Archive for in the news
More state parks in danger of closing.
Posted by: | CommentsFinancial woes of another state budget could result in more park closures. An Associated Press report in Business Week says funding proposed in Governor Bobby Jindal’s budget recommendations could prevent a new state park from opening as scheduled and force the closing of other parks.
"We’re going to have to make some tough decisions because we don’t want to thin the soup any more," Johnson said. "It will mean shutting down the parks that don’t have as high visitation so we have the resources to maintain those parks that have higher visitation."
Johnson said the cut would mean the state parks won’t be able to hire maintenance workers, rangers, workers for fee collection stations and other employees needed to run all the parks. Johnson said his office would look at park closures and more limited hours, but he said it was too early to say which parks would be shuttered.
Read the Buisness Week article: Parks chief: La. gov’s budget would force closures.
State park closings – is Nevada next?
Posted by: | CommentsIn today’s hard economic times, closing state parks seems to be a remedy that many states have used or are considering. A Las Vegas Sun article says Nevada legislators are considering closing all of the state parks in Nevada.
The Nevada Legislature is thinking of closing state parks as it considers how to patch an estimated $900 million budget gap, a move that would save a few million dollars while killing the economies of rural towns and stunting tourism efforts across the state, opponents of the idea say.
Gov. Jim Gibbons has suggested a 10 percent budget reduction for a number of agencies, including the State Parks Division. But the Interim Finance Committee could take that a step further. At its meeting in Las Vegas on Thursday, the committee is expected to consider following the lead of cash-strapped states such as California and Arizona, that have closed some or all of their state parks.
In Nevada, the proposal is the brainchild of Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, who says he is considering shutting down all state parks to save money.
Read the entire article: Would closing state parks to save money do more harm than good?
Planned closings of New York state parks
Posted by: | CommentsPress release from Governor Patterson and Commissioner Ash:
The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today put forward a recommended list of closures and service reductions in order to achieve its 2010-11 agency savings target and help address the State’s historic fiscal difficulties.
Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement:
"New York faces an historic fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude. It has demanded many difficult but necessary decisions to help ensure the fiscal integrity of our State. The unfortunate reality of closing an $8.2 billion deficit is that there is less money available for many worthy services and programs. In an environment when we have to cut funding to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and social services, no area of State spending, including parks and historic sites, could be exempt from reductions. We cannot mortgage our State’s financial future through further gimmicks or avoidance behavior. Spending cuts, however difficult, are needed in order to put New York on the road to fiscal recovery. Going forward through the budget process, I look forward to a productive dialogue with the Legislature on parks and historic sites, as well as other issues."OPRHP Commissioner Carol Ash issued the following statement:
"The 2010-11 Executive Budget included reductions to every area of State spending. As such, the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has today put forward proposed closures and service reductions to meet its agency savings target. These actions were not recommended lightly, but they are necessary to address our State’s extraordinary fiscal difficulties."###
A fact sheet on the proposed closures and service reductions is included below:
The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today put forward a list of closures and service reductions in order to achieve its proposed 2010-11 agency savings target and help address the State’s historic fiscal difficulties. As part of a comprehensive plan to close an $8.2 billion deficit, the 2010-11 Executive Budget included necessary cost reductions to each executive State agency, as well as cuts to education, health care, social services, and every other area of State spending.
OPRHP’s plan includes the closure of 41 parks and 14 historic sites, and service reductions at 23 parks and 1 historic site.
The plan also assumes $4 million in park and historic site fee increases that will be identified at a later date, and the use of $5 million in funds from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to finance OPRHP operations. These two actions were part of the 21-day amendments to the Executive Budget and are intended to reduce the number of parks and historic sites subject to closures and service reductions.
New York State Parks in Peril of Closing?
Posted by: | CommentsA proposed $20 million New York state budget cut will likely result in closure of New York state parks. A Saratoga Springs Saratogian report says that state parks, already hit hard by previous cuts, are in peril from further cuts.
“Every region will be impacted. It’s not just small, fringe sites. Some of the largest parks might close because they’re the most expensive to operate — Jones Beach, Niagara Falls.”
Unfortunately, possible closings come at a time when people need parks most. Last year, statewide usage increased by2 million visits — from 54 million to 56 million — as residents sought inexpensive, close-to-home vacations. This year, Moreau Lake State Park’s campgrounds are already booked most weekends.
“When times are tough, people use state parks,” said Julie Stokes of Greenfield, former deputy state commissioner for operations. “The impact would be very large. A ton of people from Troy use Grafton Lakes. They bus kids out there. That park is absolutely jammed, seven days a week.”
Read more in the Saratogian: Proposed state budget imperils state parks
RV sales are picking up in 2010.
Posted by: | CommentsAfter the worst year in 18 years, RV sales are showing a turn around, according to a Daytona Beach News-Journal article.
Despite the worst year for recreational vehicle sales in 18 years, industry officials are smiling on the eve of the 2010 Central Florida RV Show that starts Thursday at the Volusia County fairgrounds in DeLand.
They are seeing a turnaround from 2009.
Shipments of RVs from manufactures to retailers rose during the second half of the year, compared to 2008. And snowbird visitors to recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds are up across the Sunbelt.
"And attendance at the RV shows are up as is our walk in traffic," said Larry McNamara, chief operating officer of Giant Recreation World with sales and service facilities in Ormond Beach, Orlando and Melbourne. "(The RV industry is) seen as a rule as an economic indicator. When things are good, sales are up. But when things are bad, it’s very bad."
Read the rest of the Daytona Beach News-Journal article: RV sales revving up.
RV sales slowly rising
Posted by: | CommentsWith the economy appearing more stable, cautious affluent retirees are beginning to looking at higher end RVs again while midrange customers are shopping for smaller and less expensive units.
A Des Moines Register article says:
An estimated 15,000 people are expected to file through the Varied Industries Building this weekend to look at vehicles, from massive motor homes to 12-foot towable trailers. Industry officials and stock analysts said the once-ravaged RV business is still a long way from its 2004 peak. But signs continue to point skyward, at least slightly, after a disastrous 2008 and early 2009.
Statistics from the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association show wholesale shipments of RVs peaked at 390,500 in 2004, then fell 59 percent to about 159,500 in the next five years.
Shipments in December from manufacturers to dealers were up 150 percent compared with December 2008, according to a report from analysts R.W. Baird & Co. last week. Industry numbers predict deliveries will grow nearly 28 percent this year, from 159,500 last year to 203,500 in 2010.
Read the rest of the Des Moines Register article.
Heartland RV Acquires Fleetwood Towable Trademarks
Posted by: | CommentsIn a press release, Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC, announced the acquisition of towable trademarks for such names as Prowler, Pioneer and Wilderness.
ELKHART, Ind., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ — Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC ("Heartland"), the fastest growing manufacturer of towable RVs in America, today announced that it has acquired the remaining active trademarks of the towable brands from Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. As one of the leading former manufacturers of towable RVs in North America, Fleetwood has some of the most recognized and iconic brands in the industry.
"This is an exciting transaction for Heartland. Fleetwood’s towable brands have long been among the most widely recognized names in the towable RV segment, with loyal customers and an extensive dealer network. By acquiring the trademarks of Fleetwood’s towable products, we will enhance Heartland’s brand portfolio with industry leading names such as Prowler, Pioneer and Wilderness," said Brian Brady, CEO of Heartland.
Read the rest of the press release from PRNewswire.
Texas Campgrounds
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’re from Texas or interested in camping in Texas, TexasCampgrounds.com has undergone a major revision.
THE #1 website for RV parks and campgrounds in the great state of Texas just got better! Perhaps the most improved feature on TexasCampgrounds.com is also the most used – the Find a Park page. Now you can refine your search more than ever by browsing for parks that are a specific mileage from a great attraction or separating parks by those that only have Wi-Fi or even looking by parks with special deals. To find a park with one click, just use the ‘Quick Search’ function on the left
The new TexasCampgrounds.com has also kept the great features and tools of before, including online ordering of the 2010 edition of the award winning RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas plus the ongoing Gas Card contest
Check ‘em out if you’re camping in Texas!
Strong Attendance at RV Shows may indicate RV industry Resurgence
Posted by: | CommentsConsumers are flocking to 2010 RV shows, which may indicate that the economy and the RV industry are headed for growth, according to a press release by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).
More than 50,000 consumers attended the Florida RV Super Show in Tampa this month, up 12 percent over last year’s strong attendance. Attendance at the Grand Rapids (MI) RV Show doubled over last year’s number with more than 20,000 consumers attending. And at the Ohio RV Super Show, 33 percent more consumers showed up this year than last year. The large crowds at these shows have pleasantly surprised organizers and dealers, who say that, in addition to stronger attendance, sales are also much improved over last year.
“Sales were awesome — just like the old days,” said Bob Sanders, sales manager for Dusty’s RV, about the highly successful Florida show. “We wrote 170 deals at the show, compared with 58 last year.” Sanders added that sales were across the board and included 40 motorhomes.
Read the rest of the RVIA press release.
Signs of Recovery in Elkhart’s RV Country?
Posted by: | CommentsSome people are heading back to work in hard hit Elkhart County – often in different jobs than they had before, and sometimes at a lower pay. According to a South Bend Tribune article, hope is on the rise in the area’s recreational vehicle (RV) industry as well as other industries.
The unemployment rate here, driven by job cuts at factories that made Elkhart County the capital of recreational vehicle manufacturing, spiked in March to 18.9 percent. But it has fallen steadily since, reaching 14.5 percent in November while the national rate climbed to 10 percent.
Part of the drop in unemployment may be due to hiring at a handful of RV makers like Heartland RV in Elkhart, which recently held a job fair after announcing it would add 400 jobs by March. For jobless workers who have spent months scrimping to keep up with mortgages, the job fair was a welcome first step in returning to the life they used to know.
Other RV makers also have begun hiring, albeit slowly, as orders from dealers have picked up in the past few months. Dealers don’t generally discuss sales figures, but two economists who follow the industry have predicted a slight rebound in production for 2010.
Read the rest of the South Bend Tribune article.
