Attendance by seasonal campers is on the rise in Mecosta County Parks.

 

Park Superintendent Jeff Abel says he hopes to run out of room at the park campgrounds soon.

 

“We were up significantly in 2016 and now we're up another 20 seasonals for 2017, so the trend is good. At some point, we hope to get to a point where we have to hit out limit 'cause we do have limits in the campgrounds.”

 

He notes that good weather helps boost that number, but there are other factors at play as well.

 

“We've made a lot of improvements in the parks but also the economy helps. When gas prices are low people like to spend extra money and go on vacation more or spend their weekends away from home more.”

 

Abel delivered the good news at Tuesday's Park Commission meeting and adds that people probably came for a weekend or two this year, experienced what the parks have to offer, and decided they want more.

 

“You have a great year like this year it gets people thinking, 'Well, what am I going to do next summer,” and then they start making their plans.”

 

He says plans for more full sanitary hookups at the parks should keep the trend going.