Despite an ongoing pandemic for the majority of 2020, local area state parks saw an increase in traffic and rentals.
State Park Manager Todd Lovin says 2020 saw the highest revenue and visitation numbers for state parks across the entire country. Lovin attributes the increase to the outdoor activities being an outlet for people while still social distancing.
“The number of people we saw with registering boats and buying new campers was just crazy good this year. We expect that to continue since they bought all new equipment,” says Lovin.
Lovin says this year provided an opportunity for people to get back to going outdoors and expects this influx to be a new normal. All of the utility campsites were busy or full every weekend from April to October.
To help make sure people continue to come back, Lovin says they are working on some renovation projects. The lagoon system is being overhauled, campsites are being repaired in river pond, and adding campsites to Fancy Creek.
“We’ve been in that process anyway and in a park if you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind,” says Lovin.
Tuttle Creek State Park also has plenty of activities planned for the month of January including National Hiking Day and the Army Corps of Engineers’ Eagle Day.
