by WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ninth District Congressman Andrew Clyde and Seventh District Congressman Rich McCormick have introduced legislation aimed at keeping Lake Lanier parks open and maintained.
The Lanier Parks Local Access Act would allow local partners managing multiple recreation sites to use collected user fees across all the areas they oversee within the project. Under current law, those funds can only be spent at the specific site where they were collected.
Lake Lanier has 76 recreational areas, including 37 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-operated parks and campgrounds, 10 marinas, and Lake Lanier Islands. The remaining sites are leased to local governments or organizations.
Due to staffing shortages, the Corps has struggled to keep all its Lake Lanier recreation sites open and maintained. Some sites have recently reopened, thanks in part to the efforts of Clyde and McCormick.
“This legislation offers a simple yet effective solution to help keep Lake Lanier parks open, safe, and well-maintained for residents and visitors alike,” said Clyde. “I’ve long fought to protect Lake Lanier, including against misguided efforts to rename the lake as well as recent temporary closures of parks and boat ramps.”
Currently, local governments can retain user fees only if the funds are used at the same park where they were collected. This creates challenges for day-use parks that don’t charge fees and, therefore, lack funding for maintenance. The new bill would allow local partners to use collected fees for any park or facility within the project site, providing greater flexibility and support.
While the measure applies to all local governments managing recreation areas at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, it bears Lake Lanier’s name due to the lake’s popularity and the significant local impact the legislation would have. Clyde and McCormick both represent portions of Lake Lanier, the most-visited Corps-managed project in the country.
