Fees going up at Oregon state parks
Camping, day-use and season pass prices are set to increase at Oregon state parks starting in January for the first time in 13 years.
According to Terry Richard of OregonLive.com, nightly camping fees are set to increase from $20 per night to $24 per night for RV hookups and from $17 to $19 for tent sites. The camping increases won't go into effect until May, however.
Parks that charge a fee for a day visit will have an increase from $3 to $5 per vehicle.
The increases came about after a two-year process that included a legislative vote on the proposal and an opportunity for the public to weigh in on it. A spokesman for the state park system says that future increases will be in smaller increments.
About 2,000 people participated in the public process part of the fee increase. Officials say most were in favor of the increase.
"They recognize the value they get, compared to other park systems, and know the money doesn't go away," Oregon State Parks and Recreation spokesman Chris Havel said. "It goes right back into the system."
The park system was facing a $4 million shortfall and hopes that the change will keep the budget flat over the next two years.