NR 15-033: Day use fees waived on National Public Lands Day

Published Sept. 24, 2015

NASHVILLE, TENN. (Sept. 24, 2015)The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announces that the public can enter all of its day use areas for free on National Public Lands Day this Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015.

“National Public Lands Day, an event held annually in September, showcases our nation’s public lands and the importance of protecting natural resources through responsible use and volunteerism,” said Steven L. Stockton, professional engineer and director of Civil Works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C.

The Nashville District has day use areas at Lake Barkley, Cheatham Lake, Old Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, Center Hill Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Lake Cumberland, Laurel River Lake and Martins Fork Lake.

At these locations, the district operates and maintains 336,106 land acres, 216,200 water acres, and more than 3,800 miles of shoreline at its 10 lakes in the Cumberland River Basin.  It also operates 267 recreation areas, 3,522 camping sites, 2,009 picnic sites, 107 playgrounds, 71 swimming areas, 102 trails (258 miles), 287 boat ramps and 236,144 acres of licensed state fish and wildlife areas.

Andreas Patterson, Nashville District’s Natural Resources Branch chief, said she hopes that volunteers and the public in general will take advantage of this free opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors on National Public Lands Day.

“The public gets to visit the day use areas to recreate and can even participate as a volunteer to clean up the shoreline or improve the facilities and trails on public lands,” Patterson said.

The waiver to enter day use areas for free also covers boat launch ramp and swim beach fees.  The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters.  Other agencies that manage recreation areas located on Corps lands are encouraged, but not required, to comply with this waiver of day use fees in the areas that they manage.

In addition, the Corps will thank our NPLD volunteers by issuing each a “fee-free coupon,” which is valid for one year from the date of issue.  The coupon may be used for one day of entrance fees or day use fees at any participating federal agency park, forest, or recreation area that charges either of these types of fees.  This coupon will be honored at all Corps projects regardless of whether or not there was a NPLD event held at that project during the year.

(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.)
Contact
Bill Peoples
615-736-7161
chief.public-affairs@usace.army.mil
or
Lee Roberts
615-736-7161
chief.public-affairs@usace.army.mil

Release no. 15-033