U.S. House passes bill to reopen Albert Pike for overnight camping

Submitted by Patrick Massey of KDQN.net

Efforts to reopen Albert Pike Recreation Area are advancing after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the EXPLORE Act last week.

Introduced by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04), the EXPLORE Act seeks to introduce a number of provisions aimed at enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities across the United States. If signed into law, the bill would also require the U.S. Forest Service to reopen Albert Pike Recreation Area near Langley in Southwest Arkansas.

The park, once a popular draw for campers, has prohibited overnight use since a 100-year flood tragically killed 20 people during the early morning hours of June 11, 2010. Since then, and after a lawsuit filed by family members of those who perished, the park has been open for day-use only. Its facilities continue to bear the scars of that disastrous incident 14 years ago.

Westerman’s bill would safely re-open any existing overnight campsites outside of the 100-year floodplain within 30 days of the bill’s enactment. In addition, it would identify 54 areas that may be suitable for overnight camping in the recreation area within 6 months of the bill’s enactment. It would also establish at least 27 new overnight camping sites outside of the 100-year flood plain, including at least eight with electric and water hookups, for public use within two years of the bill’s enactment.

In an interview this past Friday, Westerman said he’s pleased with the widespread support his bill has received.

The bill must now pass through the U.S. Senate before reaching the president’s desk. Westerman is hopeful the EXPLORE Act will be signed into law.

Westerman said that the Senate has been working on a similar bill and there is a ton of support. [The EXPLORE Act] passed unanimously out of the House on a voice vote, so that shows you how much bipartisan support it has.

Westerman stressed that the process to reopen Albert Pike to overnight use would seek to avoid a similar catastrophe like that which occurred in 2010. However, he also notes that any enjoyment of the outdoors carries risks.

In addition to reopening overnight camping at APRA, the EXPLORE Act would:

Improve access to public lands and waters for outdoor recreation.
Modernize technology to improve visitor experiences, like increasing broadband connectivity and creating digital recreation passes.
Streamline the permitting process and reduce fees for small businesses that depend on public land access.
Protect rock climbing in iconic places and create new long-distance bike trails.
Restore campgrounds and modernize infrastructure.
Support gateway communities by addressing housing shortages and outdated infrastructure.
Improve accessibility for military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities and children.
The EXPLORE Act is supported by more than 100 outdoor organizations, including several Arkansas based organizations who advocate for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, recreational boating, rock climbing, and more.