Since June 13, 2022, park staff have engaged over 1,000 business owners, park partners, commercial operators and residents in surrounding gateway communities to determine how to manage summer visitation while the north loop remains closed due to flood damage. To balance the demand for visitor access, park resource protection, and economic interests of the communities, the Alternating License Plate System was suggested by gateway communities as an interim solution during major public engagement with the park. Park managers and partners have agreed the ALPS system is the best interim solution to ensure the south loop does not become overwhelmed by visitors. In case the ALPS system does not work as planned, the National Park Service is concurrently building a new reservation system that will be ready for implementation.