OutdoorsVT 4-17-09

Vt. State Parks propose increase in camping

Fido is going to have to pay more to camp in Vermont State Parks in 2009.

It’s going to be more expensive to camp in a Vermont State Park this year if a fee increase goes through as proposed by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

State Parks Director Craig Whipple says the fee increases are an effort on the part of the State Parks to keep up with the cost of doing business because the costs to run the parks increase $200,000 to $300,000 every year due to inflation.

The fee increase proposal is set to go into effect June 1. While the increased costs are only some of the proposed changes, camping fee increases will be among the most noticeable changes for visitors to state parks.

With the exception of remote areas, the department is proposing to eliminate $14 sites and add a $2 fee for nonresidents — two of the changes people will notice.

The new camping fees will be $16 for residents for a standard tent or trailer site, and $18 for prime sites.

A lean-to site will go for $23, with prime lean-to locations priced at $25.

Those prices are for up to four people per site. The additional-person charge will be increased by $1 to $5 per person.

Nonresidents will pay $2 more per night for all camping sites.

The designation of a “resident” follows the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s definition as a person living in Vermont with no other residences for at least six months.

Fee increases will even affect your pooch, which will be charged $1 per night.

There are other changes, but those are the highlights.

There will be detractors who claim the proposed increase is just another example of government excess. Some will go as far as to call it a tax increase.

But growing costs are a fact of life and Vermont’s State Parks are still a bargain.

Consider day-use fees. My family of four, with one kid too young to be assessed an entry fee, pays $8 for the day.

Try going to a movie — even a matinee — for that.

A night of camping will go up, but a night with the family is priceless. There is little better than cooking hot dogs over a fire and roasting marshmallows with your kids. We’ll be doing that this summer and a couple of dollars won’t dissuade us from that little adventure.

Whipple says the proposal to increase the fees is part of the State Parks’ philosophy of supporting the parks system to the point that is feasible and reasonable.

He said that charging fees is a simple reality in order to sustain the parks’ operation, but fees should not become a deterrent for people.

“Our fiscal approach here is to balance all those things and not set fees too high, but not to apply any more pressure than necessary on the general fund. Our effort is to make the park system as self sufficient as possible without the comprising our purpose.”

In 2007, the day-use fees were adjusted slightly, but Whipple says it has been a while since camping fees had been adjusted.

Whipple said day use has been declining at state parks but he doesn’t expect this round of fee increases, if enacted, will deter people.

“It’s an educated guess, you never know for sure,” Whipple said. “In the past there have been some larger incremental increases and it’s shown a modest decline in usage. It shows you’ve gone too far too fast.”

But today’s economy has people looking for cheaper, closer-to-home recreation options.

“Camping is still a relatively inexpensive camping option,” Whipple said. “People are looking for ways to spend their down time and leisure time. We’re hoping people stay close to home and use their state parks.”

That seems to be happening, he said.

About 45 percent of State Parks visitors are Vermonters and reservations are up about 5 percent this year, Whipple said.

With the fee increase, Vermont will still be competitive with nearby states, Whipple said.

“We did as close a comparison as we could for 11 northeastern states,” he said. “We’re about in the middle any way you work it.”

Let’s face it. Camping remains one of the most affordable ways for a family to spend time in the great outdoors. A small fee increase won’t keep most people home or prevent a family from going camping.

This increase deserves our support.

But whether you agree, you have an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes.

A public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, April 27, at the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation Conference Room in Waterbury.

Written comments can be mailed to Craig Whipple, Director of State Parks, 103 S. Main St., 10 South, Waterbury, Vt., 05671. Comments can also be e-mail to craig.whipple@state.vt.us.

Details of all proposed changes can be found on the State Parks’ Web site at www.vtstateparks.com, scroll down and click on Fee Increases.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.DarrenMarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.