Your Dollars At Work

One hundred percent of the fees that are paid to Chickasaw National Recreation Area by visitors like yourself stay inside the park to fund projects that improve our natural and cultural resources. These improvements help to enhance your comfort, enjoyment, and overall experience while visiting the park.

Want to learn how fees are being used in other parks? Visit the national Your Fee Dollars at Work page.

 

Examples of fee-funded projects in Chickasaw National Recreation Area include:

 

Replacement of aging wooden picnic tables with concrete picnic tables at campsites and picnic areas

Why?
Concrete tables are more durable, easier to clean, and weather-resistant.

 

Development of an additional pasture for our bison herd

Why?
Our bison herd is one of the most popular attractions within the park. A second pasture was completed in 2023, directly across from the Bison Viewpoint on Hwy 177. This additional pasture will allow park staff to rotate the bison as needed in order to maximize their nutritional health and the health of the plants and soil in each pasture; rotational grazing gives the plants time to regrow, which also improves the quality of the soil.

 

Replacement and repair of buoys on Lake of the Arbuckles and Veterans Lake

Why?
Buoys mark specific areas of each lake to signal important safety information to boaters and swimmers. Depending on their markings, buoys at Lake of the Arbuckles and Veterans Lake can indicate different things, such as shallow areas, rocky areas, no wake zones, speed limits, and when boaters are approaching the dams.

 

Installation of new wayside exhibits

Why?
Wayside exhibits enhance visitor experiences by providing important historical, cultural, and ecological information about the park. In 2020, 14 new wayside exhibits were installed in both the Platt Historic District and at Lake of the Arbuckles.