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The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to begin exploring appropriate alternatives for construction of approximately 4,000 linear feet of concrete-paved accessible multi-use trail along the north shore of Veterans Lake in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Veterans Lake currently has approximately 2 miles of multi-use trail along its south shore, extending from the northeastern corner of the lake to the south end of the dam. The proposed trail would be approximately 1.04 miles long and be placed between the North Shore Road and the shoreline, with a connecting trail to Rock Creek Campground. An option under consideration is the removal of the road across the dam and the parking lot at the south end of the dam and replacing them with a trail and new parking lot at the north end of the dam.

A section of the trail would also be constructed between the lake and the nearby Rock Creek Campground. That section would connect the trail with the 12-mile-long Rock Creek Multi-Use Trail and to the Platte Historic District and the adjacent City of Sulphur. Construction activities would begin in fall of 2010.

Objectives for the project include: selecting a safe and comfortable route that will safely separate trail users from the roadway; providing trail access to picnic, pavilion, swimming, fishing, and boat ramp areas along the north shore of Veterans Lake; while minimizing impacts on the natural environment and cultural resources.

The NPS intends to develop alternatives for this project and prepare an environmental analysis for public review. The park welcomes input during the public scoping phase of the project.

Questions and/or comments must be submitted in writing. Comments may be submitted by mail to the Superintendent at Chickasaw National Recreation Area, 1008 W. Second Street, Sulphur, OK 73086-4814, or submit comments to e-mail us. Please include the phrase “Veterans Lake North Shore Trail” at the top of your comments or in your email subject line. Comments will be accepted throughout this scoping process; however those that have been postmarked or transmitted no later than August 3, 2009 will be of the most use.

Please note that names and addresses of people who comment become part of the public record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identity may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Such requests must be stated prominently in the beginning of the comments. As always, the NPS will make available to public inspection all submissions from organizations or businesses and from persons identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.