A dry, hot summer has sent campers flocking to camping sites this summer, according to Linn County Parks Director Brian Carroll.
Carroll said that income for FY 2002 was $176,000 a week ago, up from $158,000 during the same time period in FY 2000.
“We had a slight fee increase in 2000, so the figures are apples to apples,” Carroll said. “It’s from increased use. The reservation system has caught on. The $11 reservation fee could be accounting for some of the increase.”
About half of the county’s camp sites can be reserved, Carroll said.
“We charge the reservation fee plus the first night’s camping fee,” Carroll said. “In fact, some of the income was included in last year’s figures due to reservations made then. So, we’re up about $12,000 in just 1 1/2 months.”
Carroll said the actual number of persons using the parks isn’t counted.
“We are having to close parking at Sunnyside nearly every weekend,” Carroll said. “It wasn’t unusual before to close it during holidays but now we’re seeing it on regular weekends. As soon as someone leaves, we let another vehicle in.”
Lewis Creek day use area has also been busy, Carroll said.
Although the county charges a day use fee at Lewis Creek, Carroll said the income doesn’t make up the $30,000 per year that it costs to keep the park open. “We take in about $23,000 but that depends entirely on weather,” Carroll said. “We’d like to add more amenities such as a playground and volleyball area to Lewis Creek so it’s not so dependent on warm weather.
Carroll said there are 165 sites at Sunnyside 120 at Waterloo.
“We’ve seen usage move upward at John Neal Park this summer after the improvements we made there,” Carroll said of the 40 site campground near Mill City.
Whitcomb Creek has been full several weekends.
“We’ve had weekends where there hasn’t been a campground to be had in the county system,” Carroll said.
The Linn County Parks system has been growing at a rate of 10 per cent per year over the last five years, Carroll said.
“When I started this job five years ago, our income was $230,000 for the fiscal year,” Carroll said. “This year, that number was $380,580. We’ve had one fee increase in that time.”
If the usage continues upward, Carroll said staffing will have to increase.
“We have held the line on the number of staff but we’re maxed out,” Carroll said.
Overall, Carroll said, he’s very pleased with this camping season.
“We’ve had some people who were frustrated because the camp sites are full,” Carroll said. “But, approximately half the camp sites are still first-come, first-served. Folks are having to come out early in the week though to save a site.”
Carroll said he and his staff are taking public comments to heart as they review and revamp park rules and policies.
Over the winter, Carroll said his maintenance staff will be busy installing a new 35,000 gallon glass fused steel reservoir at Sunnyside.
They are dealing with dying trees at Waterloo Campground. Carroll said last February’s wind storm impacted the campground and its effects are still being seen.
Crews will work on irrigation and landscaping at John Neal, rebuilt shelter houses damaged by the storm and finish McDowell Creek bridge.