Chattahoochee River Recreation Area Wants Feedback on its Admission Increases

Written by Adrianne Murchison (Editor)

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is seeking comments on a proposal that would raise the price of annual park passes from $25 to $35. The daily pass price would remain the same at $3.

Also, a public open house will be held at the Island Ford Park, in Sandy Springs, in December. 

“Our mission is to provide recreational opportunities for urban residents,” said Superintendent Bill Cox, in a statement. “We realize that many of our visitors come here to experience a national park for the first time. Many prefer to pay for one visit at a time. For these visitors, the one-day cost will remain at $3, as it has been since 2005."

Cox added, the annual pass of $35 will help maintain services in danger of being cut by budget reductions and build more visitor amenities such as restrooms.

In the federal fiscal year just ended (October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013), the park collected approximately $627,000 in fees, the media statement said. The park expects to raise an additional $120,000 per year through the proposed annual fee increase.

To comment on the proposed annual fee increase, send an email to chat_fees@nps.gov. There will also be a public open house at park headquarters in Sandy Springs (1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs) on Tuesday, December 3, from 7 to 8 p.m. The public comment period will end Friday, December 6, 2013.

For more information on how Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area spends your fee dollars, please visit the feature, “Your Dollars at Work” on the park web site athttp://www.nps.gov/chat/parkmgmt/yourdollarsatwork.htm.