Post by Deleted on May 12, 2020 20:28:12 GMT -5
State campgrounds won’t open until June
ALBANY — Camping season at state-operated facilities has been pushed back till at least June 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That means thousands of people who had been planning a camping trip for the Memorial Day weekend won’t be destined for a state campground. It’s a further blow to the tourism industry in a number of upstate regions ranging from the Adirondacks and Catskills to western New York.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation, in response to a query on Thursday, added that people who have already made paid reservations can get full refunds.
“All state-operated campgrounds, cabins, pavilions, and cottages are closed to visitation through May 31,” the DEC said in a prepared statement.
“All visitors with reservations will be issued a full refund. For those with cottage reservations, there is a possibility the stay restriction will be lifted prior to June 1. New York State has suspended all new camping, cabin, and cottage reservations for the 2020 season until further notice.”
“If you’ve made a reservation for the season beginning June 1, and we determine your campground is safe to open, your reservation will be honored. However, visitors who wish to cancel an existing reservation may do so and receive a full refund.”
The month of May generally marks the start of summer camping season and many state-owned facilities were previously set to open in mid-April.
Additionally, privately owned campgrounds or RV parks across the state are opening in some counties, mostly for seasonal guests, but not in others.
News of the delayed opening comes as state officials and others have continued to voice worry about the number of people converging in parks, on hiking trails and at other attractions as the weather warms up and as people tire of being housebound amid the pandemic’s social distancing requirements.
In the popular Bear Mountain State Park in Rockland and Orange counties, a number of roads in the area are closed.
And up north in the Adirondacks, a hiker shuttle in the community of Keene has been suspended. And parking at some popular trail entrances is being limited.
Lake George Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gina Mintzer said it’s clear that the usual Memorial Day Weekend crowds won’t be in her community. She’s hoping that things can start opening up by mid-June, if the COVID-19 numbers get under control.
Other outdoor spots across the Northeast are also being temporarily closed including areas of New Hampshire’s popular Presidential Range that are controlled by the U.S. Forest Service.
Hello reader, our article commenting that you would normally see here is temporarily shut down. We still want to hear from you, so we invite you to go to our Facebook page or submit a letter to the editor.
www.uticaod.com/news/20200512/state-campgrounds-wont-open-until-june
Most likely to anger many people. I have been reading comments in other newspapers as to how States have so far handled this pandemic and many would rather that the USA acted like Sweden and not had this lock down or distancing at all. Can you imagine that............
ALBANY — Camping season at state-operated facilities has been pushed back till at least June 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That means thousands of people who had been planning a camping trip for the Memorial Day weekend won’t be destined for a state campground. It’s a further blow to the tourism industry in a number of upstate regions ranging from the Adirondacks and Catskills to western New York.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation, in response to a query on Thursday, added that people who have already made paid reservations can get full refunds.
“All state-operated campgrounds, cabins, pavilions, and cottages are closed to visitation through May 31,” the DEC said in a prepared statement.
“All visitors with reservations will be issued a full refund. For those with cottage reservations, there is a possibility the stay restriction will be lifted prior to June 1. New York State has suspended all new camping, cabin, and cottage reservations for the 2020 season until further notice.”
“If you’ve made a reservation for the season beginning June 1, and we determine your campground is safe to open, your reservation will be honored. However, visitors who wish to cancel an existing reservation may do so and receive a full refund.”
The month of May generally marks the start of summer camping season and many state-owned facilities were previously set to open in mid-April.
Additionally, privately owned campgrounds or RV parks across the state are opening in some counties, mostly for seasonal guests, but not in others.
News of the delayed opening comes as state officials and others have continued to voice worry about the number of people converging in parks, on hiking trails and at other attractions as the weather warms up and as people tire of being housebound amid the pandemic’s social distancing requirements.
In the popular Bear Mountain State Park in Rockland and Orange counties, a number of roads in the area are closed.
And up north in the Adirondacks, a hiker shuttle in the community of Keene has been suspended. And parking at some popular trail entrances is being limited.
Lake George Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gina Mintzer said it’s clear that the usual Memorial Day Weekend crowds won’t be in her community. She’s hoping that things can start opening up by mid-June, if the COVID-19 numbers get under control.
Other outdoor spots across the Northeast are also being temporarily closed including areas of New Hampshire’s popular Presidential Range that are controlled by the U.S. Forest Service.
Hello reader, our article commenting that you would normally see here is temporarily shut down. We still want to hear from you, so we invite you to go to our Facebook page or submit a letter to the editor.
www.uticaod.com/news/20200512/state-campgrounds-wont-open-until-june
Most likely to anger many people. I have been reading comments in other newspapers as to how States have so far handled this pandemic and many would rather that the USA acted like Sweden and not had this lock down or distancing at all. Can you imagine that............
