DES MOINES – Iowa State Parks are swelling to capacity as campers and picnickers gather to celebrate Independence Day with friends and family. With July 4 falling on a Friday, campgrounds are expected to be busy all week leading up to the holiday.
The campsite reservation system has been a popular choice for many campers. A few electrical sites are still available for reservation at Pilot Knob and Lake Wapello state parks. Campers are reminded that Lake Wapello remains drained this summer and fall for emergency repairs to the dam.
A number of parks still have the handicap accessible electrical site available. For first come, first serve electrical sites, campers looking for a site should contact Nine Eagles, Red Hawk or Waubonsie state parks for site availability. More parks have non-electric sites available through the reservation system and by first come, first serve.
“The first come, first serve electric sites at most parks probably filled by last weekend,” said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources state parks bureau. “If someone wants a campsite, they would be wise to call the park to check availability.”
With the parks swelling to near capacity, campers should plan ahead and bring plenty of ice, bug spray and sun screen. “Our campgrounds will be busy so people need to really be aware of their noise level and to be courteous to their neighbors,” Szcodronski said. “Leave the fireworks at home. There are a number of fireworks shows across the state for campers to enjoy without having to deal with an amateur in the campground.”
The DNR is also encouraging campers to get their firewood from local sources so to not unintentionally transport any tree diseases or invasive species from one location to another. Szcodronski said parks staff will also be discouraging campers from burning anything in a fire ring other than wood, and that includes scrap lumber.
“You would not believe the things that are burnt in the fire ring. Our staff finds all kinds of trash, melted plastic, plywood scraps, empty cans, lawn chairs, and old pieces of metal. Burning that stuff releases pollutants into the air and leaves debris in the fire ring. So we are going to visit with campers about why we only want firewood used in the rings,” he said.
The DNR will be fully staffed at the state parks during the extended holiday weekend. “Family gatherings over a holiday weekend at a state park are how memories are made, and we are happy to help with the enjoyment,” Szcodronski said.
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Iowa Outdoors
http://www.iowaoutdoors.org/article.php/20080701124829100