Issue 134 Campground & RV Park E News

MCLEAN, Va. - Best Parks in America has announced a partnership with RVC Outdoor Destinations, a Memphis, Tennessee based company that has developed a unique brand of upscale RV and cottage resort properties in the Southeastern United States. Four of RVC’s properties will carry the Best Parks in America brand designation and will be part of a national family of superior resorts that now

numbers 76 and growing.

“We are excited about this new partnership with RVC,” said David Gorin, President of Best Parks of America.

“RVC’s outdoor destinations embody the objectives of Best Parks by offering RVers and cottage vacation David Gorin

Continued Page 2

Continued from Page 1 guests a high quality, unique vacation experience in superb surroundings.

The company is staking out a new and different business model, featuring appealing natural environments, hotel-like services and upscale amenities, and all are located within minutes of great recreational activities and attractions that are unique to each location and the community,” said Gorin.

Best Parks in America is a leading national brand for highly-rated RV parks and campgrounds. Through the partnership, the company will provide RVC with a wide range of marketing, branding, training, research, and business intelligence and information.

The four RVC Outdoor Destinations are Pine Mountain, just outside of the world famous Callaway Gardens near Atlanta, Georgia; Catherine’s Landing, which is opening April 1st and is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Carrabelle Beach, located directly on the Gulf of Mexico in Carrabelle, Florida; and the latest to

open, Live Oak Landing, which is located on the waters of the Choctawhatchee Bay near Destin, Florida.

“We are proud to be affiliated with Best Parks in America, as we share the same values and goals of delivering a great experience to our guests.

Partnerships such as this, with an established and admirable brand, allow our company to grow and become better known,” said Yale Spina, Vice President of RVC Outdoor Destinations. “We have motivated teams in place and great properties that include excellent amenities that will now be recognized with Best Parks in America.

I can’t wait to get the word out,” Spina added.

RVC Outdoor Destinations has been actively seeking to develop or acquire RV properties in highly desirable vacation areas.

The company anticipates that the new “Outdoor

Destination” concept will have great appeal across a wide range of RVers, as well as the offering of the increasingly popular RVC Resort Cottages, yurts, and cabins to not exclude those who may not own an RV. “I’m sure RVers, campers and others who’ve visited Best Parks in America resorts across the U.S. will applaud the partnership with RVC Outdoor

Starting on April 4th Campground & RV Park E News will be published on weekends allowing for readership early Monday mornings.

Publication dates until then will be 23rd and 30th March.

Destinations,” said Gorin.

“For Best Parks, the partnership marks a new opportunity for us to work with multiple park companies in providing a national brand presence that identifies superior resorts to vacationers,” he added.

For more information on Best Parks of America, visit http://www.bestparksinameri ca.com.

For more information on RVC Outdoor Destinations, visit www.rvcoutdoors.com.

Also visit them on Facebook and Twitter: @RVCoutdoors.

"We have found readers are more apt to read the e news early in the morning and a high percentage, around 20% return at various times during the week" said Editor Dennis Macready

By Art Lieberman BULLETIN: The Federal Reserve has proposed capping the “debit-card interchange fee.

What this means is that processing banks, which currently charge between 1 and 2 percent on each debit card purchase, averaging 44-cents, will now only be allowed to charge 12-cents.

In response JP Morgan Chase, one of the largest banks is considering capping debit card transactions at either $50 or $100. And the cap would apply even if you run your debit card as a credit card.

This is being considered because the cap would take a bite out of Chase’s $1.3 billion profit on debit card transactions.

What this would mean to campground owners would be obvious. If the camper presents a debit card for a transaction over $100, the transaction would be declined. Debit cards presently represent about 30% of all credit/debit card transactions at campgrounds and that percentage has been rising steadily. One analyst declared that,”the proposed rules gives banks little incentive to authorize larger debit card transactions and will bring additional fraud risk but no additional revenue. New rules on debit card swipe fees have the unintended consequences of making

debit cards a more expensive method of payment for many consumers”.

Several other banks, including Bank of America, have also said that they would be forced to recoup costs by “increasing the cost of everyday debit card transactions, limiting their payment choices and impacting industry innovation”.

The new regulations will have several other consequences to campground owners.

Campers are now carrying less cash, so it is unlikely that they can be mugged.

Additionally, many don’t even have a checkbook with them. With accelerating regularity, the choice of payment at campgrounds has been credit or debit cards.

For campground owners, accepting debit cards has had less costly fees than credit cards. Pin Debit transactions are currently the least expensive method of accepting credit.

This rule could go into effect as early as July of this year and processors would be notifying campgrounds about it as early as May. There are only two alternatives if the Federal Reserve persists in taking this action. One is that debit Card transactions would be limited to a certain amount,

or costs for debit card transactions would increase exponentially.

Either alternative is not good for campground owners in the height of the summer season!

Art Lieberman is the President of MCPS for

Campgrounds and, along with Deanne Bower, is the Producer of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo II, which will begin on 11/11/11.

Art can be reached at MCPS at 877-858-9010 or at Campground Expo at 877-901-EXPO (3976)

DENVER, Colo., March 9, 2011 – The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) closed escrow today on a new South Denver office that it will use as the association’s headquarters beginning April 8th.

ARVC purchased the Panorama Falls office suite for an undisclosed price.

The transaction was unanimously approved on Monday by 22 of ARVC’s 24 board members, with two board members being absent for the meeting.

“It has been a long and arduous process, but I am confident after viewing this office that this is the right property for our new ARVC headquarters,” said ARVC Chairman David L. Berg, adding, “ARVC President and CEO Paul Bambei is to be commended for his efforts in this process.

The entire board was pleased with the final purchase price, which was less than half of other properties ARVC considered purchasing in recent years.”

Bambei, a Denver native, said ARVC’s new office is located in an attractive commercial area of South Denver with a full array of hotels and restaurants nearby, and is walking distance from the Dry Creek station of the light rail.

The office is also 25 miles closer to Denver International Airport than the office building ARVC currently occupies.

“As an investment, I think we got a really good deal,” Bambei said. “We took advantage of the downturn in the commercial real estate market, which is just now starting to show signs of improvement.”

A 130-foot pine tree crushed a house, a shed and a mobile home Sunday afternoon at the Whispering Pines RV Park in Rogue River Oregon as a vicious wind storm rampaged throughout Jackson County.

"The sky was falling," said Dawn Maus-Johnson as she described how the roof collapsed onto the bed and the windows exploded as the tree sliced open her mobile home. "We were headed to the truck, but stuff was blowing everywhere."

Her neighbors, Maxine and Roy Wheeler, were briefly trapped inside their house, forced to climb out a back window with the help of neighbors.

"We barely made it out of there," said Roy, who had minor cuts and bruises. "It just came crashing on us."

High winds and rain started just before 3 p.m. Sunday as trees fell helter-skelter onto power lines, homes and roadways from Rogue River to Medford.

A Cypress tree uprooted onto a house at 523 Jeannette Ave. at about 3:30 p.m. in Medford. Fire officials warned the occupants not to enter the house.

Brian Fish, Medford fire battalion chief, said five or six trees fell in Medford, knocking out power, phone and TV lines.

"We didn't have any injuries," he said.

Chris Arnold, Jacksonville administrative fire chief, said pine trees began falling from one end of town to the other.

Full Article: www.mailtribune.com

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 11, 2011 – This year is shaping up to be another good year for the campground business, despite rising fuel costs, according to California campground and tourism industry officials.

“As long as people aren’t worried about losing their jobs, they’re going to go camping,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (CalARVC).

Speaking at last week’s gathering of roughly 65 parks, 22 vendors and industry officials at CalARVC’s Education Forum and Tradeshow at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Anaheim, Sipe said it behooves park operators to step up their local marketing efforts, since rising fuel costs will likely prompt people to take shorter vacations and travel to destinations closer to home.

Sipe also noted that there could be additional

Debbie Sipe

business opportunities for California campgrounds as continuing state budget problems could result in state park campground closures as well as invitations for private companies to manage public campground operations. “This is something we’re watching very closely,” she said.

Other campground and travel industry officials who spoke at CalARVC’s March 1st and 2nd Education Forum were similarly upbeat.

Annie Hess, tourism development manager for the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), said state officials expect California to experience a 3 percent increase in domestic travelers this year, while visits by international travelers are projected to jump by 6 percent.

Travelers in California are also expected to spend more money this year, with domestic travel spending growing by 5 percent while international visitors increase their spending by 9 percent, Hess said, citing CTTC projections.

Tourism, in fact, is one of the four strongest growth pillars of the California economy, said John Severini, president and CEO of the California

Travel Industry Association (CalTIA) during his remarks to California park operators.

Travel, tourism and hospitality produced $87.7 billion in direct spending in California in 2009, while having a financial impact on one in nine jobs, Severini said.

Campgrounds, for their part, can do even more to bolster their share of the travel and tourism business by stepping up their marketing efforts to younger people, said Paul Bambei, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC).

“There is a young family demographic that hasn’t been attracted to this industry,” Bambei said, adding that the GoCampingAmerica website has been primarily visited by people who are 55 and over.

That’s about to change, however, Bambei said, as ARVC rolls out new marketing and public relations initiatives that are designed to capture the attention of Generation Xers, who range in age from 27 to 40, and Echo Boomers, who are under 26.

These initiatives will include video outreach promotions and a redesigned GoCampingAmerica website that includes an e-

Paul Bambei coupon discount program to promote camping at participating ARVCmember parks as part of the national “Great Outdoors” promotion in June.

Bambei added that ARVC’s marketing and public relations efforts will focus on attracting growing numbers of young families to private campgrounds without alienating existing customers.

One thing that bodes particularly well for the campground industry, Bambei added, is the fact that camping is the most affordable vacation option.

Having a “recession proof marketing message” should resonate with young families, he said.

In addition to providing California park operators with presentations by top state and national campground and tourism industry officials, the Continued

Continued

Evanne Schmarder

Bob McKinnon

CalARVC Education Forum included several marketing and social media training seminars by Evanne Schmarder of Roadabode Productions Inc. as well as a session on how to make your ads sizzle by Rick Wiseman, Camp California Marketing’s advertising director.

"It behooves park operators to step up their local marketing efforts, since rising fuel costs will likely prompt people to take shorter vacations and travel to destinations closer to home."

Bob MacKinnon of GuestReviews.com provided a workshop on how to respond to negative customer reviews, while Larry Brownfield of Kampgrounds of America

(KOA) led thought provoking seminars on park management and how your customers can see things differently than you do.

Gary Pace and Deb Kohls of Leisure Interactive also held seminars detailing the latest requirements for PCI compliance and credit card security as well as an

Gary Pace

overview of electronic travel marketing distribution channels.

John Pentecost from the law firm of Hart, King and Coldren also provided seminars on the latest laws and recommendations involving RV park rules and regulations and eviction procedures.

Larry Brownfield

The tradeshow itself featured over 22 vendors, including representatives from Cavco Industries, Airwave Adventures, Affinity Group, Southeast Publications USA, Evergreen USA, Southwest Insurance and Wilcor International.

For more information, visit www.calarvc.com.

A group of investors, determined to reopen a waterfront restaurant, marina, campground and inn at the site of the former Campers Paradise/Sunset Cay, is moving toward final stages of its planned acquisition.

After a bankruptcy and foreclosure in 2009, the land and buildings became property of Wells Fargo Bank and have been for sale since.

"We have obtained a loan commitment from Bank of Fincastle that will enable us to finalize the transaction by May 1," said

Tom Buck, who is leading the group of investors. Buck and wife Ellen own Mitchell's Point Marina & RV Park on Craddock Creek.

Buck said the waterfront restaurant, which operated during 2008 and 2009 as Harrison's at Sunset Cay with an investment of nearly $2 million to expand and renovate the kitchen, dining room and bar, is in excellent condition and could be opened within 45 days of the deal's closing.

Tom and Lynn Gordon, owners of Blackwater Cafe on Scruggs Road in

Moneta, confirmed their intent to purchase and operate the restaurant. It will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in season, and breakfast and dinner during cooler months. They will continue to operate Blackwater Cafe. Gordon said he expected to hire about 30 staff members.

"Our priority will be providing quality food and service, convenience and waterfront ambiance at moderate prices," Gordon said. "We look forward to operating a casual-theme restaurant that is convenient to most locations around the lake, by both land and water."

The marina and campground -- for driven and towed RVs, not pop-ups or tents, Buck said -- is expected to open under a similar timetable.

"The current group of committed investors is providing the capital we need to purchase the property," Buck said, "but we need a few more to help fund the improvements we feel will make the marina, inn and RV park a destination for locals as well as visitors."

Full Article: www.smithmountainlake.com

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks experienced significant revenue growth in 2010 as a result of increased occupancies, successful cross marketing promotions with Warner Bros.’ “Yogi Bear” movie, and the addition of seven new campgrounds to the Jellystone Park chain, according to a news release.

22, as well as new camper incentives for the Club Yogi Rewards program and an expanded merchandise line that now boasts nearly 400 items. Leisure Systems also plans to continue to grow the Jellystone Park chain this year, Schutter said, noting that four additional parks have joined the chain since January.

Same park revenue was up 6% in 2010, compared to a year earlier, while the addition of seven new campgrounds increased overall revenue by 11%, said Rob Schutter, COO of Leisure Systems Inc., which franchises Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park CampResorts.

Schutter presented the business update during Leisure Systems’ Spring Conference, which took place March 8-10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Covington, Ky. The threeday event included roundtable discussions on new park management and marketing ideas as well as instructive sessions on ways to motivate teen workers as well as the CARE recreation training program.

Jellystone Park business levels should continue to increase this year, Schutter said, citing the continuing promotional benefits of the Yogi Bear movie, which will be available on DVD March

John Ellison, Leisure Systems’ vice president of

operations, provided two days of training for managers of aquatic facilities as part of the National Recreation and Park Association’s Aquatic Facility Operator Certification Program. The AFO program is fast becoming the leading training program for pool operators and aquatic facility managers in the United States.

Guest speakers included representatives of Leave No Trace, the Boulder, Colo.-based non-profit organization that develops educational programs designed to help children and adults take better care of the environment, as well as Gregg Cantalano, the “physician of phun,” who talked about new ideas on recreation for children, teens and families.

Launched in 1969, the Jellystone Park system

Rob Schutter now boasts 75 campgrounds with more than 15,000 campsites in 30 states and three Canadian provinces. Its CampResorts are among the best campgrounds in the industry with a quality reputation for being fun, friendly, clean and customer service-oriented parks.

Additionally, each Jellystone Park is themed with Yogi Bear elements providing instant recognition and consumer appeal. It is truly a place “Where You Camp With Friends.”

Thousands of North American camping families will head to their favorite Kampgrounds of America locations again in May for the 8th Annual KOA Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend, May 13 and 14.

Last year, more than 25,000 camping families stayed at nearly 400 participating KOA campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada. The event, created in 2004, provides a free night of camping on May 14 to all campers who stay as paying guests on May 13.

CUMMING - Sporting a million dollar facelift, Shady Grove Campground in Forsyth County will open for the camping season March 28.

The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department used the off-season and about $1 million for improvements to the 109acre campground which has 110 campsites. The improvements were paid for by the $100 million Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond approved by voters in February 2008.

"Improvements were made to allow more adequate space for today's larger recreational vehicles,"

KOA campgrounds have several fun events planned that are designed to both entertain campers and help raise funds to support KOA Care Camps, a system of 43 specialized summer camps around North America that provide a true summer camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings. Last year, more than $370,000 was raised during the Come Kamp & Care With Us event to benefit KOA Care Camps.

“This event is a wonderful way for our campers to

start their summer camping seasons, and at the same time help raise money to send these very special kids to great summer camps,” said KOA CEO Jim Rogers. “This event has proven to be extremely popular with both our KOA franchise owners and their campers, and we’re happy to offer it again this year.”

Campers can to go www.KOA.com to see a list of participating campgrounds and make their reservations. Some campgrounds will be offering their “kabins” and

Jim Rogers

Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Kinsey said the changes would not have been possible without the support of county voters.

Lanier campers," he said.

luxury lodges for the event, so campers are encouraged not to wait to make their reservations.

Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Tommy Bruce said. "The pads have been expanded in order to provide space to allow campers to enjoy the full use of their awnings.

We are looking forward to hearing how campers enjoy these improvements."

Tent campers will find that power hookups and water were added to campsites that were previously without power or water. A portion of the campground property near the campsites has been turned into a grassy play area and the campground's shoreline has undergone a restoration.

"Shady Grove Campground has received wonderful updates and improvements that we anticipate will help make this an even more popular destination for Lake

The campground includes a beach and swim area, boat ramp, group campsites with picnic shelters, campsites with water and power hookups, a playground and more.

Article: www.accessnorthga.com

The rush is on.

Not since the 1930s have so many British Columbians been catching “gold fever.”

Marilyn Potter, who runs a gold panning campground in Cherryville, B.C., near Vernon, B.C., said more people were grabbing a pan and shovel in an attempt to get rich.

“Our campsite has booked up way quicker this year,” she said. “We’re normally not full until April, but this year everyone is looking for the big one.”

With gold currently selling for more than $1,400 an ounce, to get rich a good strike doesn’t have to be that large.

The problem is the placer gold most people find doesn’t fetch top dollar.

“It is the sort of gold people wanted a 100 years ago,” BCIT mining and mineral exploration instructor Rob Stevens said. “It is not an industry that has any side of growth to it.”

Panning teacher “Yukon” Dan Moore warned

recreational panners could lose a lot of money if they weren’t treasure hunting the right way.

“You don’t want to get too involved financially. You want to get yourself a shovel and a gold pan and most important, don’t get yourself gold fever,” he said.

For more information, visit Yukon Dan’s website at yukondan.com.

By Larry

The weather woes that are forecast for this spring present a choice: take advantage of customer and competitors who may be in trouble or lend a helping hand? Better to lend a helping hand.

The disaster looming in the north central part of our country is ominous. There are potential weatherrelated disasters in other parts of our country as well.

The East Coast and New England have also had harsh winters that could be followed by major spring flooding. Other areas of the country are still in drought and being hit hard in the pocketbook.

Some of your snowbirds may want to stay with you longer than planned because of bad or flooding back home. Others may need to leave early for the same reasons. You might consider offering them a refund or discounted rate, knowing that they will face economic hardship because of the weather problems. Customers have less time and money for recreation when disaster strikes.

We have come a long way from the days when almost everybody lived on the land and there was no such thing as a recreation industry. But we are not immune from the ravages of nature. Even one little mosquito bite can remind us of our vulnerability. The forecast of events for this spring most certainly remind us of this vulnerability.

Consider partnering up with one or more other RV parks and campgrounds. When they are in trouble perhaps there is a trade to be made: you send some business their way and at a later date they send some business your way? Maybe a financial rescue package can be arranged. Maybe you help one another advertise and market to recoup lost business. The larger the network of mutual support, the better.

‘Best to stick together as much as possible. It’s an old American tradition that when danger lurks the community unites.

Do you enjoy people? Do you like being outdoors?

Do you like being your own boss? If the answer is “no”, then buying an RV Park is the worst thing that you could do. If you answered “yes”, then read on and learn more about owning a park.

RV parks are a very highyielding investment, with returns from 10% to 20%+ on your money. They are among the highest-yielding of all real estate asset classes. So if your goal is to maximize the return on your money, RV parks are not a bad starting spot.

The Financial Side of Owning

Another strength to RV parks is the fact that most are owned by moms pops

– smaller owners who have no debt and, therefore, the ability to carry the financing on the transaction. When the seller carries the financing at a low interest rate, it compounds the yield you can make on your money thanks to leverage.

Leverage, as long as the interest rate on the loan is lower than the cap rate of the deal, will give you an even higher return. So, even if RV parks sold at the same return level as other forms of real estate, they would still kill the competition due to seller carry.

It’s also important to note that most seller carry is does not require any kind of credit review of loan committee. If you have bad credit, you can still pull off a seller carry loan.

Most moms and pops do

no type of loan scrutiny, and don’t even require some third party reports like an appraisal.

Additionally, most seller carry is “non-recourse” in nature; even if you default on the loan and property is sold at a loss, they note holder cannot come after you for the deficiency.

The Non-Financial Side of Ownership To many owners, running an RV park is so much fun that they’d do it for free.

While we don’t advocate that you go that far, the types of duties that owning an RV park include are very appealing.

Where else – outside of an RV park – can you devote your day to fun? And of all the duties that you inherit, they break down into three main categories

Lucas Hartford and Jester Guy Gagnon from Evergreen USA Insurance posing at in their outfits for a night of "Black & White with lots of Bling" at the Mid Atlantic Conference.

http://issuu.com/industryenews/docs/getawayusamediakit1

Pittsburgh, PA: The $500.00 winner of the 2010 Very Special Camper Contest drawing was Michael Wolbert of Leeper, PA! Michael and his wife, Janet were presented $500.00 in free camping gift certificates on Saturday, at the Original Pittsburgh RV Show by Randy Giancola from Clem’s Trailer Sales in Ellwood City, Dennis Quigley of Kozy Rest Kampground in Harrisville, Tim Chilson of Brookdale Campground in Meadville, Tracy Czambel from Yogi Bear Mill Run, Randy Work from Yogi Bear Mill Run, Ed Tanski of Buttercup Woodlands Campground in Renfrew, Rick Yeager from Rose Point Park in New Castle, Glenn Kleinfelter from Peaceful Valley Campground in West Sunbury, Mark Wineman from Kalyumet Camping & Cabins in Cook Forest, and Jack May from Farma Family Campground in Greenville.

Campgrounds and RV dealers from Western PA partnered together to provide potential new RV owners over $500.00 of free camping when they bought a new RV from one of the participating dealers in 2010!

In 2011, each purchase of a new RV from one of the participating RV dealers entitles the new RV owner to one free night of camping for their family of four, from all of the 19 participating Western Pennsylvania

Campgrounds and RV Parks.

In addition, any camper who stays at 8 or more of the 19 participating Campgrounds and RV parks and submits their entry, will be entered in a drawing to receive an additional $500.00 in Pennsylvania Campground Owner’s Association (PCOA) Gift Certificates, which can be used at any PCOA campground across the state!

Front: Randy Giancola presenting to Michael and Janet Wolbert, Dennis Quigley, Tim Chilson, Tracy Czambel, and in back from left to right Randy Work, Ed Tanski, Rick Yeager, Glenn Kleinfelter, Mark Wineman, and Jack May.

This year’s winner, Mike Wolbert said, “Just receiving one free night of camping from all of these campgrounds with the purchase of our RV was a great deal! We basically camped half price, all summer long last summer just because we bought a new RV from Clem’s! We went to some new places we’d never been before, and of course, we visited some of our favorite campgrounds too. But we’re just thrilled that we won another $500.00 of camping for this next year!

That’s just great!”

dealerships will be proudly displaying the Contest Flyers for 2011.

The participating Western PA RV dealers for 2011 are B & R Campers Sales in Butler, Boyer RV Center in Erie, Brooks Camper Sales in Connellsville, Clem’s Trailer Sales in Ellwood City, Hufnagel & Majors in Harmony, Fame RV Center in Saegertown, and Starr’s Trailer Sales in Brockway!

The program, according to the program organizer Dennis Quigley of Kozy Rest Kampground, will be returning in 2011! If you are planning to purchase an RV in 2011, you can get more information from any of the participating campgrounds or RV Dealers, or at the upcoming RV Shows, where the participating

The participating Western PA campgrounds were Bear Run Campground in Portersville, Brookdale Family Campground in Meadville, Buttercup Woodlands Campground in Renfrew, Campers Paradise Campground in Sigel, Farma Family Campground in Greenville, Friendship Village Campground in

Bedford, Harecreek Campground in Corry, Hart’s Content Campground in Beaver Falls, Kozy Rest Kampground in Harrisville, Kalyumet Camping & Cabins in Cook Forest, Nautical Mile Campground & Marina in Templeton, Peaceful Valley Campground in West Sunbury, Pineview Campground in Linesville, River’s Edge Camping & Cabins in Connellsville, Rose Point Park Cabins & Camping in New Castle, Shenango Valley RV Park in Transfer, Sparrow Pond Family Campground in Waterford, Vacationland Campground in Sandy Lake, and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Mill Run.

By Robyn Chilson

A young birdwatcher scans the skies at North Cascades National Park Complex, Washington.

Get out and discover something new about your 394 national parks. This year's focus, Healthy Parks, Healthy People, highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role America's national parks play in both.

Whether your prefer a 20mile backcountry hike in Yosemite or a leisurely stroll around Philadelphia's Independence Hall, moving outside is good for you and offers a chance to explore these places you own.

Find your National Park Week "must-dos" on park calendars and share your national park experience on Facebook or Twitter.

Free Admission Volunteer Day (April 16) Junior Ranger Day (April 23) Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger!

Promotions Click here for details.

New London, Conn. — A court ruling Thursday has eased concerns about the April 1 opening and continued operation of Strawberry Park campground and RV park in Preston.

TD Bank, which purchased the campground for $8 million during a foreclosure auction last month, has agreed to put aside $135,000 to allow Floridabased Elite Resorts to pay for operating expenses, which includes $50,000 to book bands for the popular

annual Zydeco and Bluegrass festivals.

Elite was appointed as the receiver and has been running the campground since the lucrative and award-winning facility fell into bankruptcy. TD Bank, the campground’s biggest creditor at $8.5 million, had already put up $100,000 for the continued operation.

Attorney Raymond Baribeault Jr., who represents Elite, said the campground already has taken in reservation money

for the season, but Elite was hesitant to use the money in the event someone with a rental deposit wanted their deposit.

“I want the public to know their money is safe,” Judge James J. Devine said after his ruling.

TD Bank has made no public statement about its plans for the campground, which by some estimates generates $3.4 million a year.

Final approval of the sale to TD Bank is set to be heard in court later this month.

Preston Strawberry Funding Associates LLC, who claims $3.8 million against the property for a defaulted loan, has filed a motion to collect collateral in the form of personal property and perhaps even the name of the campground, for later collection.

Owners hire lawyer Meanwhile, a group of the 189 site owners at the campground has hired an attorney to look after its interests.

David Schmitt and Gene Burch, present during Thursday’s proceeding in New London Superior Court, said they own four sites, equaling a nearly $500,000 investment between the two of them.

“We’ve retained a law firm to protect and preserve our rights as owners,” Schmitt said.

Site owners, who pay about $1,640 per year for maintenance of their properties, said the value of their sites is closely linked to the health of the campground itself.

“If the property is not maintained properly, we all lose,” Schmitt said.

Both Schmitt and Burch said they were optimistic about the future.

“It’s a good, viable, longstanding campground,” Burch said.

“We feel it will eventually turn out OK,” Schmitt said.

“We just have to get over the speed bumps.”

Full Article: www.norwichbulletin.com