The COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Also Created America's Newest National Park

The emergency COVID-19 stimulus bill passed last week was flooded with irrelevant legislation to the pandemic. While much of it was frivolous to everyday life, one exciting section that passed created the U.S’s newest National Park.

New River Gorge in West Virginia was named the country’s 63rd National Park with the bill’s signing. Previously designated as a National River, the park encompasses 73,000 acres of stoke-heavy canyon landscape. More than 65,000 acres of the area is designated as a nature preserve allowing for fishing, hunting, and backcountry hiking.

The designation was first introduced by state senators back in October 2019. Because the area was already a National River, the designation is more of a formality. Trails have been established in the area and many parts of the park have facilities accommodating for outdoor activities like hiking and picnics.

The bill does, however, grant the National Park Service permission to bid on land from surrounding private landowners to build the preserve and in turn, create a larger public land space that can be enjoyed by all.