Lake Glendale Rec Area wins grant for long-needed maintenance, improvements

The Lake Glendale Recreation Area in Pope County has been selected for funding through the Great American Outdoors Act, allowing the Shawnee National Forest to do several rehabilitation projects there that have been delayed. The repairs and maintenance will be done over four years.

"Besides addressing much of the deterred maintenance needs at Lake Glendale Recreation Area, the selected projects will improve the visitor's experience and provide enhanced safety and accessibility for people with disabilities," said Chad Deaton, recreation program manager of the Shawnee National Forest.

Starting in fall 2021, the following projects are planned for over four years:

Construction of electrical lines that service Lake Glendale's picnic areas and campgrounds.

Construction of new restrooms at Duck Bay and Goose Bay picnic areas.

Restoration of the historic picnic shelters at Duck Bay and Goose Bay.

New restroom at Pine Point Picnic Area.

Construction of new shower houses at Oak Point Campground.

Construction of a new beach house.

Lake dredging

Road repaving of all roads within the recreation area.

Replacing campsite equipment (tables, fire rings, camp pads).

By addressing the deferred maintenance, Shawnee National Forest personnel believe more people will come to Lake Glendale, strengthening the site concessionaire business and fostering growth in other outdoor recreation businesses in the area, like equipment rental and guiding services.

The project will also provide economic benefits to local communities through the influx of funds used to hire contractors and purchase materials and the creation of construction jobs.

The Shawnee National Forest projects are part of the $285 million investment made possible by the newly created National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, established in 2020 by the Great American Outdoors Act. These funds will allow the USDA Forest Service to implement more than 500 infrastructure improvement projects essential to the continued use and enjoyment of national forests and grasslands.

These funds are critical in helping to reduce the Forest Service's $5.2 billion deferred maintenance backlog and is an important step in restoring what our visitors love about national forests in the Eastern Region.

For details on these projects, contact Forest Recreation Program Manager Chad Deaton, at (618) 926-6154 or chad.deaton@usda.gov.