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Add Shenandoah National Park To List Of Parks Proposing Higher User Fees

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It could be a bit more expensive to drive Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park beginning next May/Kurt Repanshek

Public comment is being taken on a fee increase proposal at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, where entrance fees haven't gone up since 2006.

No increase in camping fees is currently proposed.  Fees collected at the park are critical to the park'™s operation.  Eighty percent of fees collected stay in the park for visitor related projects and services.  The other 20 percent are distributed to national parks that do not collect fees.

The proposed entrance fees, which would become effective May 1, 2015, are as follows:

* The annual park pass is proposed to go from $30 to $50

* The per-vehicle fee for seven days in the park is proposed to go from $15/$10 to $25

* The hiker/cyclist fee for seven days is proposed to go from $8 to $12

* The motorcycle fee for seven days is proposed to go from $10 to $20

Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age or holders of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Senior, Access or Military Passes. These passes may be obtained at the park.

The park is also proposing to begin to charge a fee of $10 per person for visitors participating in special ranger-led van tours to Rapidan Camp, President Hoover'™s former retreat and a National Historic Landmark located within the park.  Under the proposal, children 12 and under would not be charged. The tours involve providing special transportation for a limited number of visitors and a dedicated ranger for a 3-hour program.

The park is proposing to move the group campsite currently at Loft Mountain to an underutilized area at Dundo Picnic Area, reducing conflicts within the main campground.  Two 20-person group sites will be established at Dundo.  The cost per site will be $45.

If all the fee proposals are approved, it would raise almost $2.5 million additional dollars, of which 80 percent would stay in Shenandoah with the remainder sent to a fund to be distributed to parks that don't charge entrance fees.

'œWe understand that no one likes fee increases, but this revenue is absolutely critical to the park operation, and we ask for the public'™s support,' said Superintendent Jim Northup.  'œNational parks are still one of America'™s best bargains. I don'™t know of anything a family can do for seven days for just $25.  Our entrance fee provides full access to the park, to 105 miles of the Skyline Drive, to over 500 miles of trails, to historic lodges with overnight accommodations and meals, to abundant wildlife, streams and waterfalls, to almost 80,000 acres of Congressionally designated Wilderness and to fascinating human history. 

"These are the real places, where people come to recreate, for education, physical challenge, inspiration and even spiritual renewal.  But, they do not run themselves for free, and our fee revenue is essential to providing for resource protection, public safety and enjoyment. We are committed to keeping the park affordable but we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience. The money from camping/entrance fees is used to improve facilities, visitor safety, and visitor services.'

Entrance fees have supported a wide range of projects that improve park conditions and visitor experience including, rehabilitating trails and trailhead signs, developing and installing exhibits in visitor centers, improving park water systems, rehabilitating wastewater treatment plants, providing ranger programs, improving ADA accessibility at Rapidan Camp and park comfort stations, and maintaining open vistas at park overlooks.  Additional revenue raised by a fee increase could be used to rehabilitate/rebuild Front Royal Entrance Station for increased staff safety and improved access, restore a wetlands in Big Meadows campground by removing a loop in and establishing replacement sites in a less sensitive area, as well as restore backcountry stone structures, retaining walls, bridge structures, and huts.

To provide comments on the proposed fee increases, go to this website.  The public has the opportunity to comment on the increases through January 7. 

Interested citizens are invited to discuss the proposed fee increases at public meetings to be held in various locations around the park.  All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. as follows:

·        December 15, 2014, at the Piedmont Virginia Community College Room 209, 222 Main Street, Stanardsville, VA.

·        December 16, 2014, at the Warren County Community Center, 538 Villa Avenue, Front Royal, VA.

·        December 17, 2014 at the Waynesboro Public Library Room A, 600 Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, VA.

·        December 18, 2014 at the BB&T Center for the Performing Arts, 1 East Main Street, Luray, VA.

Following the comment period and public meetings, feedback will determine how, or if, a fee increase would be implemented.  

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