COLUMBUS, OH - The Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of Ohio’s recreational season, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reminds visitors that Ohio’s 74 state parks remain free and open to the public.
As Governor Taft and Ohio legislators work to finalize the new state budget, alternative funding sources for Ohio State Parks have been proposed that eliminate the need to charge a parking fee at state parks this summer. ODNR welcomes this development, which ensures that Ohio will remain one of six states in the nation without a user fee for their state park visitors.
While state park managers say that the current budget proposal should provide needed funding to help maintain park operations, they are also realistic that it will be only sufficient to help maintain the parks at their current level. Despite the increase in funding for the next biennium, today’s staffing level at Ohio State Parks is still 25 percent less than five years ago.
“Our state park managers have been busy getting ready for the summer season by getting shelter houses open, making sure that trails are safe for hikers and cleaning up debris from devastating floods earlier this year,” said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks.
While Ohio’s 74 state parks are popular year-round destinations, visitation swells at the end of May and remains at peak levels until well after Labor Day and the fall color season. By year’s end, millions of Ohioans and out-of-state tourists will have been to the parks to hike, swim, camp or just get close up and personal with nature.
“Ohio State Parks offer families a very affordable vacation or a day away from home,” West said. “What’s more, access to the parks and day-use activities are free, where most other states impose an entrance fee or similar charge for basic services at their state parks.”
As a result, Ohio State Parks may be more popular than ever due to high gas prices. “We are expecting our 56 state park campgrounds to fill up quickly over the Memorial Day weekend and many of our lodges and rental cottages will be completely full,” he said.
Ohioans enjoy the third most visited state park system in the nation - only California and New York record more visits to their state parks. Ohio’s state parks attracted about 52 million visitors last year to hunt, fish, camp, hike or stay overnight in one of 500 family cottages or nine resort lodges.