Visitors to the nation’s busiest national park will soon have to pay to park under a plan announced today by park officials.
Kristy Kepley-Steward reports for ABC 13 News that Great Smokey Mountains National Park officials have announced the decision to adopt the “Pay it Forward” parking tag program under consideration since the spring.
“Parking tags will be required to be displayed on any motor vehicle parked within the park boundary beginning March 1, 2023. Approved parking rates are $5 for a daily parking tag, $15 for a parking tag for up to seven days, and $40 for an annual parking tag,” writes Kepley-Steward.
Much like an urban parking district, revenues raised by the Pay it Forward program will be used for capital improvement projects to improve visitor experience, protect resources, and maintain trails, roads, historic structures, and facilities, according to the article.
Details on the public outreach program that led to the decision to adopt the program are included in the source article.
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