National Park Service Announces Recovery Act Projects

Date: April 23, 2009
Contact: Darren Boch, 212-668-2251

The National Park Service (NPS) today announced nearly 800 projects totaling $750 million that can be completed across the country with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (see attached release). This major effort includes the following projects in the National Parks of New York Harbor, totaling more than $37 million:

• Ellis Island  - $26.1 million to stabilize the Baggage & Dormitory Building and parts of the island's seawall
• Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island - $2.5 million to install power and communications lines for perimeter security on Liberty and Ellis Islands
• Gateway National Recreation Area - $700k to install photovoltaic equipment; sustainable, ADA compliant boardwalks; repair walls, plazas and restroom facilities at 6 Sandy Hook (NJ) beach centers
• General Grant National Memorial - $250k to complete rehabilitation of the Grant's Tomb Overlook
• Governors Island National Monument - $5.6 million for hazmat abatement and to stabilize Castle Williams
• Hamilton Grange National Memorial - $2.4 million to complete restoration of the Grange

PHILADELPHIA, PA –The National Park Service (NPS) today announced nearly 800 projects totaling $750 million that can be completed across the country with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This major effort includes projects in the agency’s Northeast Region, which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland.

“These projects are an investment in America’s future that will create jobs, stimulate the economies of local communities, and get our country moving again,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “They are also an investment in telling the story of America to future generations through our national parks by conserving our awe-inspiring landscapes, our rich culture, and our great heritage.”

“We will use Recovery Act funding to make a difference in parks,” said Acting Director Dan Wenk. “We will fix trails, invest in energy efficient vehicles, build new visitor facilities, cleanup abandoned mine sites, increase our ability to generate power from the sun, and finally complete overdue maintenance on our buildings and roads.” 

A full list of National Park Service projects is available at www.interior.gov/recovery/nps.

A few examples in the Northeast Region are:

·        $9.4 million to rehabilitate 16 historic overlooks along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

·        $26 million to stabilize the Baggage and Dormitory Building and seawall at Ellis Island.

·        $5 million to rehabilitate Independence Hall Tower.