NC parks seeing record number of visitors
WE GO LIVE TO FALLS LAKE TO
EXPLAIN HOW THE INCREASE IN
VISITORS MAY AFFECT YOUR
EXPERIENCE AND YOUR WALLET.
>> Reporter: SUCH A PITIFUL DAY
TO BE OUT ON THE WATER HERE AT
FALLS LAKE.
YOU CAN SEE THE BOATERS ARE
JUST WRAPPING UP THEIR DAY,
LINED UP TO PULL THE BOATS OUT
OF THE WATER AND EVEN PUT THEM
IN FOR A LATE AFTERNOON BOAT
RIDE.
PLACES LIKE THIS, STATE PARKS,
THEY HAVE INCREASINGLY IN
BUSINESS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO
MAINTAIN THE PARKS AND STAFF
THE PARKS AS WELL.
TIME TO PUT THE BOAT IN THE
WATER AND FIRE UP THE GRILL FOR
THE SUMMER SEASON IS HEATING UP
AT STATE PARKS.
>> OVERALL WE ARE JUST, YOU
KNOW, REALLY HAPPY TO JUST GET
OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE GREAT
WEATHER WHILE IT IS HERE .
>> Reporter: AT JORDAN LAKE
STATE PARK, THE PARKING LOT
FILLED UP FAST.
THAT IS NOTHING NEW.
>> YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
VISITATION WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN
THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD SO
MANY CLOSED FACILITIES . A
EXLEY WENT TO.
>> Reporter: IN 220 20, 400,000
MORE PEOPLE VISITED STATE PARKS
OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
PARK OFFICIALS PREDICT A 30
MINNESOTA% INCREASE THIS YEAR
OVER LAST.
>> IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE PUBLIC
OUT ENJOYING PARKS, RIGHT?
OF COURSE, THERE IS ALWAYS THE
CONCERN OF OVERCROWDING,
EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO OUT THE
DOOR, GET OUTDOORS AND ENJOY
THE OUTDOORS BUT, BEING
PROVIDING BUDDIES UPON BODIES
IS NOT THE EXTERNAL PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING FOR.
>> Reporter: THE PARK
SUPERINTENDENT SAYS MORE PEOPLE
MEANS MORE MONEY WILL BE NEEDED
FOR MAINTENANCE AND STAFF.
>> WE WERE SHORTSTAFFED TO
BEGIN WITH BUT, AT THIS POINT
IN TIME, WE ARE COMPLETELY
OVERWHELMS.
>> Reporter: BACK AT JORDAN
LAKE, STAFF MEMBERS WERE IN THE
PARKING LOT DIRECT TRAFFIC
INSTEAD OF WORKING INSIDE OF
THE PARK.
BASED ON THE PREDICTIONS, THESE
CROWDS WON'T BE GOING AWAY
ANYTIME SOON.
>> THEY WILL HAVE TO COME UP
WITH MORE DOCKS AND RAMPS AND
MORE PARKING PLACES.
YOU CAN SEE THERE IS NOT A
SINGLE SPOT IN THE PARK
ANYWHERE HERE.
>> Reporter: THE SUPERINTENDENT
TOLD ME THEY ARE WORKING ON A
BUDGET AND BUDGET REQUEST BUT
DID NOT SHARE ANY SPECIFICS
EXCEPT TO SAY THAT IT IS GOOD
TO BE A REAL CHALLENGE TRYING
TO KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE AND
STAFFING THE STATE PARK AS THE
CROWDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.