EASTHAM – Visitors to the Cape Cod National Seashore could be paying more to visit the park next summer.
Seashore Superintendent George Price is calling for upping entrance fees.
If imposed, the daily vehicle fee would go up $5 to $20. Seasonal passes would cost $60, up from $45.
The per-person daily fee would go from $3 to $10 and motorcycle fees would go from $5 to $15.
The public comment period on the proposed fees is open until early December.
The new fees would bring Cape Cod National Seashore fees in line with standards recommended by the National Park Service.
Entrance fees for Cape Cod National Seashore have not increased since 2007.
“The fee program is critical to the park,” said Price. “Eighty percent of the fees collected stays in the park and goes directly into improving facilities and providing services that are important to visitors.”
The remaining 20% of fees collected is put into a national account to fund priority Seashore projects across the country, according to Price. The new beach facilities and concession at Herring Cove Beach were constructed using these national funds.
Annual interagency passes, which are honored at all federally managed land units, are not affected by the proposed fee increase and will remain at $80 for the regular pass, $10 for the lifetime Senior Pass, and free for the Access and Active-Duty Military passes.
“We are committed to keeping the park affordable, and we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experiences,” Price said. “The additional revenue from the fee increase would be used to enhance visitor services, including repair of park facilities, rehabilitation of visitor centers and cultural resources, and additional park programs and transportation services.”
A 45-day public input period on the proposed fee increase begins on October 27, 2014 and extends to December 6, 2014.
Feedback will be accepted via the web at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ or via letters mailed to Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667, Attention: Rick Moore.
The new fees could be implemented in early 2015. However, the implementation schedule may vary based on the results of the public input process, according to Seashore officials.
