This Earth Day, New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation announced that twelve national parks in New Mexico will benefit from over $8 million in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The investments in New Mexico’s parks will help spur the economy and local job growth by revitalizing park infrastructure, rehabilitating visitor centers and funding long-overdue park maintenance projects.            

“With this funding we can finally tackle a backlog of projects at New Mexico’s national parks. This investment will not only create jobs in the short term, it also will make sure our parks – an important part of our state’s tourism industry – are in top shape,” said Senator Jeff Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee – the panel with jurisdiction over national parks. 

“New Mexicans and visitors from around the world flock to our state’s renowned national parks,” said Senator Tom Udall. “Investing in the preservation and protection of these national icons and historic landscapes will create local jobs by improving the parks for all to enjoy and will help continue driving tourism dollars to our communities.”

“This funding represents a renewed commitment to our treasured public lands in the First Congressional District,” said Representative Martin Heinrich. “This investment will protect the Petroglyph National Monument for generations of visitors to come.”

“From El Malpais to Carlsbad Caverns this funding for repairs and upgrades will help us preserve and enjoy our national parks all across southern New Mexico while creating jobs and making our state more energy efficient,” said Representative Harry Teague. 

“Our National Parks provide visitors from across the country with the opportunity to enjoy our treasured and historic lands,” said Representative Ben Ray Luján. “Investing in our National Parks will create jobs, protect our lands and allow generations of families to explore beautiful lands and learn their historic value. This is also an opportunity to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy use at our National Parks.”

The $8.021 million in ARRA funding the delegation announced today will flow to the following 12 locations:

• Aztec Ruins – $83,000 to rehabilitate windows and doors at the historic visitor center;

• Bandelier – $580,000 to correct safety problems on backcountry trail segments, to rehabilitate the Juniper Campground, and to replace the HVAC system in the historic administration building to improve energy efficiency;

• Capulin Volcano – $56,000 to upgrade restrooms to meet ADA requirements at the visitor center and picnic area;

• Carlsbad Caverns – $6.6 million to repair the exterior of 6 buildings, to repair structural steel, and for lead paint abatement on the primary elevator shaft;

• Chaco Culture – $151,000 to perform preventative maintenance on the historic sandstone masonry retaining walls, to rehabilitate the maintenance shop building and lumber storage facility, and to improve energy efficiency and prevent Hanta Virus;

• El Malpais – $84,000 to improve the safety and appearance of the multi agency center

• Fort Union – $61,000 to rehabilitate quarters 3A to meet ADA requirements, and to stabilize the historic flagstone courtyard;

• Gila Cliff Dwellings – $82,000 to replace the security fence around the Gila center maintenance shop, and to update the fluorescent light fixtures to improve energy efficiency;

• Long Distance Trails – $39,000 to repair the interior courtyard columns and drainage system of historic structures;

• Pecos – $88,000 to rehabilitate the historic well coverage at Forked Lightening Ranch, and to replace the inadequate HVAC system at the visitor center;

• Petroglyph – $44,000 to repair the trails park wide;

• White Sands – $143,000 to rehabilitate the headquarters building to protect the structural integrity and increase energy efficiency, and to replace six skylights and resurface parapet walls at the warehouse to prevent leaks.