Guidelines for Special Events

 

A Special Use Permit (SUP) is required for activities that take place on park property and provides a benefit to an individual, group or organization, rather than the public at large. These events require some degree of management from the National Park Service to protect park resources and the public interest.

The NPS uses SUPs to manage activities to:

• Avoid unacceptable impacts to park natural and cultural resources and park values;
• Ensure the safety of participants, visitors and staff;
• Minimize conflict between user groups.

Please contact the Special Use Permit office prior to applying at 501-620-6720 to inquire about availability. Special events may be schedule up to 1 year in advance.

Locations

The following locations are approved for special events:

• Arlington Lawn (center area) maximum of 200 participants*
• Whittington Park - maximum of 200 participants

*Parking at Alrington Lawn is very limited and will likely require the shuttling of guests.

Other locations that may be approved for use for walks or runs include**:

• Roads or trails on Hot Springs Mountain (very limited parking)
• Roads or trails on West Mountain (very limited parking)

**Additional processing is required for these locations as additional compliance may be required depending on the event and preferred location.

Insurance

A special use permit often requires general commercial liability insurance. The insurance and the permittee indemnify the park from liability, injury, or damages resulting from the actions or inaction of the permittee. General liability insurance must be carried by the permittee showing the U. S. Government as additionally insured. Certificates of Insurance must show coverage on "occurrence" basis. If required by the park, the minimum amount of commercial liability insurance is $1,000,000 per occurrence, and $2,000,000 aggregate The Park sets the insurance amount based on the activity size and local conditions. Liability insurance should be issued in the name of the group, not the applicant. The United States of America, Department of Interior will be listed as "additional-insured" or "certificate holder" on the Certificate of Liability Insurance.

Applying for a Permit

Complete the Special Use Permit application form and email it to the Hot Springs National Park Permit Office address on the application. Once your permit is received by the park you will be sent an email with instructions on how to pay the application fee. Your application will not be reviewed until the application fee is received.

Please allow enough time for evaluation by the park staff before the start date for your activity in the park. Most simple requests can be processed within 10 working days. Requests which involve complex logistics or coordination with other visitor activities will require a minimum of four weeks to process. If compliance is required for your event, processing time could be up to three months. Y

our request will be evaluated on the basis of the information in your application. Therefore, you are encouraged to provide sufficient information to assist the park staff in evaluating your request.

If your permit is approved, you will be required to sign the permit and return it to the park. Failure to return the signed permit will result in the cancellation of your event. Once your permit is approved you will also be required to pay any remaining fees. Instructions will be provided for payment of this fee.

Sharing the Park

A permit does not allow the permittee to restrict park visitors from any location. Normal visitor use patterns will not be interrupted unless specified in the approved permit. Permitted activities may not occur simultaneously with other permitted activities or unduly conflict with scheduled public activities. Visitors will be allowed to watch.

Closures

Permit activities may be restricted based on weather or seasonal conditions (fire danger, standing water after rain, nesting season, etc.). Additional closures use limits, and/or restricted activities are listed in the Superintendent's Compendium.

Prohibited Activities

Activities having the potential to damage or significantly impact or alter park resources are prohibited. The following are also prohibited:

• Altering, damaging or removing vegetation,
• Use of animals,
• Vehicle use off established roads and parking areas
• Use of insecticides, herbicides and pesticides,
• Amplified sound,
• Flowers,
• Balloons,
• Smoking in buildings or in vegetated areas,
• Use of fragile vegetation areas,
• Writing on or discoloring any natural feature or structure,
• Use of signs,
• Attaching materials to any historic structure or vegetation.

General Permit Conditions

All special use permits have a set of standard conditions as well as a set of park specific conditions. By accepting the responsibility of hosting an event under a special use permit, the permitee agrees to abide by the conditions under which the permit is being issued. Typical conditions include but are not limited to:

• Permitee shall not block access to any public area or interfere with regular visitation or operations.
• Visitor activities, such as daily tours and access to exhibits and other open areas must not be obstructed and should remain open to the public.
• The event is to be strictly controlled by the permitee.
• All infractions of Title 36 CFR or any other federal or state laws will be handled by the NPS Park Law Enforcement Rangers.
• Activities of the permitee must not create or cause any permanent or irreversible impacts to the Park or its natural or cultural resources.
• The Park is an archeological site, the placing of signs or other mechanisms into the ground is prohibited.
• The Permitee must clean up all trash and litter associated with the permitted event. Failure to adhere to this condition will result in an additional cost to the permitee for staff time and materials necessary to remove trash and litter for the permitee.
• The use of public address systems is prohibited, unless approved by superintendent.
• Professional still photography or video activities associated with the event permit do not require an additional permit.
• Failure to abide with these and/or any other special restrictions will be grounds for revocation of permit and denial of future permits.
• The approved permit must be in the applicant’s possession at the time of the event.
• Hot Spring’s National Park Law Enforcement reserve further discretion to further limit the conditions and authorized equipment when security threats
• Food service is prohibited within national park boundaries.
• Set up of one tent is authorized with the use of sandbags for stabilizers. No stakes may be used.
• The tent and platform shall not exceed 10 x 10 ft. in dimension and must disperse weight equally across the entirety of the platform area.
• Platform/tent must remain in one location for no more than 24 hours. All platform/tent should comply with applicable safety standards.
• Additional mitigation measures may be required to protect park resources as indicated by weather conditions, such as placing matting or carpeting under structures when soil is saturated.
• A small battery-operated microphone and music player may be utilized during the event with the volume authorized to project sound no louder than 80-105 dB, depending on location.
• Amplified music or the use of public address systems is prohibited, unless approved by superintendent
• Utilities will not be provided for this event.
• The release of any living thing is prohibited.
• Soil, rocks, minerals, vegetation, and wildlife may not be brought into the park.
• The use of balloons (air or helium filled) is prohibited.
• No signs or banners related to the event may be displayed within the park.
• Candles and any type of open flame are prohibited in the park.
• Nails or other materials may not be used to display signs or other items on trees or other park structures.
• Metered parking is available along the main road or free parking is located downtown in the parking garage. Parking on Bathhouse Row sidewalks, grass or curbs is prohibited.
• Parking violations will be enforced by the NPS Law Enforcement Division.
• Permission is granted to drive on walking path to unload/load band equipment only.
• Parking off road or in non-designated parking areas on Hot Springs Mountain, West Mountain Drive or West Mountain Summit is prohibited.
• Automobiles, motorcycles and other vehicles are not authorized to drive and/or park on the sidewalks of Bathhouse Row or Arlington Lawn.
• The permitted activity may not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or block entrances, sidewalks, trails or driveways.
• In effort to reduce impact to turf areas, the permitee will ensure folding chairs and music stands to do not disturb the ground in a way that would have an adverse effect on the area.

Termination of a Permit

All permits issued by the National Park Service are revocable on 24 hours’ notice or WITHOUT NOTICE if the terms of the permit are violated. Deliberate infractions of the terms of the filming permit or the deliberate making of false or misleading statements concerning intended actions in order to obtain a permit are causes for immediate termination of the permit and cause for possible prosecution. Permits will be revoked if damage to resources or facilities is threatened, of if there is a clear danger to public health or safety.

If additional information is required, please do not hesitate to contact the park at [phone].

Permits Office
Hot Springs National Park
101 Reserve St.
Hot Springs, AR 71901