Featured Story

N.Y. state park campgrounds on track for record-setting year

New York State Park campgrounds are on pace to set a record for overnight stays for the second straight summer, according to a press release issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office. 

More than 562,000 overnight stays were reserved as of Aug. 17, a 5.2 percent increase from the same time in 2014, leading to the projection of a second consecutive record-breaking season. Last year ended with a total of 594,441 overnight stays.

“We’re on track for a banner year at New York State campgrounds and it’s not too late to see what you’ve been missing,” Gov. Cuomo said in the release.

Locally,  Wildwood State Park manager David Zapasek said his camp sites have been “well above 90 percent of capacity” this season.

“It’s great that people are getting outdoors,” he said.“It’s a healthy alternative to just sitting around doing nothing. You’re enjoying nature. And people are spending time with their families, and it’s really nice to see. It’s nice to see them enjoying the fruits of our labors here.”

Mr. Zapasek attributed much of the spike in attendance to warm, dry weather this summer.

“We’ve had very little rain,” he said.“With the heat, being a camping park that also has a beachfront is great for us.”

Although the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is Wildwood’s busiest season, Mr. Zapasek said the park has substantial reservations until its final day of the season on Oct. 11. He encouraged those interested to check availability before spots run out.

[email protected]