parks
America's national parks are facing a steep repair bill of roughly $24 billion
Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Kelly Broderick , NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate)
· July 20, 2026
· 2 min read
America's national parks are facing a steep repair bill of roughly $24 billion. This includes costs for aging roads, trails and bridges and in many cases, these repairs have been delayed for years.This has raised concerns about safety and access during the busy summer travel season, and senior of...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Kelly Broderick, NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
Key takeaway In 2020, the president signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act which was focused on addressing billions in deferred maintenance.
Why this matters in The Nashville
Nashville's proximity to several national parks means that local residents and tourists alike will feel the impact of the $24 billion repair bill. As families travel to these parks during the busy summer season, they may encounter closed roads, trails, and bridges, or find that parking lots and bathrooms are under repair. The Great American Outdoors Act, signed into law in 2020, has made a significant dent in the maintenance backlog, with over 3,800 assets repaired across public lands. However, with the initial five-year fund now expired, it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will succeed in extending and increasing the fund to tackle the remaining repairs. For Nashville residents who rely on national parks for recreation and tourism, the outcome of these efforts will have a direct impact on their ability to enjoy these public spaces. Local support for bipartisan efforts to extend the fund could play a crucial role in ensuring that these parks remain accessible and safe for years to come.
About this story
Original reporting by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) ·
Reading time: 2 min
Get more The Nashville stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering parks and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? America's national parks are facing a steep repair bill of roughly $24 billion. This includes costs for aging roads, trails and bridges and in many cases, these repairs have been delayed for years.This has raised concerns about safety and access during the busy summer travel season, and senior of...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kelly Broderick at NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More parks →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter