Rock Creek and Fort Dupont Park Second Phase

Date: October 22, 2014

Date:October 20, 2014Contact:Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, 202-619-7177

WASHINGTON-- The National Park Service (NPS) is accepting public comments through October 30, 2014 on the second phase of proposed fee increases for picnic pavilions at Rock Creek and Fort Dupont Parks. Under the proposal, a half day reservation would cost $45 beginning January 1, 2015.  Fee changes will fund the picnic areas’ upkeep and improve the level of service provided to visitors.

The NPS solicited public feedback in 2013 through online comments and public meetings for a three-year phased increase inthe cost to reserve a picnic pavilions in Rock Creek and Fort Dupont Parks. As proposed to the public in 2013, the NPS began phasing in this increase over 3 years starting in the summer of 2014 with an increase to $25/half day. The NPS is now proposing to implement the second phase of the increase January 1, 2015, at $45/half day, followed by the final increase phase in 2016 to $65/half day.

From 1949 until 2014 the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) managed picnic pavilion reservationsat these parks under an agreement with the NPS. The NPS reassumed management of the reservation system with the goals to make it a more user-friendly and convenient process, bring the reservation fee in line with similar group picnic areas in the Washington Metropolitan Area and to help fund the picnic areas’ upkeep.

The NPS invites public to comment online at theNPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment(PEPC)website during the 21-day comment period October 10-30, 2014.