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Pipestone National Monument Proposes Entrance Fee Increase

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Pipestone National Monument will hold a public meeting at the Performing Arts Center to receive comments concerning proposed entrance fee increases in 2015. The current monument entrance fees have been in place since 2004 when Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA). The proposed increases affects the per person fee, and monument specific pass.

Per Person (7 Days) Park Specific Annual Pass
Current Entrance Fees $3 $15
Proposed Entrance Fees $7 $30

Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age or holders of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Senior, Access or Military Passes. These passes may be obtained at the Park.

"We are committed to keeping the park affordable but we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience," said Pipestone National Monument Superintendent Glen Livermont. "Future funds will be used in the rehabilitation of the monument visitor center museum, construction of a pedestrian/bicycle access trail from Hiawatha Avenue to the visitor center, funding 2016 centennial celebration activities, replacing the film theaters audio visual equipment, developing and installing wayside exhibits along the Circle Trail, and continue to improve facilities, infrastructure, and offering expanded visitor services.

Recently the monument has used Recreation Fee funds for the following improvements. Constructed a concrete sidewalk and picnic table pads at the Three Maidens picnic area to improve access for persons with disabilities, widening and repaving the Circle Trail to improve access for all visitors, installed drinking fountains with the "bottle fill" option to provide visitors with reusable bottles the opportunity to fill them, replaced hand dryers in visitor center restrooms with high output models to quickly dry hands, and replaced visitor seating in the theater.

The five National Park Service areas in Minnesota are strong engines for local economies. Statewide, in 2013, they experienced 658,331 total recreation visits, $380,000,000 in total visitor spending and supported 550 jobs. For the same period Pipestone National Monument had 64,761 total recreation visits, and visitors contributed over 4 million dollars to the local economy and supported 55 jobs related to tourism

To gather public comment on the proposed fee increases a public meeting, hosted by monument staff, will take place in the Pipestone Performing Arts Center lobby, 104 E Main St, Pipestone, MN 56164, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm on January 5, 2015.

If you are unable to attend this meeting you can provide feedback via the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at the following link.
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/pipeproposedfeeincrease
Written comments can also be sent to: Superintendent, Pipestone National Monument, 36 Reservation Ave., Pipestone MN 56164.