By Lezlie Murray
Special to the Turnagain Times
The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center welcomes thousands of visitors each year providing an exciting introduction to the natural and cultural history of the Chugach National Forest. Operating this multi-million dollar facility is an important responsibility and we are committed to offering visitors a high quality experience.
Currently, the Chugach National Forest must devote half of its recreation O&M budget to keep the center operational. However, with flat to declining budgets, we’ve had to make tough decisions, such as closing the visitor center to the general public this winter and last, and canceling our annual Nature Spooktacular. Such reductions in service are not desirable, so we’re exploring options to leverage and enhance the visitor center services and increase our ability to recover costs for operations, and deferred maintenance.
The current fee program consists of a minimal fee for viewing the movie. We are proposing a Standard Amenity Fee for access to the movie, the exhibits, and interpretive programs, in the range of $3 to $5 per adult during the key visitor season only, Memorial Day weekend through September. By expanding the current fee program, and looking at new opportunities to leverage and recover costs for facilities and services, we can work to bridge the funding gap. Doing so will allow the visitor center to reopen its doors to the public on weekends and for special events, from October through May.
At the same time, the Forest Service will continue to provide important services to the public at no charge. Visitors will have free access to information services at the front desk, exhibits in the lobby, the bookstore, and the restrooms. New proceeds will also allow us to expand existing interpretive services and provide full educational programs to better serve the public. Educational passes at no cost to student groups and other special educational groups will be offered. People carrying the America the Beautiful Passes or Golden Age and Golden Access Passes will be eligible for a discount. Children under 16 will be free.
The center’s recently amended Business Plan examines possible options to help the center continue to offer relevant, meaningful interpretive and educational opportunities about the forest, while becoming fiscally more self-sufficient. These options include the potential to charge fees for appropriate special events, film festivals or concerts. In addition the plan considers charging an appropriate fee to make facilities and staff available to the private sector for meetings, small conferences or workshops, trainings, and receptions during the off-season or when the center is closed to the public. The Forest Service is also considering an outdoor adventure booking service for private sector outfitter/guides holding permits to operate on the national forest.
We are currently seeking comments from the public on our expanded fee program, which is scheduled to start Memorial Day weekend. The complete Business Plan can be viewed on the Chugach National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/ To share your comments please contact Lezlie Murray, Visitor Center Director, at 743-2316 or llmurray01@fs.fed.us or attend the public meeting at the Glacier Ranger District in Girdwood on Thursday, Jan. 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Murray will also host a public meeting in the conference room of the Loussac Library in Anchorage on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and speak in Whittier at the City Council meeting in their Chambers in building P12 on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
Comments may also be mailed to Lezlie at Glacier Ranger District, P.O. Box 129, Girdwood, AK 99587.