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recreational fee demonstration program
What is the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program?
The "User Fee Program" is a test to determine if a cost recovery program could support the operation and maintenance of recreation areas and sites on Federal lands. In the past, all money collected by the National Park Service was sent to the general fund. With the implementation of the User Fee Program, participating national parks now keep a portion of entrance and campground fees collected, sending the other funds to a pool that is bid for and eventually redistributed to various national parks, including Denali. User fee money is currently in addition to the overall operations budget. This is an "experimental" program and Congress could easily vote it out, an act that would ultimately have an adverse impact on our national parks.
Where is the Money Going?
This increase in funding is allowing Denali to address significant deterioration of visitor-related facilities and to provide increased services to visitors. Projects funded by entrance fees include major maintenance, rehabilitation of facilities, and improved visitor services.
A Sample of Some of the Current User Fee Projects
Correct Road Safety Deficiencies
This project will improve the road surface on approximately 20 miles of substandard unpaved road essential in providing access to the park. In addition, it will enable crews to process and place new materials on the road, redesign Primrose rest stop, revegetate disturbed shoulder areas after improvement projects, repair or replace approximately ten blocked or failed culverts, reapply dust palliatives to seven miles of road within critical visitor use areas (between Sanctuary and Teklanika).
Riley Creek Campground
Rehabilitate existing campground, improve camping sites, regrade and repave road, rehabb two comfort stations, and design and construct a third loop of campsites, adding 50 additional sites and one new comfort station.
Improve Interpretive Displays and Research
New exhibits are planned for Talkeetna, Eielson Visitor Center, Quigley and Savage Cabins. Other projects that will be funded include bulletin board upgrades, website expansion and additional outreach education, and research projects on glacier movement, mountain sanitation (climbing impacts), and south side bear studies.
Develop Glacier Movement Information
This project will result in observation of two glaciers on Mt. McKinley that will generate data useful for understanding climate-driven changes in the Denali glaciers.
Conduct Study on Golden Eagles
This project will produce a study that employs satellite tracking and other state-of-the-art technology to assess the annual movement patterns and survival of adult Golden Eagles in the Park. Additionally, this project will be used to add a variety of education and interpretation products (including website, hands-on experience with GIS, involvement with other local schools in monitoring Golden Eagle mirgration, articles in popular and peer-reviewed publications, and oral presentations at scientific meetings and at local natural history lodges) to the local middle school curriculum.
Rehab/Reroute Park Trails
This project will rebuild/reroute (where necessary) trails throughout Denali. Areas targeted are primarily impacted areas in the following locations: the headquarters/frontcountry, Savage River, Eielson, and Wonder Lake Areas. Additionally, a 1500-foot-long American Disabilities Act trail near Eielson Visitor Center will be constructed so handicapped visitors can better experience the vast wilderness of Denali. This trail will be in addition to the new American Disability Act ramp that is currently underway at Eielson Visitor Center.
A Sample of Some of the Completed User Fee Projects
Kennel's Sled Room Exhibit
An exhibit has been developed displaying traditional Native clothing and Native uses of dogs.
Repaint Visitor Centers
The entrance area Visitor Center and Eielson Visitor Center have been repainted to restore all of the weathered exterior surfaces.
Close Captioning
The orientation slide show at the Visitor Center now provides close captioning for the hearing impaired.
Trail Signs
New trail signs have been placed at intersections and trail heads throughout the Park's frontcountry.
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