Comment period extended on Albert Pike Rec Area
HOT SPRINGS — Ouachita National Forest officials are extending the public comment period from Dec. 14 – Jan. 14 regarding the future of the Albert Pike Recreation Area, located in Langley, Ark.
The 30-day extended period will enable the public to review the Ouachita National Forest’s proposed long-term management and use of the recreation area.
“We want to ensure the public has ample time to provide input into the proposed actions for the Albert Pike Recreation Area,” said Troy Heithecker, Ouachita National Forest supervisor. “The comment period was extended to ensure the public had sufficient opportunity to provide input.”
The Ouachita National Forest proposes to improve day use opportunities which includes general maintenance, adding more parking, providing alternative bathroom facilities, increasing signage and improving the swim beach. Overnight use below the 100-year flood elevation would not be permitted anywhere in the Albert Pike Recreation Area.
“Our goal is to ensure transparency through this process,” Heithecker said. “We held a virtual public meeting November 10th and soon thereafter, we sent a letter to all those on our forest project mailing lists to seek comments. We want to ensure that the public at large also has ample opportunity to weigh in on the future of the Albert Pike Recreation Area, so we are sending out this notice and extending the original comment period.”
The proposed action can be found on the project’s webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58793
All comments must be in writing and submitted through formal channels.
To comment on the proposed action, email is the preferred method at comments-southern-ouachita-caddo-womble@fs.fed.us. Comments may also be submitted through the mail to Troy Heithecker, Forest Supervisor, c/o Chip Stokes 1523 Hwy 270 E, Mt. Ida AR 71957 or fax to 870-867-3338. The office hours for those submitting hand delivered comments are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Please state “Albert Pike Recreation Area” in the subject line when providing electronic comments or on the envelope when replying by mail.