Miami/Homestead: In September 2014, the National Park Service authorized all park units to engage the public and stakeholders on proposed fee increases as part of the 2014 National Park Service fee review. A large portion (80 percent) of national park entrance and other user fees are returned directly to the parks where they are collected. The fees provide direct benefits to park visitors such as improving the condition of facilities, natural and cultural resource preservation, and interpretation of the park’s resources.
Over the past few months park managers analyzed entrance fees across similar units of the National Park System, especially parks of similar size and visitation, as well as conducted comparisons with state and local park facilities with similar services. The proposed fee increases will bring Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks in much better alignment with fees charged at similar national park areas as well as similar services provided at state and local park facilities.
Unlike other similar national parks across the country, Everglades has not raised its parkwide fees during regular fee reviews conducted in 2007 and 2013. Everglades has not had a fee increase since 1997. Due to years of static fees and reduced operating budgets Everglades has a significant backlog of maintenance needs on all park infrastructure. In addition to general wear and tear, Everglades received significant impacts from the hurricanes of 2005 that added to this maintenance and repair backlog.
In order to bring the park into a more comparative position for similar service, fee increases are being proposed for a number of fee areas including: park entrance, annual pass and camping. A new boating permit linked with an online boating education system will replace current boat ramp permits and canoe permits will be eliminated.
Several public meetings are scheduled before the end of the year as well as opportunities to comment by email or mail. Public input will help the park develop a plan on whether to implement a single or multi-phase approach in implementing increases.
DATE
DAY
LOCATION
TIME
December 9, 2014
TUESDAY
Homestead Agriculture Center
18710 SW 288th Street, Homestead, FL 33030
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 11, 2014
THURSDAY
Eco Discovery Center
35 East Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 15, 2014
MONDAY
Key Largo Library
101485 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
6:00-8:00 p.m.
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"We invite everyone to comment on these proposed entrance fee increases" stated acting Superintendent Bob Krumenaker. "Public participation is vital to the NPS planning and decision making processes".
Following the comment period, a recommendation on fee increases will be developed and submitted to the National Park Service Washington D.C. office for final review and action.
Written comments may be mailed to: Proposed Fee Increase, Superintendent, Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034-6733. Comments may also be emailed to:e-mail us. Comments must be received by close of business Jan. 15, 2015.
Two public meetings have also been scheduled to provide the public the opportunity to discuss these proposed fees. An additional meeting will be added to the schedule for Key West.
The proposed fee increases are as follows:
Type of Recreation Fee
Current
Proposed
Vehicle Entrance
$10 (7 day permit)
$25 (7 day permit)
Pedestrian/Cyclist
$5 (7 day permit)
$8 (7 day permit)
Motorcycle
$5 (7 day permit)
$20 (7 day permit)
Annual Pass
$25
$50
RV w/Hookups/Senior
$30/$15
No Change
Front Country- Camping
$16
$20
Back Country Camping
$10
$15
*Annual Boat Ramp
$60
Replaced w/ Boat Permit
Boating Permit 7-day
Not in place
$25
Boating Permit Annual
Not in place
($50-100)
Canoe Permit/Senior
$3/$1.5
Eliminate
Dry Tortugas Entrance Fee
$5
$10
Dry Tortugas Camping
$3
$10
Biscayne Camping (Boca Chita & Elliott Key)
$20
$24
This and other park news releases are available at https://www.nps.gov/ever/parknews/newsreleases.htm
More information on Everglades National Park can be found on the park website athttps://www.nps.gov/ever
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About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
