Park's recover may take longer than thought

Local News

Discussion

March 18, 2010

Staff Writer CNHI The Meadville Tribune Thu Mar 18, 2010, 12:13 AM EDT

JAMESTOWN —

JAMESTOWN — It may take Pymatuning State Park longer than expected to recover from budget cuts that have forced the closure of the park’s 198-site Tuttle Point campground, along with its beach and boat launch.

That was the bad news at Wednesday’s public meeting at the park. The good news is that other facilities are being improved and there are no service fee increases this year.

The decision to shut down the Tuttle facilities came earlier this year when the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources and Bureau of State Parks announced budget cuts. Pymatuning’s 2009-10 budget was trimmed by $219,000.

“Our intention is for the Tuttle closure to be a one-year deal,” Houghton said. “But if I could be up front and forward, the economy doesn’t look like it’s turning around. If the economy and tax revenues don’t come around then I see next year being a real potential also.”

Tuttle was chosen because of its high cost of operation and maintenance. One of the issues is the fact that the campground is not connected to a public water system. It runs on its own.

It’s also proved less than overwhelmingly popular. Campsite occupancy was less than 18 percent in 2009.

“Our intake with Tuttle last year was around $77,000 but the cost for upkeep was close to $170,000,” Houghton said. “So the question comes in there of, ‘What is it? Is it a service?’ We are tax-supported. That’s what the issue with Tuttle was. We hope that’s not long-term.”

More than 400 campsites remain open at the park’s Linesville and Jamestown campgrounds and the Manning and Wilson boat launches have been upgraded in the immediate area in an effort to address the closure of the launch at Tuttle.

With a fewer campsites available, reservations can be made in advance but are not required. Houghton did, however, suggest making a reservation for a holiday weekend. He also mentioned the cost is less to reserve a space on the internet at dcnr.state.pa.us.

Houghton said the feedback on Tuttle’s closing for 2010 was originally “nasty” but has since leveled off.

“The e-mails we have been getting lately have shown people are very, very disappointed but they understand,” he said. “State parks aren’t exempt from the economy. Our budget was cut around $219,000. Last year we were cut and now we were cut again this year.”

One of the subjects discussed by the Bureau of State Parks was the impact on the local surrounding economy.

“Espyville was one of the subjects we talked about,” Houghton said. “We realize the potential impact on Espyville. We also improved the launch ramp at Espyville.”

Those who had already booked Tuttle campsites have been sent correspondence and recommendations for other locations to camp. Also, electricity hook-ups and pet-friendly campsites are currently being added to the other campgrounds.

Getting Tuttle back up and running more efficiently is already in the works.

“We’re putting a plan together with the Bureau of State Parks about what we can do with Tuttle in the future,” Houghton said. “Obviously we will get project money allocated for the future. We have to show where we are not going to lose money.”

This year was also the first in the past four where there were no rate raises on any services in the park. There is a possibility that will change in the future to help fund Tuttle’s reopening.

Four members of the public in attended the meeting, two from Westford and two from Espyville.

T.J. Turrisi can be reached at 724-6370, ext. 276 or by e-mail at tjturrisi@meadvilletribune.com.

Text Only

Local News

If Conneaut Lake was home for your ‘love story,’ tell it on Monday
Nancy Aubel remembers the summers she spent at Conneaut Lake in the 1940s and ’50s as if they were yesterday.

February 14, 2012
‘Thug behavior’ lands man in jail; bail $200,000
A Meadville man is in Crawford County jail in lieu of $200,000 bail following a dual arraignment on Pennsylvania State Police and Meadville City Police charges stemming from a string of events that began Sunday between 3 and 4 p.m. in West Mead Township and ended several hours later in Meadville.

February 14, 2012
Community agencies planning Children's Fair for April
As Crawford County child abuse numbers rank among the most disturbing in the state, officials of local courts and agencies are busy finding ways to increase public awareness of child abuse and its prevention.

February 13, 2012
Ice would be nice for upcoming fishing tournaments
The 2012 Conneaut Lake Ice Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 25, but organizer Jerry Van Tassel isn’t holding his breath when it comes to running the event as planned.

February 13, 2012 1 Photo
Budget, aesthetics a balancing act at Armory
The next time there’s a moment or two to spare for quiet contemplation, pause in the vicinity of the City of Meadville’s picturesque Diamond Park. Let your eyes rest on Parkside Commons, the meticulously refurbished structure at the northeast end of the park that was once known as “the old junior high.” Make a point of focusing on the windows.

February 12, 2012
Former rockers Drywater enjoying glow from album's rebirth
It’s funny how perceptions can differ from one person to the next; how what sparkles in one set of eyes can appear tarnished in another.

February 11, 2012
Edinboro site eyed for retirement homes
About two years after halting expansion plans into the Conneaut Lake area, Meadville-based Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community now is looking to expand north into Erie County, possibly sometime in 2013.

February 10, 2012
Langley voted in as Meadville City Council's new member
“Pleased” is the word that best describes Bob Langley’s response to the news that he had been selected to fill Meadville City Council’s vacant seat.

February 10, 2012
French Creek conservation group to benefit from environmentalist's talk
When one of the world’s best known environmentalists, the author and activist Bill McKibben, speaks next week at Allegheny College, his audience will likely be putting some money where its heart is — right into French Creek.

February 10, 2012
Vernon Police chief suspects 'human interaction' in Sunday fire
An investigation is continuing into a weekend fire that destroyed a historic structure in Vernon Township, and Vernon police are urging anyone with information to give them a call.

February 10, 2012
More Local News Headlines

A clean-energy plan to use solar energy in eastern Pennsylvania has been met with resistance, even by environmental groups. Do you think solar energy has a future as a valuable energy source in Pennsylvania?

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Park's recover may take longer than thought

A clean-energy plan to use solar energy in eastern Pennsylvania has been met with resistance, even by environmental groups. Do you think solar energy has a future as a valuable energy source in Pennsylvania?

Site Map

Contact Us