COE parks

[turtle58]

We stay at Hernando point COE often. The camp ground is not being kept up, grass 10 to 12 in. tall, have to bring mower from home every time we stay. Is this the way other COE campgrounds are being kept up or is it just this one?

[Dog_Folks]

rwynkoop wrote:
I was at 5he same campground as the OP in the spring. No one was ever in the office by the showers and restrooms, also the grass was uncut in this area.

It would also help a lot if you would report the conditions to the nearest district office of the COE. For whatever reason, the ranger is not reporting it either.

[rwynkoop]

I was at 5he same campground as the OP in the spring. No one was ever in the office by the showers and restrooms, also the grass was uncut in this area.

[bukhrn]

I have nothing but the utmost admiration for the COE CG's, the are some of the best in the country.
The one I referenced with the un-mowed grass, also had a volunteer that didn't enforce the rules, ie dog rules, rule says dogs must be on a leash not longer than 6 ft., which mine was, I watched however as one fellow had his on a 20 ft leash, & watched the volunteer walk by a gentleman with his not on a leash at all, & never said a word to him.
Teenagers were swimming in no swimming areas as he walked by also.
Even with the problems I cited, this CG was still a great place, just not well maintained.
I know about contractors, I was one for the fed govt, if I didn't do my job, or didn't do it correctly, the person in charge of the site
filled out a form stating that it wasn't done right, and forwarded it up the chain.
I think the volunteer should be reporting to the Ranger that the grass hasn't been cut.
I do know that due to budget cuts, many agencies have gone to cutting the grass every two weeks.

[RRinNFla]

A COE campground we stated in recently had this solution.
We were told when we checked in that the gates would be closed, but not locked. I guess the theory is that someone just driving in would see the closed gates and assume they were locked.

[Dog_Folks]

William Calvert wrote:
Me, I'm not fussing bout anything. In fact the yellow flowers at East Fork, Lake Lavon were beautiful last week. It would have been a shame to mow 'em down. Just saying---coded swing entrances would be a nice improvement to consider. And I understand budget and who is responsible.

Believe it or not I also enjoy coded gate entrances. Campers, including my self can come and go as they please.

A gate closure time kinda places a "curfew" on you, although it can be opened in an emergency.

Unless the budgets are increasing a lot, I just don't see it happening. It is a shame.

[William_Calvert]

Me, I'm not fussing bout anything. In fact the yellow flowers at East Fork, Lake Lavon were beautiful last week. It would have been a shame to mow 'em down. Just saying---coded swing entrances would be a nice improvement to consider. And I understand budget and who is responsible.

[monkey44]

We've stayed at a lot of COE parks, never seen one that was not great, and clean and grass mowed. We look for COE first, before others if one is around.

As a thought? We wouldn't much care much if the grass was mowed, as long as the CG is OPEN.

[Dog_Folks]

William Calvert wrote:
We do appreciate COE parks. Most are handy and easy access, however, late night, (after ten pm in most)presents a problem. Gates are locked and it's walk in, unless you leave bikes at gate. Cedar Breaks at Georgetown has code entry. Why would it not be easy for all COE campgrounds to install code entry????
Who would we start a campaign with? Anyone else with this concern?

Yes it would be easy, but very expensive. No disrespct meant but which do you want? Grass mowed, sites and restrooms clean or gates redone for code entry? Budgets have been severely cut. I don't want this to get political and removed, but guess who?

Some COE parks do not close or lock their gates at night.

I have been privy to some budgets at the park I am in. Income for the year? About $280,000.00 The light bill? $250,000.00 A slim $30,00 is left for everything else.

[katfish]

bukhrn wrote:

turtle58 wrote:
We stay at Hernando point COE often. The camp ground is not being kept up, grass 10 to 12 in. tall, have to bring mower from home every time we stay. Is this the way other COE campgrounds are being kept up or is it just this one?

Have only seen one, not quite that bad, but grass was 6-8 in tall, obviously hadn't been mowed in a couple weeks, I think it has a lot to do with the volunteer hosts.

Wow u guys sure owe the volunteers a apology. If it were not for them there would be quiet a few of the COE parks closed... All the one I have dealt with have been outstanding . If u want to complain call the Rangers and ask them why the grass is not cut, u are paying for the space, if they do not give u the answer u want call or write ur congress person... You will get some action then.. Some of u guys really need to tell the Volunteers a big thank you instead of throwing rocks an guessing...
In most of the COE camp grounds the grass is contracted out.

[Ultralife]

DogFolks is correct...the Corp contracts maintenance!

[garmp]

We just returned from a 2 plus week jaunt and most of our nights were spent in COE parks. All were terrific as always. Did notice what I thought were a lot more volunteers, and were even solicited a few times to volunteer for a summer or so. As much as we love our B, it would be tough to live out of for 3 months or so. Corp parks always had a high consistency for cleanliness and over all up keep. You always know what to expect.

[William_Calvert]

We do appreciate COE parks. Most are handy and easy access, however, late night, (after ten pm in most)presents a problem. Gates are locked and it's walk in, unless you leave bikes at gate. Cedar Breaks at Georgetown has code entry. Why would it not be easy for all COE campgrounds to install code entry????
Who would we start a campaign with? Anyone else with this concern?

[dewey02]

JCGibson wrote:

Trlrboy wrote:
We go to COE parks regularly and haven't seen anything like this.

I second this. We also go to COE campgrounds often and they are usually the best kept of any campground.

My experience as well. COE campgrounds have always been impeccably maintained. I don't know about this year, because we've not been to one yet. But over the past several years, they always seem better kept than many USFS or State Park CGs.

[Dog_Folks]

bukhrn wrote:

turtle58 wrote:
We stay at Hernando point COE often. The camp ground is not being kept up, grass 10 to 12 in. tall, have to bring mower from home every time we stay. Is this the way other COE campgrounds are being kept up or is it just this one?

Have only seen one, not quite that bad, but grass was 6-8 in tall, obviously hadn't been mowed in a couple weeks, I think it has a lot to do with the volunteer hosts.

As a COE volunteer host, I must protest. Most, but not all COE campgrounds, have outside contractors for mowing, site cleaning and bathroom cleaning. The hosts have nothing to do with it.

It could very well be a budget thing, since the DOD budget was deeply cut.

Of course, there are exceptions.