Cummins Falls State Park asking the public to weigh in Tuesday on a new 10-year management plan that addresses accessibility, trails and the long-term needs of the park.
Park Manager Ray Cutcher said officials have already updated the strategic management plan. Officials want residents and visitors to review the priorities and identify concerns or needs they believe should receive additional attention.
“There are a lot of people who have mobility issues who can’t get to the water at all right now,” Cutcher said. “And so I would like to see some access for those folks to be able to get to the water at some point.”
Cutcher said the plan also addresses maintaining existing facilities, potential additional trails, staffing and other access issues. He said officials do not anticipate major changes to the park.
Cutcher said the park has already completed projects designed to make portions of Cummins Falls accessible to more visitors. Cutcher said a recently constructed observation deck improved the view from the overlook, while a new route from the visitor center allows visitors using an all-terrain wheelchair to reach the area.
Cutcher said the work required the park to reroute an existing trail, ultimately making the path easier for other visitors who struggled with hills along the previous route.
Cutcher said managing increased visitation while preserving the park experience also remains part of the challenge. Cutcher said Cummins Falls implemented its permit system in 2020 after crowding began affecting visitors and contributing to accidents.
Cutcher said public involvement provides park employees with another perspective as they determine how Cummins Falls should develop over the next decade.
“The park is here to serve the community and we want to be a very active important part of the community,” Cutcher said. “So I think the only way to do that is to have community engagement, you know, have people come out to the park and listening to their thoughts and concerns and approaching it from that direction.”
Cutcher said the park has held public meetings during previous long-term planning processes and believes earlier plans generally reflected the priorities residents shared with park officials.
The Cummins Falls State Park public meeting begins Tuesday at 5:30pm at the park’s visitor center. Cutcher said attendees can review the updated plan, ask questions and provide comments. A formal comment period will follow the meeting for those who want to submit feedback later.