Perry Peace Memorial Fee Increase Proposed
Monument officials are seeking public input on a proposed entrance fee increase starting the summer season of 2015. Revenues from entrance fees are used to fund projects that directly benefit park visitors, providing enhanced visitor services, including repair and maintenance of facilities, capital improvements, enhanced amenities, resource protection, and additional visitor programs and services. Campground fees are used to cover operational costs.
The park is conducting public engagement on the proposed Perry Peace Memorial Fee Increase through January 31, 2015. Here are answers to some of the common questions regarding the proposed fee increase at Perry Peace Memorial.
What are the proposed entrance fees?
The proposed entrance fee at Perry Peace Memorial will be $7.00 per person, and children 16 and under will be free. The annual park pass will increase to $30.00 per year. All Interagency Passes will remain at the current rates: Annual ($80), Senior ($10), Access ($0), and Military ($0).
Why is Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial raising its entrance fee?
This Perry Peace Memorial Fee Increase is part of a larger National Park Service initiative to standardize fees in similar parks nationwide. Perry’s Victory was classified with gardens of comparable size and visitation and given the corresponding fee schedule. Perry’s Victory’s current entrance fees have been in place for over 20 years. A $2.00 increase was postponed in 2006 when the Memorial was closed for repairs.
How are the entrance fees calculated?
The NPS fee structure is a tiered approach that classifies Perry’s Victory with parks of comparable size and visitation. The NPS analysis of fees is based on relevant academic studies, private and public sector benchmarks, and existing NPS data. It seeks to provide fair, equitable, and consistent fees to the public across the National Park System. Perry’s Victory is part of group A, which generally includes memorials and monuments in the National Park Service like Lincoln Boyhood, James Garfield, and Cabrillo.
What do the current fees pay for?
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) of 2005 authorized 100% of the revenue generated by charging fees to be returned to the National Park Service. The park will use these funds for projects that directly benefit visitors. Funds generated by the fees are used to accomplish projects the park has been unable to fund through annual Congressional allocations.
Examples of recent park projects funded with fee revenue include most of the National Park Service events associated with commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 from 2012 through 2015. Fee revenue also helped fund various education projects, including Paths to Peace: 1812 Arts History Project, a teacher workshop, school visits, period clothing and equipment, the park pavilions, electronic signage for the visitor center, and the restoration of the marble floors in the rotunda of the Memorial.
What will the new fee revenues be used for?
Forecasted revenue from proposed fee increases is approximately $500,000 annually. The new revenue from the fee increases will be used to provide enhanced visitor services, including repair and maintenance of facilities and capital improvements. There will be an emphasis on park improvements before the NPS centennial anniversary in 2016. Perry’s Victory will use the additional revenue to complete the sidewalk around the park grounds, implement a sustainable turf management program, improve signage, develop a rowing program, build a Peace Garden, bury utility lines on park grounds, and create new exhibits and new education programs for families.
Where do most of the visitors to Perry’s Victory live?
Based on the University of Idaho 2009 Visitor Study over 95% of the park’s visitation reside in the greater Cleveland and Columbus area and the surrounding states.
When would Perry Peace Memorial Fee Increase changes be implemented?
The new fees could be implemented as early as April 2015 if approved.
What are the next steps?
The National Park Service is soliciting public feedback on the proposal to increase entrance fees to $7.00 per person. A 30-day general engagement period will begin on January 1, 2015. Please send your comments to Perry Peace Memorial, P.O. Box 549, Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456.
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