WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Park Service says a popular kayak-rental business in Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood has been operating on a month-to-month lease that hasn’t changed since 1982.

Park Service spokeswoman Carol Johnson says the lease for Jack’s Boathouse is also not in the name of the current owner. She says the park service wants to bring the business in line with other facilities in national parks around the country.

Johnson’s comments were the first public statements from the park service since it sent boathouse owner Paul Simkin an eviction letter. The park service put those plans on hold after getting hundreds of emails. Jack’s Boathouse has been open since 1945.

The park service still plans to solicit bids for a new concession contract to operate a boathouse in the space.

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