Interior wall designs, which often require months or years to finish, could be completed in the next two to three years, according to a report released Wednesday by a nonprofit group.
The National Park Service is currently looking for $400 million in federal funds to build and renovate the country’s 1,400 miles of interior wall.
The report also says the National Park System is working on a major design overhaul to enhance the experience of visitors in the park system.
The recommendations were made in a presentation to a group of park service senior leaders who have a stake in how well the wall is being maintained.
“Our work to maintain the existing wall system is continuing,” said Jeff Tittel, senior adviser to the agency’s chief of staff, in a prepared statement.
“We are also working to improve its capabilities to protect historic sites and cultural resources, which are critical to our national parks.
The report, called the “Designing for America’s National Parks” report, comes a year after President Donald Trump declared a national monument in Utah and said the Interior Department would not pursue a major redesign of the national park system, a move many have criticized as a move to appease Trump and the conservative base. “
In the coming years, the National Security Council will develop a comprehensive plan for improving the integrity and effectiveness of our existing wall and its associated features.”
The report, called the “Designing for America’s National Parks” report, comes a year after President Donald Trump declared a national monument in Utah and said the Interior Department would not pursue a major redesign of the national park system, a move many have criticized as a move to appease Trump and the conservative base.
The group released the report Wednesday, which was drafted by two former top officials at the agency, and was compiled by consulting firm WPP Consulting.
Tittler, who has been an advocate for the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental laws, also helped draft the plan for the park systems, according a statement from the group.
He previously worked as a lawyer at the law firm Morrison & Foerster, according in the statement.
The park systems were built to last and should be in good condition, the report said.
It noted that, during the Trump administration, the agency has made several efforts to reduce the costs associated with maintaining the wall, including through hiring additional employees to work on the project.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Interior Department is expected to announce its plan for how to replace the existing 1,300-foot-tall wall by the end of the year, but many people and groups are skeptical of the plan, which is not expected to include funding for a new wall, as it has in the past.