OREGON STATE PARKS RANT

[Oasisbob]

Here in the Willamatte valley of Oregon we have good camping weather well into fall and sometimes beyond. Oregon state parks are extremely popular in the fall with it being a challenge to find a spot. Despite data from their own web site proving this Oregon State Parks refuses to keep parks or loops open longer thus turning away revenue and camping opportunities to all. Milo Mciver campground closes October 31 yet reservation data shows high interest. Champoeg state campground closes A loop though usage is shown to be high through October. They just do not care. Very frustrating

[RedRollingRoadb]

Go north and stay in a Washington park. Problem solved.

[Oasisbob]

Milo Mciver state park is open year round. It is the camping area that closes 10/31. Look at the number of reservations leading up to that closing date. Must be %95 full. Yet they close. Anyway the point was made that the state legislature probley has to make the adjustment so I wtore them a letter.

[westernrvparkow]

Artum Snowbird wrote:
In some ways, I agree with the poster. I have driven into parks with loops closed off and driven away because of the sites left, there was none suitable for our rig.

So why not, for the absolute minimal cost, post a very clear sign saying "These sites are open, they are the same price, but there is no service, no wood fires, no bathrooms, no water, and no garbage pickup except for one central bin."

Perhaps they could leave the electricity on.

Self contained units would be able to camp, and enjoy their sites and the increased business would pay for the very minimal cost.

Because if you leave the park unattended some people will still have open fires, try to force the bathroom doors open, attempt to circumvent the fact the water is turned off and toss their trash outside their door, just like they do at home. And what rolling meth lab would love to find a park unsupervised with electricity free for the taking?
Parks close when they do for a reason. In the north it is often because there is the possibility of freezing temperatures and frozen precipitation. The freezing temperatures can cause $1000s of dollars of damage to active plumbing in a day while snow and ice are both an inconvenience to the campers and a severe safety hazard. Imagine the lawsuit if someone had a heart attack while a park was snowed in and that park didn't have emergency snow removal. Even a skeleton crew of employees cost $100s of dollars a day. RV sites for winter visitors are way down the list of things any state park system needs to spend their limited resources on.

[Artum_Snowbird]

In some ways, I agree with the poster. I have driven into parks with loops closed off and driven away because of the sites left, there was none suitable for our rig.

So why not, for the absolute minimal cost, post a very clear sign saying "These sites are open, they are the same price, but there is no service, no wood fires, no bathrooms, no water, and no garbage pickup except for one central bin."

Perhaps they could leave the electricity on.

Self contained units would be able to camp, and enjoy their sites and the increased business would pay for the very minimal cost.

[ksg5000]

I appreciate your sentiment. But I suspect Oregon is closing sections/loops of many State Parks starting around November. McIver isn't that popular and it's one of the largest Parks I have ever visited - the cost of maintaining the entire park has to be enormous - my guess is that total closure is the most cost effective thing. When I visited MM last year in Sept it was almost empty for 3 days straight.

[GordonThree]

Oasisbob wrote:
Here in the Willamatte valley of Oregon we have good camping weather well into fall and sometimes beyond. Oregon state parks are extremely popular in the fall with it being a challenge to find a spot. Despite data from their own web site proving this Oregon State Parks refuses to keep parks or loops open longer thus turning away revenue and camping opportunities to all. Milo Mciver campground closes October 31 yet reservation data shows high interest. Champoeg state campground closes A loop though usage is shown to be high through October. They just do not care. Very frustrating

Many Michigan State parks do the same.

I doubt it's as simple as turning away revenue.

Much of the park labor is contracted minimum wage grunts. They get paid for part time labor, no benefits. The contract length is controlled outside of the park. Many are students who return to school in the fall.

Extending those contracts would probably be something that had to happen system wide rather than per park.

Running the park with only the remaining full time employees means closing loops to avoid stretching human resources too thin.

That's my theory at least.

[Lwiddis]

What does your legislative representation say about the issue?

[parkmanaa]

Don't know about Oregon but in most states money is lost every day state parks are open, so states in the colder climates can't wait to close them.

[Oasisbob]

The contact links on the OSP web page are aparently not working. I just wrote a letter to mail. Makes no sense to me.

[wildtoad]

Have you contacted anyone in charge to voice you thoughts?