TO follow up on above - the saving money part. We lived on Cape Cod for years, and camped in Nickerson State Park often (415 sites). Cost $18 a night, no HU, but water and showers and dump ... Great Park, worth every nickel. Packed from April-Nov - closed winter. Generates over $1.5 million a year revenue.
We'd go in, sign up at the desk, get a site, pay - and camp. Three rangers worked in the office, taking walk-ins and phone reservations. During non-busy times, one would circle the park, checking things out.
Recently, after years in-house reservations, the park changed to RA. THe RA price added $9 to the call. Now, when we go in, the same three rangers sit in the office. The phone rings, one answers and says... "Yes, we have sites open, call RA." The other two sit and chat. Occasionally, two call at the same time - so, two rangers answer and say the same thing. When you ask at the desk for a reservation, you get a finger-sized piece of paper with the RA phone number on it. The rangers all three, check in campers as they arrive, but it's never that busy except right at 3-5PM ...
SO, my point it -- we have the same three rangers, so no pension/benefits saved. And we have now a charge at RA for our reservations. That makes NO sense, and I've seen it work exactly that way in many campgrounds over the years.
The park had other rangers for park patrol (check fishing license, etc) and enforcement - and volunteers for site clean, bathhouse clean, and general work as needed.
