News Release

Andersonville National Historic Site Addresses Deferred Maintenance Thanks to the Great American Outdoors Act

Date: July 31, 2024
Contact: Susan Sernaker, 229 518 2846

496 Cemetery Road
Andersonville, GA 31711

229 924 0343 phone
229 924 1086 fax

National Park Service
U.S Department of Interior

Release Date: 07/31/2024
Contact: Susan Sernaker, [e-mail], 229 518 2846

ANDERSONVILLE, Ga.-- Andersonville National Historic Site would like to wish a happy fourth anniversary to the Great American Outdoors Act! The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is a significant investment that is reducing the burden of backlogged maintenance and repair projects in national parks. In honor of the anniversary, National Park sites that have fees will have a Fee Free Day on Sunday August 4. This does not apply to Andersonville National Historic Site; we are always a fee free park!

The National Park Service’s (NPS) deferred maintenance and repairs backlog has been a major challenge to resource protection and the visiting experience for many decades. The problem has lingered far too long, with thousands of assets, including buildings, campgrounds, and utility systems, failing to receive the collective dollars through annual maintenance funding required to keep up with it. GAOA was desperately needed and became the first robust investment in park infrastructure in more than fifty years. GAOA has financed many significant projects across the NPS and at Andersonville National Historic Site over the past four years.

One project this past year that has really made a difference is turf rehabilitation in Andersonville National Cemetery. With this $207,000 deferred maintenance project, roughly 260,000 square feet of deteriorated turf was overseeded and top-dressed with a heat and drought resistant cultivar. The rehabilitation is improving the density and uniformity of the cemetery turf; this will lead to higher turf quality and less-demanding maintenance practices in the future. The cultural landscape and other cultural resources will be protected, and the appropriate steps taken to bring the cemetery turf into good, from poor, condition. Plus, it just looks nicer!

Another project that is in progress thanks to GAOA is a youth project clearing overgrown brush from the historic Camp Sumter prison site, especially around the Stockade Branch, the primary source of water for the prison during its existence from February 1864 to April 1865. With this $107,442.00 project young men from the local community are clearing vegetation growth from all of the earthworks around the prison site as well as removing any invasive vegetation found around the prison site grounds.

GAOA was never intended or expected to address the National Park Service’s entire maintenance backlog. While the level of funding it provided is robust, it will not alone resolve the outstanding deferred maintenance and repair backlog. Every dollar invested in the NPS yields more than ten dollars in economic benefits. More than 300 million people annually—American families and international visitors—seek the solace and education of our parks because they inspire us, teach us, and allow us the relaxation, restoration, and healthy time away from our hectic lives.

By NPS’ last estimate, thousands of jobs are being created by GAOA with more than $6 billion in benefits to the national economy. Those benefits will continue, showing that the Great American Outdoors Act is not only restoring our historic and cultural heritage and ensuring the quality of the visiting experience, but also creating and supporting jobs throughout our nation.

Other Great American Outdoors Act funded projects are in the works here at Andersonville NHS. Follow us on our social media platforms and our website at www.nps.gov/ande for future news!

Andersonville National Historic Site is located 10 miles south of Oglethorpe, GA and 10 miles northeast of Americus, GA on Georgia Highway 49. The national park features the National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery, and the site of the historic Camp Sumter Civil War prison. Andersonville National Historic Site is the only unit of the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Admission to the park is free. For more information about the park call 229 924-0343, visit our website, or check us out on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

www.nps.gov