PA State Parks are adding a $25/geocache fee

[+GEO WALKER]

Just a FYI here...

 

I'm not sure if any of you are aware of or are affected/effected by a recent but quite insertion to the PA STATE PARK Geocaching Guidelines which now include a $25 administration fee.

 

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/geocaching.aspx

 

Caches placed in State Park lands require an administrative fee of $25.00. This fee is used to cover the costs associated with approving the cache site, including the PNDI review and processing the necessary paperwork.

 

I sent my "letter of discontent" to:

 

PA DCNR Director of Education, Communications and Partnerships: Gretchen Leslie

gleslie@state.pa.us

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/index.aspx

 

and my local State Senator http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm

[+Cardinal Red]

Just a FYI here...

 

I'm not sure if any of you are aware of or are affected/effected by a recent but quite insertion to the PA STATE PARK Geocaching Guidelines which now include a $25 administration fee.

 

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/geocaching.aspx

 

Caches placed in State Park lands require an administrative fee of $25.00. This fee is used to cover the costs associated with approving the cache site, including the PNDI review and processing the necessary paperwork.

 

I sent my "letter of discontent" to:

 

PA DCNR Director of Education, Communications and Partnerships: Gretchen Leslie

gleslie@state.pa.us

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/index.aspx

 

and my local State Senator http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm

A quick scan of the Mid-Atlantic Forum (where this information actually belongs) would have revealed that we are quite aware: What's going on with PA DCNR?, A fee to Geocache in PA State Parks

[+GEO WALKER]

Just a FYI here...

 

I'm not sure if any of you are aware of or are affected/effected by a recent but quite insertion to the PA STATE PARK Geocaching Guidelines which now include a $25 administration fee.

 

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/geocaching.aspx

 

Caches placed in State Park lands require an administrative fee of $25.00. This fee is used to cover the costs associated with approving the cache site, including the PNDI review and processing the necessary paperwork.

 

I sent my "letter of discontent" to:

 

PA DCNR Director of Education, Communications and Partnerships: Gretchen Leslie

gleslie@state.pa.us

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/index.aspx

 

and my local State Senator http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm

A quick scan of the Mid-Atlantic Forum (where this information actually belongs) would have revealed that we are quite aware: What's going on with PA DCNR?, A fee to Geocache in PA State Parks

 

True... but are any of us who create and find EC's also aware of this? Keep in mind there are a number of EC's in PA State Parks. I was originally informed of this issue through the PAGA website by a member of NWPA, Erie Geocachcers. Therefore, as a common courtesy I feel a post here would help inform the EC Bunch…

[+Cardinal Red]

True... but are any of us who create and find EC's also aware of this? Keep in mind there are a number of EC's in PA State Parks. I was originally informed of this issue through the PAGA website by a member of NWPA, Erie Geocachcers. Therefore, as a common courtesy I feel a post here would help inform the EC Bunch…

What you are saying is that EVERY topic of similar interest must be posted locally or generally AND in the EC forum or the EC community won't see it.

[+GEO WALKER]

True... but are any of us who create and find EC's also aware of this? Keep in mind there are a number of EC's in PA State Parks. I was originally informed of this issue through the PAGA website by a member of NWPA, Erie Geocachcers. Therefore, as a common courtesy I feel a post here would help inform the EC Bunch…

What you are saying is that EVERY topic of similar interest must be posted locally or generally AND in the EC forum or the EC community won't see it.

 

First of all that is NOT WHAT I'M SAYING...

 

Perhaps this one is better suited for a duplication due to the fact that many EC's are in PA State Parks and many folks who develop EC's are from different states.

Why would you want to soley possess information and not share it w/others? This is the first time I think I have visited the forum you referenced and perhaps the last.

My main interset in forums would deal w/EC's since that is where my interest lie. So, if I don't visit all of the forums there may be others as well that do the same.

Not all of us who develop EC's limit our geographic scope to one State or Country. I have one EC in Ohio and the fee issue has never come up.

So the effort here is "interest" based not "geographically" based...

[+GEO WALKER]

HEY FOLKS I GOT A RESPONSE!!!

 

Response from Mike Redding PA DCNR State Parks…

 

Hi Geo,

 

Thank you for contacting PA State Parks. We do understand your concerns regarding the newly instituted fee for placing geocaches within State Parks. Unfortunately, there is some confusion regarding the information that is being relayed to the public. Please know that the $25 administrative fee for new geocaches in state parks is used to cover the costs associated with reviewing the cache site, including performing an environmental review and processing the necessary paperwork. The new fee is not retroactive for caches that are currently active and in place. However, any subsequent renewals and all new caches are subject to the fee.

 

It’s also important to know that any geocaches that are partnered with State Parks, also referred to as "park sponsored", are not subject to the administrative fee what-so-ever. This include CITO (cache in trash out) events & educational caches such as an earthcache. We are encouraging our geocaching community to partner with our parks as volunteer & environmental educational advocates (or other means) as a way to request a waiver of the administrative fee - connecting people to the park and the importance of the resource.

 

We are certainly not looking for a way to discourage geocaching in State Parks. The administrative fee is only meant to help offset the costs associated with administering the program. You may be aware that our agency is under significant financial constraints and our budget continues to decline on an annual basis. In addition, the administrative fee for geocaches is now in line with other event requests that occur within State Parks in which an administrative fee is also charged, for example, fishing tournaments, marathons, walks, relays, wedding ceremonies, sailing regattas, etc.

 

Sincerely

Mike Redding

Park Operations

[+Lostby7]

Well the fee sucks but at least the EarthCaches are exempt. A new set of rules were set down by a neighboring county of mine where while there is no fee, EarthCaches do not appear to be allowed in the park system.

To place a physical or virtual cache, you must have prior written permission from the Assistant Administrator for Golf and Parks. For each cache location, complete a separate Permit Request Form.

Geocaching is not allowed in: Lizard Mound County Park, the Washington County Golf Course, or other sensitive areas that the Assistant Administrator determines cannot tolerate human traffic including but not limited to: stream banks, wetlands, prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, unique geological features, steep slopes, areas containing plants that are hazardous to humans or other unsafe areas.

Gotta love policy.

[+Manville Possum]

Virginia State Parks have started placing a Wildlife Adventure series of caches in their State Parks, they also welcome others to place "approved" caches at no cost (they even supply the VSP approved stickers) in their parks with proper permission. Of course they also rent GPS units to persons that might want to try geocaching while at the Parks. I am really glad that my home State is geocache friendly, unlike some other States.

[+narcissa]

I don't see the fee as a bad thing. Many park authorities have simply banned geocaching because they don't want the hassle of monitoring it.

[+Manville Possum]

I don't see the fee as a bad thing. Many park authorities have simply banned geocaching because they don't want the hassle of monitoring it.

If a State Park that is supported by our tax dollars wanted to charge me a fee to place a cache there, I would decline. I would be willing to pay for the "Park approved geocache" stickers, but come on. Who would want to pay $25.00 to place a cache that they have to provide and maintain? It is not the Parks responsibility to maintain or monitor the cache, just like any other geocache that is listed on gc.com, it is the cache owners responsibilty. Sure, the Parks have guidlines too. No off trail/bushwackin' caches, and the owner must visit and maintain the cache. Tennessee has a ban on any new cache placements in State Parks simply because people were placing them without permission, anywhere and everywhere. Virginia State Parks are geocache friendly because they want people to enjoy themselves during their visit, also renting a person a GPS unit that has caches and other points of interest (trail heads, ect...) in the Park uploaded is just a good busniess venture, just like some of the Parks have bycycle or boat rentals.

[+GEO WALKER]

I don't see the fee as a bad thing. Many park authorities have simply banned geocaching because they don't want the hassle of monitoring it.

 

In a round-about way this may be what they're shooting for. I wonder just how many caches will disappear due to the $25 price tag for a permit renewal? I guess time will tell...

[+narcissa]

I'd pay $25 a year to put a cache into a park like that, and I'd make it a dadgum nice cache too.

Edited June 25, 2010 by narcissa

[+junglehair]

I'd pay $25 a year to put a cache into a park like that, and I'd make it a dadgum nice cache too.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I'd probably pay the $25 if I had a really great cache idea and I wanted a nice area to place it. I certainly wouldn't pay $25 to be able to through a film canister under a lamp skirt. It will likely result in far fewer caches in the park, but I bet they'd be well worth going after.

 

If they alternative is to ban caches because they don't have the manpower to oversee it, then I'd prefer to have the application fee.