Jefferson County parks have another record year

Jefferson County Park?s cabins were filled 207 out of 370 available slots this past summer ? weekend occupancy was 71 percent.

?We turn a lot of people away on the weekends,? Jefferson County Conservation Director Dennis Lewiston told the board of supervisors during his annual report Monday. ?We have two cabins. We could probably have two more.?

If the park were to add cabins, Lewiston said they would likely be built on the 40 acres of land acquired immediately east of the park in the last several years. The land, referred to as the Holmes property, opens several possibilities to the conservation board.

At the last conservation board meeting, board member Cory Klehm suggested the property fronting Key Boulevard might be ideal for winter cabins. A lot of people like the country, but don?t like to be that far from town, he said.

Completion of a master plan for the Holmes addition is one project planned for this fiscal year.

In the meantime, the property has given the park access to a new 4-inch water main from Key Boulevard, eliminating the park?s water pressure problems. Lewiston said the 2-inch line that had been the park?s sole water supply was nowhere near adequate.

Lewiston reported the third phase of renovations at the campground has just been completed. The camping pads have been re-graded and re-rocked and equipped with 50 amp electrical service.

?The campers that come in now are huge, and some require that extra amperage,? he said.

The renovations were funded primarily with campground revenue.

This year, Jefferson County Park?s campground brought in $27,154. Though the campground had fewer campers than last year, a $3 increase in rates resulted in increased revenue ? up from last year?s $24,096.

The park hosted campers from 32 states, plus Washington, D.C., and France.

?I think the bypass has a lot to do with that,? Lewiston said, also noting 49 percent of the campers were from Jefferson County.

The park also made $342 on the sale of firewood, though Lewiston said the wood was offered primarily as a service ? not to generate income.

Shelter reservations at the park totaled 138, bringing in $2,705, and cabin rentals brought in $11,460. Lewiston said the $11,460 includes $3,000 in rent for an efficiency apartment made available to interns.

The park?s naturalist Therese Cummiskey hosted 191 groups during the last fiscal year ? up from 164 the prior fiscal year ? or approximately 4,861 individuals. The majority of programs were targeted at youth.

?She touches a lot of young lives during the year,? Lewiston said.

Campground revenue from Mac Coon Access increased from $1,277 last year to $4,068 this year.

?We just continue to have record-breaking years,? Lewiston said. ?We like to see the usage.?

Flooding at Mac Coon Access, however, required the installation of new electrical breakers. Also, the roads were re-rocked, and the camp area was re-seeded twice.

?From the Fourth of July on this year, it was dry,? Lewiston said.

Campground revenue from Round Prairie Park was down this year ? $2,383 from $2,600. However, the sum still remains high in comparison to the park?s history ? revenue didn?t top $1,000 until 2006.

?The more usage we have out there, the less problems out there,? Lewiston said.

Access Energy has offered to renovate Round Prairie Park?s electrical hookups at no cost to the conservation board. Lewiston expects work to begin this spring.

?[Access Energy] said they do this to put money back into the community,? Lewiston said.

This year marked the first time an outside contractor was hired to mow Round Prairie Park. Lewiston said the move freed up his staff?s time and equipment, which was essential now that the conservation board has taken over management of the Cedar View Trail. Lewiston said mowing will likely be contracted out again next summer.

The conservation board has applied for a $25,000 grant through the Department of Natural Resources to rehabilitate the fish habitat in the pond at Whitham Woods. Lewiston said the grant is funded by revenue from fishing licenses, and given the area?s popularity, the board felt it would be money well spent.

The project will involve draining and cleaning out the pond and restructuring the dam. Lewiston hopes to complete it in the next couple years.

The conservation board also has applied for a $120,000 state transportation enhancement grant through the Department of Transportation to plant trees along 6 miles of the Fairfield Loop Trail under the county?s management.

Lewiston explained a contractor will plant and maintain the trees for two years. He anticipates limited availability of STE funding in the future, but said money is available now.