NPS - National Park Service

09/22/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/22/2021 10:36

Vicksburg National Military Park entrance fees are going digital and cashless

Date:
September 22, 2021
Contact:Superintendent, (601) 636-0583 Ex: 2902

VICKSBURG, MS - On October 3, Vicksburg National Military Park will begin selling digital entrance passes through Recreation.gov in the first phase of the park's new cashless fee system rollout. With Recreation.gov, visitors will be able to purchase a park entrance pass or annual passes online before their visit or upon arrival at the park.

"Recreation.gov will provide park visitors more flexibility to purchase passes when it's convenient to them," said Carrie Mardorf, acting superintendent, Vicksburg National Military Park. "Going cashless will help limit wait time for visitors upon entry and enhance stewardship of park funds."

A cashless operation will refocus accountability, address safety concerns and streamline the fee collection process for visitors and staff. The park's rollout complements a new standardized point of sale system implemented nationwide this summer by the National Park Service to provide advanced reporting capabilities, automated monitoring and notification, helping to track and target inconsistencies in fee collection more quickly than traditional systems.

Visitors can purchase Vicksburg National Military Park passes online at www.recreation.gov or through the Recreation.gov app. This platform employs an online system used by the National Park Service and other federal agencies allowing visitors to purchase entrance passes and make camping reservations online. Visitors purchasing from Recreation.gov will have a digital pass they can store on a mobile device or print out. Digital passes are connected to the user's license plate number. Staff will scan for either a printout in the windshield or license plate numbers associated with a current digital pass in Recreation.gov.

The implementation of Recreation.gov is the first step in resuming fee collections at Vicksburg National Military Park following a pause on fee collections the park implemented in 2020. In the coming months, the park will complete the full revamp of its fee program by also introducing the cashless system at staffed entrance stations. Until then, passes will only be available through Recreation.gov. As a cashless operation, the park will accept only credit, debit, or contactless payment (such as Apple Pay or Google Pay). Cash and checks will not be accepted.

Vicksburg National Military Park participates in the congressionally authorized Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act (FLREA). The Act allows the NPS to collect and retain revenue and requires that fee revenue be used to enhance the visitor experience. Under this program, the Military Park keeps 100% of all fees collected. Funds generated by the fees are used to accomplish projects the park has been unable to fund through annual Congressional allocations.

All park visitors, including walkers, cyclists and joggers are required to purchase an entrance pass upon entering Vicksburg National Military Park.

About Vicksburg National Military Park: Vicksburg National Military Park preserves and tells the story of the Civil War Campaign for Vicksburg. This turning-point in American History helped determine the outcome of the Civil War and its impacts continue to transcend our culture today. For more information visit: www.nps.gov/vick

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.