Great American Outdoors Act Status

Land and Water Conservation Fund access road improvments (photo from the Department of the Interior)

compiled from several sources

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was reauthorized by Congress in 2020 and was fully funded for five years. That means it's up for renewal this year.

The Act provideed roughly $1.9 billion a year for five years to address deferred maintenance in national parks and public lands. It guaranteed full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) (established in 1965), the income of which comes from fees and royalties paid to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement by oil and gas drilling offshore in federal water. The money must be used for the protection of public land and recreation. In 2020, it was funded for $900 million, the highest level ever.

Lawmakers appear supportive, and the President has indicated he will sign it, but its chances of passage depend on which news sources you read. The Act has always been a bipartisan coalition to benefit the American People. Because of the 250th Anniversary of the country, this year's bill is being called the "Great American Outdoors Act 250."

One of the priorities of the fund is to repair critical infrastructure which has been neglected due to deferred maintenance. West Michigan recipients of LWCF money in 2025 were:
• Kalamazoo County, $500,000 for improvements at Milham Park.
• Berrien County; Eaton Park restroom and park improvements - $359,000
• Kent County; East Grand Rapids: Waterfront Park improvement project (Phase 2) - $500,000
• Van Buren Count; Lawrence Village Park Playground improvements - $301,200

Urge your federal lawmakers to support the Great American Outdoors Act 250.

See Department of the Interior, GAOA


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Elberta Acquires 16 Acres Lake Frontage for New Park

Events Calendar

concept drawing of the new park (graphic from Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy)

compiled from several sources

The village of Elberta, Michigan, is working to restore the former ferry terminal, train yards, and coal and fuel storage area of Ann Arbor Railroad into a public park and nature preserve. Train service was discontinued in the 1950s and the cross-lake ferry ceased operations in 1982.

The 35-acre property was purchased in 2024 by the Grand Traverse Regional Lake Conservancy from developers who failed to follow through on commercial plans for the site. About half of that land will be incorporated in the new plan. Lake Michigan frontage is 578 feet inside the breakwater, and an additional 3,100 feet of frontage is situated on Betsie Bay.

The purchase is being made by the city with $5.5 million from the Conservancy's donation and $5.3 million coming from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The village of Elberta applied for this grant in March 2025.

Site remediation will take place from the contamination of the industrial use. Fuels have been stored on the property since the 1890s.

Nine of the sixteen acres will be developed as the new park. The design is still under consideration, and public input will be critical. But it is expected the park will use "habitat-sensitive design" and include parking and restrooms, a paved fishing trail, and a bike trail. The village envisions a Betsie Valley Trailway connection between Frankfort and Elberta beach.

See an article from MLive


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LWCF Money to Benefit 6 West Michigan Communities

Events Calendar

Eaton Park Playground (photo from the St. Joseph Township website)

from a news release of the Michigan DNR

Eleven Michigan community parks will receive funding for improvements from 2025 Land and Water Conservation Fund money. This source of money comes from fees paid for rights for oil and gas drilling and must be used for land acquisition or recreational purposes. Six of the eleven 2025 recipients are located in west Michigan.

From south to north in west Michigan these are:
• St. Joseph Charter Township (Berrien County) Eaton Park Restroom and Park Improvements $359,000
• Village of Lawerence (Van Buren County) Lawrence Village Park Playground Improvements $301,200.
• City of Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo County) Milham Park Improvements $500,000.
• City of East Grand Rapids (Kent County) Waterfront Park Improvement Project Phase 2 $500,000.
• Shelby Township (Oceana County) Shelby Community Pool $500,000.
• Village of Elberta (Benzie County) Terminus Park Acquisition $5,347,600.

If further news becomes available on particulars of these upgrades, they will be featured.


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