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Construct Visitor Center
Chickasaw National Recreation Area » Construct Visitor Center » Document List
The National Park Service (NPS) is making available for public review an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction of a new visitor center at Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The EA evaluated the No Action Alternative, in which case the Travertine Nature Center would continue to serve as the defacto visitor center and the Preferred Alternative, which is construction of a new visitor center located adjacent to the Vendome Well on the south side of State Highway 7/Broadway Avenue.
The proposed new visitor center would be about 6,500 square feet and would include space for a lobby, information counter, exhibits, multipurpose room, office space for interpretative staff, restrooms, and storage. The building would incorporate sustainable design concepts that use energy-efficient systems for passive solar heating, cooling, and natural lighting. Rustic/natural building materials would be used for compatibility with existing Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era buildings and structures found in the park. Site work would include an outdoor plaza, additional water features, landscaping, and trail connections to access Vendome Well, Flower Park, Black Sulphur Springs, and existing trails. The new visitor center would use the existing parking area at Vendome Well plus additional parking that would be constructed to accommodate recreational vehicles, buses, and boat trailers. Rehabilitation of the Vendome Well and plumbing system is also a component of the proposed project.
Construction of a new visitor center would allow the Travertine Nature Center to be used for its intended environmental education function. The new visitor center would be in a high visibility area with easy access from Highway 7 and better opportunities for visitors to discover more about the scenic, recreational, and cultural resources in the area.
Because public participation is very important to the success of the project, the NPS encourage your review and comment on the EA. The EA will be on public review for 30 days, with comments accepted through May 26, 2011. The document is available electronically for review and comment online by visiting http://parkplanning.nps.gov, the website for the NPS's Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) system. Written comments also may be sent to the address below.
Commentors should be aware that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While commentors can ask that their personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the National Park Service cannot guarantee that this will be possible.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
1008 W. Second Street
Sulphur, OK 73086-4814
The proposed new visitor center would be about 6,500 square feet and would include space for a lobby, information counter, exhibits, multipurpose room, office space for interpretative staff, restrooms, and storage. The building would incorporate sustainable design concepts that use energy-efficient systems for passive solar heating, cooling, and natural lighting. Rustic/natural building materials would be used for compatibility with existing Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era buildings and structures found in the park. Site work would include an outdoor plaza, additional water features, landscaping, and trail connections to access Vendome Well, Flower Park, Black Sulphur Springs, and existing trails. The new visitor center would use the existing parking area at Vendome Well plus additional parking that would be constructed to accommodate recreational vehicles, buses, and boat trailers. Rehabilitation of the Vendome Well and plumbing system is also a component of the proposed project.
Construction of a new visitor center would allow the Travertine Nature Center to be used for its intended environmental education function. The new visitor center would be in a high visibility area with easy access from Highway 7 and better opportunities for visitors to discover more about the scenic, recreational, and cultural resources in the area.
Because public participation is very important to the success of the project, the NPS encourage your review and comment on the EA. The EA will be on public review for 30 days, with comments accepted through May 26, 2011. The document is available electronically for review and comment online by visiting http://parkplanning.nps.gov, the website for the NPS's Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) system. Written comments also may be sent to the address below.
Commentors should be aware that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While commentors can ask that their personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the National Park Service cannot guarantee that this will be possible.
Contact Information
SuperintendentChickasaw National Recreation Area
1008 W. Second Street
Sulphur, OK 73086-4814