USACE Parks Going Cashless in 2019
We have good news and we have bad news. First for the good news: You no longer need any cash to enter US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) parks on Lake Allatoona! Now for the bad news: You must use a credit card or a debit card to pay fees because USACE parks are going cashless in 2019.
A post on the Allatoona Lake USACE Facebook page, dated December 18, 2018, provided this information.
All Corps managed recreation areas will begin “cashless” operations in 2019. Cashless operations provide a more secure way to conduct financial transactions and reduce the potential for theft or loss of cash funds. Only credit and debit cards will be accepted as payment, other forms of payment such as checks will no longer be accepted.
This shouldn’t be a huge problem. I’ve been cashless since my retirement in 2012. As of January 1, 2019, so will USACE parks on Lake Allatoona and elsewhere in Georgia.
USACE Fee Station ~ Photo USACE Allatoona Facebook
The USACE says, “In campgrounds, cashless transactions … will enhance campground operations, provide quicker processing of funds, and improve security and safety of gate attendants and volunteers.”
Automated fee machines have replaced the old cash “honor vaults” at USACE day-use areas. The fee machines offer greater efficiency, improved tracking of fee collections, decreased costs of managing collections, a safer collection process, and reduced theft and break-ins/vandalism for the Army Corps of Engineers.
The fee machines will also accept payments for Corps annual passes. However, the machines do NOT dispense annual passes. You must take your receipt to an Operations Project Management Office or other recreation area that sells the pass to prove you paid for the pass. Then, you will be given the actual pass, in exchange for your receipt. No, that is not convenient. Sorry.
If you have any questions concerning the new policy change, please contact the Allatoona Lake Operations Project Management Office at 678-721-6700.