The National Parks have just received their largest funding boost ever—discover how it will enhance the visitor experience.

The National Park Foundation (NPF), the nonprofit organization supporting the National Park Service, has announced a historic $100 million grant, the biggest contribution in the agency's 108-year history.

“This groundbreaking grant . . . marks a crucial moment in protecting the future of America’s beloved national parks,” stated the NPF in a recent press release.

The generous funds were provided by Lilly Endowment Inc., one of the largest private philanthropic organizations globally. The donation coincided with the National Park Service's birthday on August 25, commemorating President Woodrow Wilson's establishment of the agency in 1916.

“For over half a century, private philanthropy has been essential in meeting park needs and overcoming funding challenges,” remarked Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the NPF. “This grant will empower us to enhance our initiatives, ensuring our national parks remain accessible for everyone, for generations ahead.”

This grant moves the NPF closer to its ambitious goal of raising $1 billion by 2028 for the Campaign for National Parks, a significant fundraising initiative aimed at securing the future of these natural treasures. While detailed plans for the allocation of these funds are still in development (the foundation anticipates announcing the first set of projects funded by this donation later this year), four key focus areas have already been outlined. Here’s what you need to know about how this financial boost could transform the national park experience in the years to come.

Safeguarding endangered parks and wildlife

From the receding glaciers in Kenai Fjords and Glacier National Park to the declining Joshua trees in their native habitat, the nation’s protected areas are facing severe threats from climate change. Strengthening the parks' resilience against fluctuating weather and rising temperatures is a primary aim of the fundraising efforts, as stated by the NPF, along with implementing sustainable projects that will minimize waste, conserve water, and increase the use of renewable energy.

Another important aspect is enhancing habitats for endangered wildlife that have historically thrived there, such as the Florida panther, the wolves of Yellowstone, and the sea turtles in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Park Service is already taking action to eliminate invasive grasses to help restore the rare desert frogs to their natural environment at Saguaro National Park in Arizona, thanks to previous funding from the Campaign for National Parks. Additionally, some of the funds will be allocated to purchase land surrounding park borders to prevent habitat fragmentation and create wildlife corridors.

Enhancing the visitor experience amid growing crowds

According to the NPF, over 400 national park units across the United States attract about 300 million visitors each year, with projections suggesting this could rise to 500 million by 2040. The agency plans to use the funds to prepare for this influx while still fostering a connection to nature for visitors.

Key initiatives include improving accessibility within the parks, investigating new and efficient transportation options (such as the electric shuttle buses being introduced at Zion), and renovating campgrounds and visitor centers (including a new 15,000-square-foot exhibit space proposed for the Lincoln Memorial).

Sharing a more inclusive narrative

A key aspect of the project is to provide a broader historical narrative that includes the experiences of communities whose stories and contributions have often been overlooked in the American narrative, as noted by NPF.

This approach will involve presenting a more comprehensive record of events that occurred at these locations. For instance, the National Park Service has documented the recollections of witnesses to the uprisings commemorated at Stonewall. Additionally, a vital part of this initiative includes acquiring parkland that reflects a fuller and more diverse American story, evident in recent national monuments like Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, which aim to highlight areas of significant importance to minority communities.

Motivating future generations to become outdoor enthusiasts.

The final pillar of the initiative is focused on creating more opportunities for young people to “cultivate a deeper understanding of history, foster environmental stewardship, and connect with our natural surroundings.”

To accomplish this, the NPF intends to explore ways to eliminate barriers to park access, which includes offering transportation and field trips, hiring seasonal educational rangers, and launching initiatives like Open OutDoors for Kids, aimed at providing fourth graders from underserved communities with firsthand experiences in the parks.