Park Service Seeks Comment on Proposed Fee Increases

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Park Service Seeks Comment on Proposed Fee Increases
 
SANDY HOOK – Gateway National Recreation Area is proposing to increase camping and parking fees in the park.
Camping fees at all three units would increase from $20 to $30 for the 2015 season. Parking fees at would increase at both Sandy Hook and Riis Beach in 2017. It would be Gateway’s first parking fee increase since 2012, and the first increase in camping fees since the park’s camping program began.
The fees being proposed for Sandy Hook for 2017 are: $20 per day; $100 per season; $50 per oversize car per day; and $200 per oversize car per season.
“We are committed to keeping the park affordable but also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience,” Gateway Superintendent Jen Nersesian said. “The money from the camping and parking fees will help improve our visitor facilities and services.”
Even with the proposed fee increases, a visit to Gateway’s beaches and campgrounds will remain within the means of everyday people, the park service said. The park charges per vehicle, not per person, which is more cost effective for most visitors. The few campsites in the surrounding area charge either similar or higher fees.
Visitors with Senior or Access Passes would be charged half price for parking, as they are currently.
Parking fees and camping fees at Gateway are authorized through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (FLREA), which allows 80 percent of the revenue collected at Gateway to remain in the park.
Since 2001, Gateway has used this authority and resulting revenue of nearly $25 million in improvements, which include expanding the docking facility at Sandy Hook; paving the Multi-Use Path at Sandy Hook; building a sand slurry for beach replenishment at Sandy Hook; refurbishing restrooms and beach stations throughout Gateway; and adding a web-cam to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse.
A 30-day public engagement period on the proposed fee increase opened Wednesday, Nov. 19, and will end Friday, Dec. 19.
Feedback will be accepted via email at Fee_increase@nps.gov, or by sending mail to Office of the Superintendent
Gateway National Recreation Area,
ATTN: Proposed parking and camping fee increase,  210 New York Ave.,
Staten Island, NY 10305.