Environment DEC
From the June 2009 issue
DEC Revises Campground Closure Plan
Poplar Point campground in the Adirondacks will close in order to keep Point Comfort campground open for a shortened season.
Working in collaboration with local governments, DEC has revised its original plan for closing six campgrounds for the 2009 season. Under the new plan, DEC will operate four of the six campgrounds for shortened seasons, from June 26 through Labor Day. In one case, Poplar Point campground will now close in order to keep Point Comfort, originally scheduled for closure, open for a shortened season. Both are in the Piseco Lake area. Poplar Point is the seventh campground affected by the austerity measure. DEC will allow use of hiking trails, horse trails and climbing routes at the campgrounds that remain closed.
Lessens Impact of Tough Choices
"New York is facing tough economic times and closing campgrounds was not an easy choice. With the help of local officials, DEC has devised a way to soften the impact," Commissioner Grannis said. "Each of the targeted facilities historically suffered from low occupancy over the course of a full season. By shortening the season, we can open the campgrounds during traditional peak occupancy periods. This plan will help local tourism and provide opportunities for affordable getaways while still reducing our annual operating costs."
DEC will work closely with Reserve America, the state's camping reservation service contractor, to contact visitors whose reservations were previously cancelled, to offer them their original reservations and to re-open the camping site inventory to them before it is made available to the general public. DEC will cover the cost of the reservation fees to lessen the impact to the visitors that will be affected.
More Information
DEC is responsible for managing 52 campgrounds and seven day-use areas in New York's Adirondack and Catskill parks. The revisions for the 2009 season are listed in the complete press release from which this story was excerpted.
