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"WELCOME" SIGN IS OUT AT OHIO'S 57 STATE PARK FAMILY CAMPGROUNDS Improvements at West Branch, East Fork, Portage Lakes and Pymatuning
await visitors COLUMBUS, OH -- With the Memorial Day weekend just days away, Ohio
State Parks' family campgrounds are open and ready to greet campers,
according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
"The Memorial Day weekend signals the kickoff of Ohio's recreational
season and is traditionally the most popular camping holiday of the year,"
said Dan West, Ohio State Parks chief. "During 2002, more than 2.7 million
campers enjoyed the advantages of camping in an Ohio State Park."
Campers at West Branch State Park in Portage County will enjoy a
variety of new amenities, now that the first phase of a $2.6 million
renovation project is completed. Half of the park's 103 formerly primitive
campsites now have electric service. In addition, there are two new shower
houses (including one heated shower house) with flush toilets to serve all
the existing campsites. New drinking fountains were installed throughout the
campground, and a new dual sanitary dump station was constructed to serve
trailer campers. The campground will close August 1 for a road improvement
project, but will reopen next spring in time for the 2004 camping season.
All major electric lines to the 414-site campground at East Fork
State Park in Clermont County were replaced this year, creating improved
service for campers with electric hook-ups. Three of the campground's shower
houses have also undergone renovations this year.
Up to 100 people can picnic in a soon-to-be-completed shelter house
at Portage Lakes State Park in Summit County. The shelter house and
adjoining parking lot are located on the 55-acre Knapp Recreation Area,
adjacent to Cottage Grove Lake, off Cottage Grove Road.
Eighteen full-service campsites were developed at Pymatuning State
Park in Ashtabula County last year as part of a project to improve the
park's wastewater treatment system. The sites provide sewer and water
hookups as well as 50-amp electrical service.
Ohio State Parks offers more than 9,000 campsites in 57 family
campgrounds. Amenities run the gamut from fully-developed sites with
electrical hookups, showers and camp stores to primitive walk-in areas.
Campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis. But finding a
campground with vacancies is as easy as visiting the ODNR web site at
ohiodnr.com any weekday or by calling toll-free 1-800-BUCKEYE. Campsite
availability information will be updated on the web every day, Monday
through Friday.
Source: ODNR
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