The Women’s Rights National Historical Park has backlogged repairs, and it’s not alone.
There is nearly $12 billion in deferred maintenance at national parks across the country. In New York, almost $1 billion is needed for repairs at 24 national park units.
The backlog at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls is nearly $5 million. The National Park Service’s Amy Bracewell, who is temporarily overseeing operations at the women’s rights park, revealed that much of the deferred maintenance is preservation work that’s needed in the visitor center, Wesleyan Chapel and other structures.
“It’s mainly for the upkeep,” Bracewell said.
While the work seems minor, it has been difficult for parks to secure the necessary funding for repairs. National parks have been operating on tighter budgets. President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget proposal calls for a $474 million reduction for the National Park Service.
Trump’s budget does include $246.3 million for construction projects and repairs — roughly 2 percent of the total maintenance backlog.
A bill introduced in Congress would use federal tax revenues from coal, gas, oil and renewable energy to rehabilitate national parks. The proposed fund would receive up to $1.3 billion annually from 2020 through the 2024 fiscal year.
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