New York plans park expansions--but what about RVers?

Cash-strapped New York State says it may have found the ticket to supporting its parks: Expand camping opportunities. In what one politician labels the idea, it's "actually a money-generating, self-sustaining project." But how will park camping expansion plans really play out for the RV community?

In a story carried by New York State's Saratogian, the expansion plans look to benefit tent campers and folks who'd rather rent a cabin than bring in a recreational vehicle. "Across the state, cabins are becoming a huge draw,' said Heather Mabee, chair of the Saratoga/Capital District Region Parks Commission, which met Thursday at Saratoga Spa State Park. "People love not having to set up a tent." Mabee's quote is drawn from the Saratogian.

In the Saratoga Springs area, that's significant as in the entire park region, only three cabins make up the state's available arsenal of rental units. Plans would bring 15 more cabins and 80 tent sites. Why such emphasis? It's dollars and cents. A "cottage" in the park will fetch $1,000 on a high demand week, while a tent site on the same week, a meager $130.

Still, any move to expanding cabins or tent sites comes with drop of the other shoe: Where do you get the money for the capital investment? It's possible a private contractor would build, get a portion of the rental proceeds until its investment is recouped. Or like stadiums around this great land, a company could contribute cash for cabin construction and see its name affixed to the construct.

With high fuel prices, the state is banking on the "staycation" concept, where folks don't come from huge distances, rather locals would set up camp in state parks and enjoy the great outdoors--not far from home. Perhaps this is why there seems to be so little discussion (or should we say no discussion) of creating more RV sites in New York Parks. From personal experience, this reporter can tell you that the Empire State is one of the least RV-friendly states in the Union. Perhaps a little attention to RVers could result in a bit of a financial up-tick in terms of tourist dollars.

Group may resurrect death-state Connecticut park

Back in 2008 Connecticut's state parks managing agency bought up an ailing RV resort in East Haddam in the 'Catskills of Connecticut.' Redubbing the property Sunrise State Park, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been sitting on the new/old park ever since. Now comes a non-profit group that says it can bring back the park's glory days if allowed to open a campground and cultural arts center on the site.

The non-profit Sunrise Foundation, Inc., says it can bring $500,000 to start the project if the state approves their proposal. Their plans include initially reopening 100 sites, then expanding after opening--projected into summer of 2013.

The cultural arts center part of the equation would be a center open to the public, schools, and other non-profit groups, with a focus on allowing full access to people with disabilities. Members of the group's officers already work with or operate non-profit organizations catering to the needs of the disabled.

The Sunrise Foundation looks to fill a tall order. In published statements, the state's DEEP says it wants any developer, "to create a high quality redevelopment which ensures public access, recreation, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity for the town of East Haddam and the state. For Sunrise State Park to truly succeed as a destination location, the property must be thoughtfully planned, redeveloped, managed and operated. The selected developer will bear all responsibility for financing, permitting, design, demolition, construction, reconstruction, management and operation of the Sunrise Resort property in return for a long term ground lease with the DEEP, who will maintain ownership over the property."

The resort has a history stretching back nearly a century. Henry Engle started out what he called Elm Camp in 1916 when he brought electric lights, telephone, and running water to the property. In the 1980's ownership changed over to the Robert Johnson family who operated it until 2008. A year later the state purchased the property for $3.2 million. The property has lain fallow ever since.

photo: eckonon on flickr.com