Your Fee Dollars at Work

Your fees help us pay for a variety of projects that improve your experience at the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

NPS/ Claire Hassler

 

US Fee Area Logo

NPS

Where Do My Entrance Fees Go?

Great Falls Park is managed by the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Your fees enable us to continue to protect the natural resources, historic sites, and critical infrastructure you use along the parkway. Fee dollars fund a variety of projects, like deferred maintenance, repaving of parking lots and roads, improving visitor services, refurbishing monuments, and preserving historic structures and artifacts.

80% of fees collected here at Great Falls Park (George Washington Memorial Parkway) are re-invested into the park, while 20% of the funds are invested in national parks you enjoy across the country!

 

Your Fee Dollars At Work

Entrance fees collected at Great Falls Park allow the entire George Washington Memorial Parkway to complete many projects that improve the overall visitor experience.
Check out some examples of fee-funded projects below!

 

Overlooks along the Patowmack Canal Trail in Great Falls Park. 
This photo was taken from Maryland side of river which is part of C&O Canal NHP.

NPS

Rehabilitate the Scenic Overlooks

The goal of this project is to rehabilitate the three overlooks along Patowmack Canal Trail. This will be done by improving visitor safety, increasing views of the falls, correcting drainage issues, and meeting updated accessibility standards (ABAAS). The concept designs incorporate a new railing design that increases the visibility of the falls and gorge. The walking surfaces will be updated to reduce tripping hazards. Benches and new interpretive signs will be included. The overlook rehabilitation will take place in phases during the years 2026-2030.

 

Great Falls Visitor Center improvements include a new roof and a new HVAC system.

NPS

Replace Visitor Center Roof and HVAC system

The National Park Service is currently replacing the roof and HVAC system to make your experience at the visitor center more comfortable. The visitor center at Great Falls Park was constructed in 1965 as part of the National Parks Mission 66 effort and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This project will rehabilitate the Visitor Center Roof and HVAC systems. The first element of this project is for construction of a replacement roof for the Great Falls Visitor Center. The existing buildings have almost 7000 square feet of flat roof consisting of seven independent roof surfaces. Two of the roof areas contain mechanical equipment areas. The existing modified bitumen roof and associated roofing accessories are in poor condition and have exceeded their life span. The existing roof will be demolished and replaced with a new roofing system. The second element is removal and replacement of seven independent HVAC systems throughout the Visitors Center. This project will be under construction in the years 2024-2025.

 

Photo of historic courtyard versus conceptual rendering of restoration.

NPS

Improve the Visitor Center Courtyard

The Visitor Center and courtyard were designed by Kent Cooper and Associates Architects and opened in 1969, as part of the National Park Service’s nationwide Mission 66 program to upgrade Park Service facilities and visitor access. The existing courtyard is not consistent with the intended design of the Mission 66 structure and this project will restore the courtyard closer to its original design. The completed courtyard will improve the visitor experience while preserving the Great Falls resources.

This project will rehabilitate the Visitor Center courtyard and adjacent area by removing the existing deteriorated surfaces, correcting drainage issues, improving pedestrian circulation, and reworking surfaces to meet accessibility standards. Courtyard amenities include new affixed picnic benches and tables informed by the historic design. Improvements also include new water fountains, trash receptacles, and signage for accessibility, way-finding, and education. Project design is occuring in 2025 with construction anticipated in 2026/2027.

 

The NPS will renovate the comfort station at Great Falls Park to have the most up-to-date accessibility standards.

NPS

Rehabilitate the Comfort Station at Great Falls Park

Through this project, the NPS will rehabilitate several comfort stations along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. At Great Falls, the interior space of the remote comfort station will be completely rebuilt to meet the most up-to-date accessibility standards (ABAAS). The exterior character-defining features for the building will be maintained. Existing access trails to the restroom will be regraded with new gravel material. In targeted areas, the access pathway will be widened, or replaced with hardscape, to addess ABAAS compliance. The rehabilitation started in 2024 with plans to be completed in 2025.

 

The Great Falls Park Water System

NPS

Improve the Water System

This project will make improvements to the drinking water system serving the Great Falls Park in compliance with NPS and State regulatory requirements. The existing 30,000 gallon steel water tank will be refurbished and become a dedicated fire flow tank. A new 6,000 gallon tank will be installed for drinking water storage and a new water distribution line will be installed to connect the visitor’s center. Construction for this project is happening 2023-2025.

 

Patowmack Canal Lock Damage

Repair Damaged Canal Locks and Stone Walls at Historic Patowmack Canal

The Patowmack Canal is one of the first canals in the United States, a project spearheaded by George Washington. The canal tells the story of early efforts to expand the country and connect the East coast to the Western frontier.
Unfortunately the canal had sustained damages from past storms that had severely eroded the structure and forced sections of the trail to close to preserve this important piece of history. In order to keep history alive, fee money has been used to fund this project and restore the canal to a condition that will allow visitors to enjoy it for many years to come.

 

George Washington Memorial Parkway Mobile Visitor Center

George Washington Memorial Parkway Mobile Visitor Center

The George Washington Memorial Parkway hosts tens of millions of visitors annually across its many varied sites, yet most visitors are unaware of just how far this park stretches. This awareness issue is due to a lack of visitor services and facilities available at all sites.
Fee money has been used to create a mobile visitor center to increase the reach of the park and its staff, and to provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the park and its many sites. Visitors can now get information more easily than ever before!

 

Repair portions of the Mount Vernon Trail near Bridge 12

The Mount Vernon trail hosts millions of visitors every year, biking, running, walking and more! Using fee dollars, the NPS reconstructed the trail on both sides of Bridge 12 between Fort Hunt Road and Waynewood Blvd. This construction included full removal of the trail structure, placement of a new base, placement of asphalt concrete pavement and new painted stripes, creating a straighter alignment and reduced grade leading to and from the bridge. These repairs will make the trail safer for visitors and make rides smoother for cyclists.

 

Check back for project updates and thank you for supporting your park!