Special Park Uses
Often individuals, organizations, and businesses consider national parks appealing settings to hold events, express opinions, shoot commercials or major motion pictures, or photograph models for catalogs or kids for their school pictures. Couples choose national parks as beautiful wedding venues. Families gather to share meals and celebrate the generations. At times, the National Park Service requires permits for activities like these to make sure these activities do not cause unacceptable impacts on a park's natural and cultural resources or unduly interfere with park visitors' access and enjoyment.
A Special Park Use Permit (SUP) can be used by park management to authorize the use of park-managed lands and waters for a variety of activities and uses. Except for the sale of printed material (36 CFR 2.52), SUPs are not used to authorize commercial activities. Commercial activities require a commercial use authorization, concession contract, or lease.
Activities that require a permit
A special use or other appropriate permit is required for the following activities:
- Special events, such as a sports event, pageant, regatta, public spectator attraction, entertainment, ceremony, or similar event;
- Filming, still photography, and audio recording involving nine or more people (a permit may be required for eight or fewer people in some circumstances; See filming, still photography, and audio recording information below);
- Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft;
- Using or possessing fireworks and firecrackers;
- Audio disturbances, such as
- Operation of a public address system in connection with a public gathering or special event for which a permit has been issued; or
- Operation of any type of portable motor or engine, or device powered by a portable motor or engine in non-developed areas;
- Public assemblies, meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, parades and other public expressions of views;
- Soliciting gifts, money, goods, or services;
- Engaging in or soliciting any business;
- Sale or distribution of printed matter that is not solely commercial advertising;
- Advertisements (display, posting, or distribution);
- Memorialization, such as scattering ashes from human cremation;
- Carrying or possessing a weapon, trap, or net (excluding legal firearms);
- Specimen collection, including for research purposes (taking of plant, fish, wildlife, rocks or minerals); and
- Exceeding of established vehicle load, weight, and size limits.
Other activity types may also require a permit. To determine if your event requires a special use permit, contact the park’s special use coordinator at 479-451-8122.
Special Events
Depending on the size and complexity of the planned event, the park may require you to obtain a special park use permit. If issued, the permit will include terms and conditions that protect park resources while allowing you to enjoy the park without interfering with other park visitors.
When is a permit needed?
Because of these differences, each park sets its permit requirements. To determine if your event requires a special use permit, contact the park’s special use coordinator at 479-451-8122.
What fees will I have to pay?
Cost Recovery
Your application must be accompanied by an application fee, which reimburses the park for the time spent processing your request. If your activity is complicated, there could be additional charges to cover park costs, including payment for staff time spent monitoring your permit.
Insurance
As a condition of your permit, you may be required to present proof of liability insurance, in an amount to be set by the park.
Security Payments
As a condition of your permit, you may be required to submit either a cash payment or a surety bond in an amount set by the park to cover unpaid financial obligations and any necessary repairs or restorations.
Demonstrations
Demonstrations are defined in 36 CFR 2.51 as:
…demonstrations, picketing, speechmaking, marching, holding vigils or religious services, and all other like forms of conduct that involve the communication or expression of views or grievances, engaged in by one or more persons, the conduct of which is reasonably likely to attract a crowd or onlookers. This term does not include casual park use by visitors or tourists that is not reasonably likely to attract a crowd or onlookers.
When is a permit needed?
Individuals or groups planning to hold a demonstration are encouraged to contact the park in advance to discuss the proposed activity.
The NPS may reasonably regulate certain aspects of First Amendment activities, such as the time when, the place where, and how the activity is conducted.
Pea Ridge National Military Park has designated areas for demonstrations. Groups of 25 people or fewer may use these areas without a permit as long as they are not using stages, platforms, structures, or sound systems. These areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis, however, small groups may want to obtain a permit to ensure they have use of the area. Groups over 25 people and groups using stages, platforms, structures, or sound systems need to apply for a permit for a designated area.
- Visitor Center: lawn beginning at the western edge of the building, between the sidewalk and paved administrative road.
- East Overlook: grass island
- Elkhorn Tavern: from the eastern most parking stall on the south side of parking lot and continuing east; area containing sidewalk and grass island.
What fees will I have to pay?
The National Park Service will not impose requirements for cost recovery, insurance, bonding, and conditions requiring financial expenditure for First Amendment activities.
Special Park Uses Permit Application Procedures
Special use permit application.
Requests for a permit application may be made by contacting the permits office at 479-451-8122 ext. 1221. A completed application and the non-refundable $75.00 application fee are required before an application can be processed. The information on the application will be used by NPS staff to evaluate the impact of the proposed activity on park resources and visitors.
Please allow sufficient time to process your request. Early consultation with park staff will help them process the submitted application promptly. If your proposed activity is unusual or complex, please request a meeting with park permitting staff.
Research Permits
The Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS) is the web-based application for administering research permits and associated reports for in-park studies of natural resources or members of the public. You must use this system if you propose a study in the natural sciences (biology, geology, physics, etc.) or social sciences (visitor surveys, education research, etc.).
For a comprehensive overview of research permitting within National Park Service units, please visit the RPRS User Manual website.
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