News Release

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace and Camp Nelson receive funding to replace fence lines through the Great American Outdoors Act

Date: October 12, 2023
Contact: Stacy Humphreys, [phone]

HODGENVILLE – A project to restore split rail fencing at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Camp Nelson National Monument will begin on October 23, 2023. The project, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (GAOA LRF), will team young people with experienced mentors to replace fence lines in and around the parks to help preserve the historic landscape and designate property lines and boundaries.

“Utilizing Great American Outdoors Act funding to address a needed maintenance project while helping youth learn historic preservation trade skills will be a positive experience for all of us,” said Acting Superintendent Scott Powell.

The work will be completed by a National Park Service (NPS) Maintenance Action Team (MAT) in partnership with the American Conservation Experience (ACE). MATs are composed of NPS employees trained in historic restoration and preservation techniques who travel to national parks to complete small, but critical, maintenance rehabilitation and repair projects on historic structures. ACE is a nonprofit organization that provides young people with opportunities to work on meaningful conservation projects on public lands. A five-person crew from ACE will gain valuable hands-on experience in traditional trades from the skilled craftspeople of the MAT.

Together, they will spend approximately two weeks at the Lincoln Birthplace replacing 2,000 linear feet of split rail fencing. They will then relocate to Camp Nelson for about seven weeks to replace 3,400 linear feet of split rail fencing and perform maintenance on approximately 475 linear feet of stone wall.

GAOA LRF is part of a concerted effort to address extensive deferred maintenance and repair needs in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA LRF provides NPS with up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors. GAOA LRF is funding almost 300 MAT historic preservation activities in national parks throughout the country.

For more information about the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, visit the park’s Facebook page at https:www.facebook.com/LincolnBirthplaceNPS or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/abli.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.