Opinion: Parking fees offer a lifeline to Oklahoma state parks

Some legislators have questions and concerns about parking fees implemented this summer at 22 Oklahoma state parks. The question they must answer, however, is what choice does the Department of Tourism have?

During a legislative interim study recently, tourism officials noted that funds appropriated by the Legislature to the agency had fallen 64% since 2009. Such a steep decline makes it impossible to keep up with capital improvements in a parks system that has struggled for decades to do so.

Nearly 20 years ago, problems with sewage lagoons at Sequoyah State Park, Tenkiller State Park and Lake Texoma State Park led to an order to close restrooms. Similar problems were reported elsewhere. The tourism department more recently has closed or transferred to local governments the operation of several parks that were not self-sufficient.

Gino DeMarco, the agency’s deputy director, said visitors are more likely to return if the parks’ man-made features are on par with the parks’ natural beauty. “Are we going to focus on the health of this park system,” DeMarco asked, “or are we going to treat it like a hospice and we’re going to keep it alive until it dies?”

The fees help to do the former. Implemented in mid-June, they are $8 per vehicle per day for those with an Oklahoma license plate or in-state tribal plate, and $10 per vehicle per day for out-of-state visitors. Veterans, the disabled and Oklahomans 62 and older receive discounted admission.

The new fees have not hurt traffic. Indeed, tourism Director Jerry Winchester said attendance has been up considerably since the state’s phased reopening began May 1 following the COVID-19 shutdown. The fees also are comparable to those charged by other states.

In Texas, fees range from $2 to $8 per person per day. Louisiana charges $3 per person at most of its parks. The cost in Kansas is $5 per vehicle. In Colorado, it’s $9 per vehicle for most parks. Arizona charges $10 per vehicle of four except for Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays, when the price is $15.

Arkansas and Missouri are among the few states that continue to offer free admission to their state parks.

Oklahoma can no longer afford to do the same. Roughly $40 million per year is needed to cover capital improvements, tourism officials say; it is anticipated the fees will generate about $10 million annually. Even after cost savings and revenue from other sources, tourism officials say, they expect to be $13 million shy of their capital improvements goal.

The lawmaker who requested the interim study said he was concerned about the fees’ impact on low-income Oklahomans and suggested discounts be considered for those visitors. That’s commendable, but the park system needs more revenue, not less, and it isn't coming from the Legislature. Entrance fees provide the system with a lifeline.