed to Protect Our Parks 

Having dedicated our careers to public lands, we've seen firsthand how sustained investment determines whether parks thrive or struggle. Chris served as Superintendent at Grand Canyon National Park, GGNRA General Superintendent, and Director of the National Park Service Pacific West Region, where long-term infrastructure planning was always an urgent need. Cassius served as Superintendent at Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a decade after an 18-year career with the U.S. Forest Service, where maintaining roads, trails, and visitor facilities was essential to meeting growing demand. 

Senators Angus King (I-ME), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the America the Beautiful Act in 2024, which would reauthorize the GAOA and invest $11 billion over eight years to tackle backlogged maintenance on federal lands. We encourage them to continue working together in a bipartisan manner to move reauthorization forward. In the House, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), who represents California’s North Coast and much of the GGNRA, serves as the Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, advocating for continued investment in public lands. 

National Parks Need Investment, Not Just Admiration 

One challenge to GAOA’s long-term future is its funding mechanism: revenue from oil, gas, coal, and alternative energy development on federal lands and waters. Some argue that financing conservation efforts through fossil fuel extraction contradicts environmental goals. 

Despite this tension, GAOA remains one of the most effective bipartisan investments in public lands. By leveraging existing federal revenue, it has already delivered billions of dollars in overdue maintenance and infrastructure repairs—critical improvements that might not have happened otherwise. Reauthorizing GAOA is still the best available path forward to ensure national parks remain accessible and protected while policymakers explore sustainable long-term funding alternatives. 

National parks operate like small cities. Staff do far more than open visitor centers—they maintain roads, power grids, wastewater systems, and emergency response infrastructure. These essential services ensure parks remain open and resilient. 

Take Yellowstone National Park, where GAOA funding is rehabilitating an 85-year-old bridge over the Gardner River, preventing transportation failures. In Big Bend National Park, GAOA is funding the reconstruction of the Chisos Mountains Lodge, replacing outdated waterlines and upgrading facilities for visitor safety and sustainability. Despite these efforts, the national parks’ deferred maintenance backlog has reached $23 billion, far exceeding available resources. 

Investing in California’s National Parks 

GAOA is a game-changer, but federal funding alone isn’t enough to preserve national parks. That’s where friends groups and philanthropic partners step in to bridge the gap. At the Parks Conservancy, we lead programs like the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, a long-term community science initiative that engages volunteers in tracking migrating birds of prey to contribute to conservation efforts. At the Yosemite Conservancy, we run Outdoor Adventure Programs, including astronomy nights, guided backpacking trips, and conservation-focused day hikes, helping visitors connect deeply with nature. In addition to raising private funds for important capital improvements, our science and education activities ensure parks don’t just remain open—they thrive, offering immersive experiences that inspire visitors of all ages. 

California is home to some of the most visited and ecologically significant parks. The national parks at the Golden Gate saw 19.2 million visitors in 2024, the most of any national park unit, while Yosemite welcomed 4.1 million visitors, cementing its status as a global destination. 

The GGNRA’s coastal bluffs and grasslands sustain 35 endangered, rare, and threatened species like the Mission blue butterfly, reliant on rare lupine plants. Yosemite’s granite-carved wilderness shelters 160 rare plant species, including towering sequoias that have stood for over 3,000 years. 

These parks aren't just natural treasures—they're economic powerhouses. GGNRA visitors generated $2 billion of total economic impact in 2023, supporting 13,000 jobs, while Yosemite saw $725 million in economic impact. We estimate that for every dollar of GAOA investment in our two parks, $27 will go back into local economies. These funds do more than fix infrastructure—they sustain jobs, preserve history, and ensure public access. 

The GGNRA, which faces $540 million in deferred maintenance needs, is benefiting from GAOA investments like the $40.2 million stabilization of Alcatraz Wharf, reinforcing the historic landing to ensure safe visitor access, and the $63.5 million rehabilitation of Alcatraz Island’s historic structures, preserving the main cellhouse and its hospital wing for future generations. 

Yosemite, facing $1.3 billion in deferred maintenance needs, is receiving $40.5 million for the rehabilitation of Glacier Point Road, improving access to one of the park’s most scenic overlooks, and $34.2 million for seismic and safety upgrades at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, ensuring the long-term preservation of this iconic lodge.  

More Than Infrastructure—A Commitment to Future Generations 

These GAOA-funded projects preserve history, protect ecosystems, and ensure visitors can safely experience these treasured places for years to come.  

Love alone won’t keep our national parks thriving. Without continued investment, these landscapes—and the cultural and economic benefits they provide—are at risk. 

National parks have given so much to generations of Americans, now it’s our turn to give back.