President’s Budget Requests $2.9 Billion for National Park Service

Washington, D.C. – The President’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget released today includes a request of $2.9 billion for the National Park Service. The request continues vital support for critical national recreation and conservation missions in support of the Administration’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative. The budget also includes cuts in several areas as part of the President’s plan toward fiscal sustainability in the next few years.

National parks stimulate spending and job creation. “Taxpayer investments in national parks result in far more than the obvious recreational and educational dividends,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B Jarvis. “National parks also are tremendous economic engines for their gateway communities. In 2009, park visitors spent $11.9 billion and supported 247,000 jobs.

“The budget includes tough choices to cut spending in construction and certain grant programs to address our nation’s critical budget deficit. However, a proposed increase in investments through the Land and Water Conservation Fund will step up our commitment to states and communities, many of which are facing serious cutbacks of their own,” Jarvis noted.

Overall, the budget proposal represents an increase of about $140 million over the FY 2010 enacted, targeted at park operations and LWCF programs. An increase of $35 million will support critical park operations that enhance the visitor experience and promote greater cultural resource preservation and conservation. The proposed increase in the LWCF -- from $126 million in 2010 to $360 million -- will mean more grants to support local projects that increase access to outdoor recreation and conservation in large urban centers and other areas through restoration of open space and waterways.

The budget includes $10 million funded through the LWCF for American Battlefield Protection Grants, which require a dollar-for-dollar match with non-Federal funds to help State and local governments and nonprofit organization partnerships to purchase and protect threatened Civil War and other battlefields.

“The President’s budget will ensure that national parks continue to serve the 285 million visitors who come every year to relax in America’s great outdoors and learn about the people and places that make up America’s story,” said Director Jarvis. “This is especially important as we prepare for the start of our second century in 2016 and begin commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War which we hope will bring millions of new visitors to our more than 70 Civil War sites.”