Hours reduced at park

GARFIELD — The public should be prepared for reduced hours and services provided by Pea Ridge National Military Park due to the sequestration.

“We want to inform the public of these potential impacts,” superintendent John Scott said.

“The sequestration has forced us to make some tough decisions that will impact visitors to Pea Ridge,” Scott said. “People will have fewer opportunities than in the past and park resources will suffer.”

Beginning March 17, 2013, the park will be open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday only. The park will be closed every Sunday and on all federal holidays and the park’s Visitor Center will be closed on Mondays.

Besides the reduction in hours, ranger led and living history programs will be eliminated and park trails will receive limited or no maintenance.

“Because of the lack of trail maintenance, which will lead to unsafe conditions, we will be forced to close our trails at some point as well,” Scott said. The five percent budget cut will also lead to a reduction in invasive plant control, maintenance of historic fences and buildings, natural resource monitoring, and programs that restore the battlefield to its 1862 appearance.

For information regarding this, phone 451-8122 during business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pea Ridge National Military Park preserves the site of and commemorates the March 1862 Civil War battle that helped Union forces gain control of Missouri. The park is located six miles east of Pea Ridge on U.S. Highway 62. Admission is $5 per person or $10 per vehicle.