(a) The State Highway Commission shall include as a part of the state highway system the most used vehicular roads located within the geographical boundaries of all existing state parks and the most used roads and highways connecting established state highways with state parks. When any new state park is created or established, the commission shall immediately include as a part of the state highway system the vehicular road within the boundaries of the new state park and the roads and highways connecting the new state park to established state highways.
(b) The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all state parks which are now or may hereafter be placed under the control and direction of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.
(c) It shall be the duty of the commission to provide for maintenance and repairs of these roads as provided for other state highways.
(d)
(1) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is authorized to construct and maintain public parking areas and parking facilities at the respective state parks.
(2) For the purposes of this subsection, parking areas and facilities constructed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation at the respective state parks shall be deemed to be a part of the state highway system.
(3) The Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism shall study the needs for public parking areas and parking facilities at the respective state parks and shall notify the Arkansas Department of Transportation thereof.
(4) The Arkansas Department of Transportation may cooperate with the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism in the construction and maintenance of such facilities.
(e)
(1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism is permitted by rule to authorize the use of motorized scooters on roads within areas under the control and management of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.
(2) As used in this section, “motorized scooter” means a two-wheeled device that:
(A) Has handlebars;
(B) Can be stood or sat upon by the operator;
(C) Is powered by an electric, gasoline, or alcohol-fueled motor capable of propelling the device with or without human propulsion;
(D) Has a top speed of twenty miles per hour (20 m.p.h.); and
(E) Does not otherwise meet the definitions of “motorcycle”, “motor-driven cycle”, or “motorized bicycle” under § 27-20-101, or the definition of an electric bicycle under § 27-51-1702.
(3) Any use authorized under this section is limited to the period between sunrise and sunset.