The Alliance for Florida's National Parks has added its voice to a growing chorus of park advocates calling on Congress to pass the America the Beautiful Act (S.1547 / H.R.9250), which would reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund — a federal program that expired on September 30, 2025. The Alliance joined the National Park Foundation, the National Park Friends Alliance, and roughly 160 other philanthropic park partners in signing a letter addressed to congressional leaders from both parties.
The Legacy Restoration Fund, originally established under the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, directed $1.3 billion annually to national park infrastructure over five years, totaling $6.5 billion. That investment funded nearly 400 projects nationwide — from road repairs and trail upgrades to the restoration of historic structures and modernization of visitor facilities. According to the letter, the fund supported more than 72,000 jobs, contributed $5 billion to the labor market, and added $8 billion to the nation's GDP.
For Florida specifically, the stakes are significant. Alliance CEO Lulu Vilas noted that the funding has already made tangible improvements to infrastructure and natural resources at Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, and expressed hope that Biscayne National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve would continue to benefit from a reauthorized program. The Alliance serves as the official philanthropic partner for all four of those protected areas.
The letter's signatories collectively contributed more than $720 million in private funds to national parks in 2025, positioning the philanthropic community as a meaningful complement to federal investment. Advocates argue that without reauthorization, a significant maintenance and restoration backlog could jeopardize both visitor safety and the long-term health of park ecosystems.
This report is based on an announcement from Priority Marketing on behalf of The Alliance for Florida's National Parks.
