The National Park Service (NPS) has initiated the process to develop its “Second Century Campground Strategy,” first brought forth last January in an effort to modernize and strategically invest in campgrounds. The effort has been prodded along by many in the outdoor recreation industries – including the RV Industry Association (RVIA) – and is well-timed with the Aug. 4 signing into law of the Great American Outdoors Act, which will help fund the NPS’ reported $12.5 billion maintenance backlog.
Named with a nod to the 100th anniversary of the NPS in 2016, the Second Century Campground Strategy’s primary focus is to develop a guide to centralize campground design information for future new campgrounds as well as any renovations on the horizon. An internal NPS team has developed and released a draft of the design guide, which is now available for public comment through Dec. 4.
The broad strokes of the 160-page guide keep campgrounds as affordable and unique places for Americans and international travelers to visit parks while also protecting the integrity of the natural resources. To be sure, at least according to this document, there are no revolutionary changes to campgrounds coming down the pike. The environment, scenery and cultural status of the land is the primary concern for the NPS, and there are a handful of major pieces of legislation that govern any construction in parks. The guide is thorough and detailed, with diagrams, photos and drawings of different types of campsites. Most are what you’d expect. There’s also a detailed history of NPS campgrounds as they have developed over the years, since the introduction of the automobile.
Improvements to the experience for modern campers may be secondary to NPS goals, but owners of larger RVs can generally expect that new parking spurs will be built to a minimum of 45 feet in length and that new electrical installations will provide 50-amp power. We’ll likely see wider roadways and better turning radiuses for big-rig campers, and sewer systems where they are feasible. Internet access, either at a minimum single terminal or through a broadcast WiFi network, is recommended in areas without a decent cell signal to limit demand on rangers answering questions as well as to provide an opportunity for visitors to reserve permits and tours online from within the park.
A large portion of the guide is aimed at making NPS campgrounds more inclusive and accessible to people living with disabilities, to people who don’t normally camp, and to international visitors. Some of the more unconventional ideas include hammock camping sites with metal hanging posts and squat toilets that some foreigners may be more comfortable with.
However, it appears the guide is not intended to homogenize campgrounds, and it makes no effort to suggest that upgraded amenities be implemented in either old or new facilities. Instead, the guide gives park superintendents the information they need to make decisions about amenity feasibility. And it gives architects and construction contractors a set of standards to follow. Among the standards are regulated placement of electric and water supply, and sewer system design considerations.
Nearly half of the NPS’ maintenance backlog is road repairs, and the most costly visitor facility to upkeep is restrooms, so it’s likely that a large portion of the funding provided by the Great American Outdoors Act will end up addressing those two resources. But, considering that a large portion of a campground is roads and restrooms, it’s reasonable to expect some will be on the docket for improvement.
More than 330 million visitors explore parks annually, with tent, RV and backcountry campers having spent an estimated 7.9 million nights at park system campgrounds in 2018. Studies conducted by the NPS in fall 2019 indicate that the top self-reported reasons visitors stay at NPS campgrounds are the diverse camping opportunities (RV, tent, cabins), the location of campgrounds, the atmosphere of the campground and services provided, and a desire to explore new destinations.
The National Park Service’s Second Century Campground Design Guide is open for public comment through Dec. 4, with the final publication set for the Spring of 2021.
