National Lakeshore proposes fee increase: citizens want one-day pass
From staff reports
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore proposes increasing Park entrance fees in 2016 from $10 to $15 for a week pass, from $20 to $30 for a year pass, and from $12 to $16 to camp at D.H. Day Campground near Glen Arbor. The Park requests public comments until Dec. 8 as it considers an increase to entrance and camping fees effective 14 months from now.
According to the Sleeping Bear’s chief of interpretation Merrith Baughman, the Park has received more than 50 comments on its planning website, conveying opinions that range from support to opposition to a fee increase. One comment, which came from Matt Wiesen, owner of Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor, circulated via email among members of the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce.
“I think it is very important that the NPS receives comments that support the addition of a DAY PASS (currently only a weekly and annual pass are offered) if they are to increase the weekly and annual passes as proposed,” Wiesen wrote on Nov. 3. “We have a number of day trippers to Glen Arbor who recreate within the Park and such an increase in my opinion would not be received well by visitors. The creation of a DAY PASS would allow a nice compromise and offer a lower cost alternative to those who are only in the area briefly.”
At its monthly meeting on Nov. 11, members of the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to second Wiesen’s call for a day pass to the Park. The Chamber’s position is largely symbolic, though it was communicated directly to the National Lakeshore.
Baughman confirmed that the Park is exploring whether a day pass is feasible.
The current entrance fees and first come-first serve camping fees have been in place since 2004 with only a slight increase in fees for reservable campsites which occurred in 2006. The National Lakeshore is one of only 131 of the 401 National Park Service (NPS) sites that charge entrance fees and were recently authorized by NPS Director Jon Jarvis to consider fee increases based upon a new fee structure.
Feedback about the proposed fee increase can be left online or mailed to the National Lakeshore (Superintendent, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630). The National Lakeshore requests that you provide your comments by Dec. 8.
“The idea of increasing fees in the National Lakeshore is always troubling and is only done with a great deal of consideration, especially when we are trying to make the park as accessible as possible to all Americans,” said Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz. “But the fact of the matter is that we now depend on the fees to provide basic services that people expect. We are committed to keeping the park affordable, but we also want to be able to provide visitors with the best possible experience. We feel that the proposed fee changes are still an incredible value when considering the other family and recreation opportunities in the local area. Plus, 80 percent of those funds stay right here at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to benefit our visitors.”
Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age or holders of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Annual, Senior, Access or Military Passes. These passes may be obtained at the park as well as at other federal fee areas. The cost of these passes will not increase under this proposal.
The proposed fee schedule is as follows:
Name of Fee Current Fee Proposed Fee
Park Entrance Pass – Per Private Vehicle
Valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase $10 $15
Park Entrance Pass – Motorcycle
Valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase Per Person Fee $10
Sleeping Bear Dunes Annual Park Entrance Pass
Valid for one year from month of purchase $20 $30
Per Person Entrance Pass
Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour $5 $7
Camping – D. H. Day Campground
First come – first served $12 $16
Camping – D. H. Day Group Campground
Group size up to 25 people $30 first come – first served $33 reservation $40
Camping – Platte River Campground – Non-Electric
Up to 6 people or one family $16 first come – first served $19 reservation $22
Camping – Platte River Campground – Electric
Up to 6 people or one family $21 first come – first served $24 reservation $27
Camping – Platte River Campground – Walk-in
Up to 6 people or one family $12 first come – first served $15 reservation $18
Camping – Platte River Campground – Group
Group size up to 25 people $40 first come – first served $43 reservation $50
Camping – Backcountry Permit – Mainland & Manitou Islands
First come – first served, Up to 4 people and 2 tents $5 $10
Camping – Backcountry Group – South Manitou Island
Group size 9 to 20 people $20 first come – first served $23 reservation $30
Camping – Backcountry Group – North Manitou Island
First come – first served, Group size up to 10 people $10 $20
The proposed entrance fee rates are based on a national fee rate schedule that was due to be implemented back in 2009, but was postponed by the NPS due to the national economic downturn that occurred at about the same time. The camping fees are derived through comparability reviews conducted by the National Lakeshore looking at other camping facilities/opportunities in the local area. The proposed fee schedule has been simplified, making it easier to understand. In addition, the cost for hot showers at Platte River Campground has been combined into the nightly camping fee.
The National Lakeshore is seeking feedback about the proposed fee schedule. Please provide your comments online at (parkplanning.nps.gov/sleepingbearfees). Comments may also be mailed to the National Lakeshore (Superintendent, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630). The National Lakeshore requests that you provide your comments by December 8, 2014.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) is the legislation under which the National Lakeshore currently collects entrance and camping fees. This law allows parks to retain approximately 80% of the fees collected for use on projects that directly benefit visitors. The remaining 20% is distributed throughout the National Park System. Since the beginning of FLREA in 2004, and its predecessor Fee Demonstration Program authorized in 1996, the park has collected and the visitors and park resources have benefitted from this revenue. The additional revenue received from the proposed fee increase in 2016 will be used to further enhance visitor services, including repair and maintenance of park facilities, restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings and landscapes, additional park interpretive programs and increased protection of the outstanding natural and cultural resources within the National Lakeshore.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a strong economic engine for the surrounding area. In 2013, a National Park Service report showed that 1,531,560 visitors to the National Lakeshore spent $152 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 2,818 jobs in the local area.
The National Lakeshore looks forward to receiving your comments concerning the proposed fee increase. For more information, please contact Merrith Baughman, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services, at 231-326-4725, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/slbe/.
