Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act

Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to carry out activities to enhance recreational opportunities for gateway communities and provides for the establishment of a digital National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

Gateway community means a community that serves as an entry point or is adjacent to a recreation destination at which there is consistently high seasonal or year-round visitation.

Specifically, Interior and the Forest Service must collaborate with state and local governments, Indian tribes, and other relevant stakeholders to identify needs and economic impacts in gateway communities, including

• housing shortages,
• demands on existing municipal infrastructure,
• accommodation and management of sustainable visitation, and
• the expansion and diversification of visitor experiences by bolstering the visitation at certain nearby underutilized locations or lesser-known recreation sites.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service shall provide to businesses in gateway communities assistance to establish, operate, or expand infrastructure to accommodate and manage sustainable visitation.

Interior and the Forest Service must (1) establish a single visitation data reporting system to report accurate annual visitation data, and (2) carry out a Real-time Data Pilot Program.

The bill provides for the establishment, by January 1, 2024, of a digital version of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass that is able to be stored on a mobile device.

Bill 118 s 390, also known as the Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to enhance and protect the Gateway National Recreation Area, which is located in New York and New Jersey.

The bill proposes several key provisions, including the establishment of a Gateway National Recreation Area Advisory Commission. This commission would be responsible for advising the Secretary of the Interior on matters related to the management and development of the recreation area.

Additionally, the bill aims to improve access to the recreation area by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land or interests in land for the purpose of creating new access points. This would help to increase visitation to the area and promote outdoor recreation opportunities for the public. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for the preservation and restoration of natural resources within the recreation area. This includes measures to protect wildlife habitats, improve water quality, and enhance recreational opportunities for visitors. Overall, the Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act seeks to promote the conservation and enjoyment of the Gateway National Recreation Area for current and future generations. It emphasizes the importance of preserving natural resources, enhancing recreational opportunities, and promoting public access to this important area.