A Win For Outdoor Accessibility In The Delaware Watershed!

Bird's eye view of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in winter. Photo by Sarah Corcoran

I’m reaching out with an exciting update on our campaign last year opposing entry fees and fighting for increased accessibility in the Delaware Water Gap.

Responding to robust public input, the National Park Service announced plans to make the park experience more inclusive and welcoming for all visitors through its final visitor use management plan for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River.

The plan will allow for free entry, enhance trails, expand picnicking areas, and improve accessibility for those with disabilities.

The 2020 Visitor Use Management Plan (VUM Plan) comes after a five-year planning process and will guide future decision-making for the site’s resources. Most critically, the plan withdraws a controversial proposal for an entrance fee to help fund management of the park. Thankfully, the National Park Service listened to the hundreds of Pennsylvania residents, tri-state park users, and Sierra Club volunteers who spoke out against the proposed fee and any additional barriers to accessing this beautiful recreation area.

Out of the 400+ parks in the NPS system, only a quarter of them charge entrance fees and of the 18 National Recreation Areas in the National Park System only three charge such fees. In response to a proposed NPS-wide fee increase, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) commissioned a national poll in 2017 and found that:

• sixty four percent of people in the U.S. said they would be less likely to visit a national park if fees were increased,

• people with household incomes under $30,000 per year said they would be 71% less likely to visit a national park if fees were increased,

• and that there was overwhelming support for increasing federal funding to parks rather than increasing entrance fees. 

Sierra Club, working with staff from Outdoors For All, collected testimony from volunteers, recruited for multiple public hearings, and used its outings program to bring the issue directly to the public with several outings within the Delaware Water Gap, including two well-attended hikes led by Chapter staff and volunteers in the Lehigh Valley and at the Pocono Environmental Education Center, which would have been greatly impacted by the fee proposal, and an Outdoors For All rafting trip with a group of veterans.

The park will continue with the existing expanded amenity fee structure and additional park sites may be included as amenity fee sites in the future, though the park will seek stakeholder feedback when new amenity fee sites have been identified and before implementing fees for additional sites.

Other highlights of the VUM Plan include:

• Linking trail networks and improving existing trails to enhance accessibility and diversify trail experiences.

• Expanding picnicking opportunities to better meet demand, including designating areas for larger groups.

• Increasing and improving accessibility to facilities and programs throughout the park, through improvements to fishing piers and trails; canoe and kayak access points with launch aids; improved online and virtual services; audio descriptions on waysides; and ramp access to key public buildings.

The NPS is still moving forward with a $16 fee for use of the river campsites and will be establishing a reservation system. The fees will be used to maintain and restore existing river campsites, improve accessibility for people with disabilities, and to support other maintenance needs. The NPS will continue to involve the public on this measure so please stay engaged.

I know firsthand the value of access to the outdoors early in life and I’m so appreciative of everyone who spoke out on this issue and contributed to our effort to fight barriers to the outdoors. 

With gratitude,

Read on below for statements from park officials and our Chapter Director.

“This plan has been heavily influenced by input from the park community and has changed based on their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. The park will use this plan as a guide in future decision-making, relying on the science, data, and the strong community voice reflected in it to ensure this park remains an important haven. We will continue having conversations with the park community as we move forward with individual plan strategies, some of which will require additional public review and feedback. As a result of this planning process, we hope the public will trust that we are listening, that all their voices and ideas are important to us, and that they will continue to be engaged in dialog with us about their national park.” — Sula Jacobs, Delaware Water Gap Superintendent

“We’re heartened to see a plan from the Park Service that responds to community needs. This plan not only helps ensure that the park will be open to everyone, not just those that can afford it, but that visitors will be able to enjoy a more inclusive range of activities. Everyone should be able to access the benefits of spending time in nature, whether on a family picnic or a hike, and we’re committed to continuing to work with the Park Service to make the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area truly a place for all.” — Tom Torres, Chapter Director