About the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program

With the signing of the FY 2005 Appropriations Act, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) replaced the Recreational Fee Demonstration and National Park Pass authorities.

The Recreational Fee Demonstration Program (Fee Demo) was instituted in 1997 by the FY 1996 Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act. Subsequent appropriations language extended this authority to collect through December 31 2004. This “demonstration” program authorized 100% of the revenue generated by charging fees to be returned to the National Park Service, with 80% remaining at the site where it is collected and 20% to be used Servicewide at the Director's discretion.

The National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (P.L.105-391) authorized the development of the National Parks Pass (NPP) with retention of the revenues derived from its sale.

Congress authorized five federal land management agencies – the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclaimation and the Forest Service - to charge fees to visitors.

The legislation encouraged:

• Public engagement in the creation of new fees and fee structures for recreational activities
• Reducing the backlog of maintenance to improve the quality of the visitor experience
• Habitat restoration directly related to wildlife dependent recreation
• Provide visitor information, interpretation and services

Related Links:

Reservation System

Park Passes

Fees by Parks

Top of Page