More than 14 years after a deadly flood claimed 20 lives at Albert Pike Recreation Area, overnight camping will be partially reinstated at the popular site in early 2025.
The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation Thursday that would expand outdoor recreation access across the country, including Albert Pike Recreation Area. U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-District 4, sponsored the legislation, first introducing it on Nov. 29, 2023.
“The 4th District of Arkansas wins with the included provision of reopening overnight camping access at the Albert Pike Recreation Area,” Westerman said in a news release after the Senate passed the bill.
After the flood, the U.S. Forest Service limited the area to day-use activities.
“The initial decision by the Forest Service to suspend overnight camping was a disappointment to numerous Arkansans, and this bill will safely reinstate that access in addition to better management of the Albert Pike Recreation Area, which is greatly needed. I look forward to working with the U.S. Forest Service to allow for safe and responsible usage for years to come,” he said.
The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 9 and passed unanimously by the Senate Thursday.
“As an avid outdoorsman, there’s nothing better than exploring and taking in all that the Natural State has to offer,” Westerman said in the release.
“From endless fishing opportunities to numerous hiking and biking trails, breathtaking views, and so much more, Arkansas is certainly not lacking in natural beauty.
“Overall, the EXPLORE Act will modernize the visitor experience, reduce overcrowding, improve access for those with disabilities, address infrastructure issues, and reduce a burdensome permitting process experienced by small businesses who greatly depend on public land access for their livelihood,” he said.
“Not only is this bill a win for the 4th District, it’s a win for all Americans, and I look forward to seeing the EXPLORE Act signed into law quickly by President Biden.”
Overnight camping at the Albert Pike Recreation Area was suspended following a flash flood that killed 20 people on June 11, 2010. The release said existing overnight campsites outside of the 100-year flood plain will be reopened within 30 days of its enactment.
An additional “54 areas that may be suitable for overnight camping” in the area will be identified within six months of its enactment, and 27 new sites, “including at least 8 with electric and water hookups,” outside the flood plain will be opened within two years of enactment.
The bill also requires publicly accessible areas in the recreational area to be suitable for year-round day use.
The EXPLORE Act also improves access to outdoor recreation across the country, the release said. More than 100 outdoor organizations supported the act, “including several Arkansas-based organizations who advocate for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, recreational boating, rock climbing, and more.”
The legislation also improves “access to public lands and waters for outdoor recreation” and modernizes “technology to improve visitor services, like increasing broadband connectivity and creating digital recreation passes.”
Supporting gateway communities, improving access for veterans and individuals with disabilities and streamlining permitting are also mandated by the legislation.
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