We begin this year's peak recreation season on a high note, reopening some facilities that were closed a year ago due to declining tax revenue.
Quakertown at Brookville is reopening, as are the Fisherman's campground at Patoka and Little Turtle SRA at Huntington. And the boat ramps also will be open with attendants working at the ramps during the busiest weekends, including holidays.
You may recall that some wonderful volunteers last year cleaned bathrooms, picked up trash and worked at gates to help keep several ramps open last year. Their help this year and increased revenue from some modest fee increases are helping to offset last season's budget shortfall.
Most Americans will take vacations fairly close to home this summer, in large part due to a sluggish national economy and volatile world events.
DNR properties will host about 20 million visitors this year, so planning your great escapes has never been more important. Fortunately, the DNR has some tools to help you plan your visits.
DNR employees recommend some special places in this issue of Outdoor Indiana. Each of the stories includes a list of DNR properties nearby, so you have plenty of choices.
The best way to find out where to go and what to do is to visit the DNR's Web site at www.IN.gov/dnr. It has a new look and is attracting about 8,700 visitors a day.
You can search for and rent a campsite at 31 locations including state parks, reservoirs and recreation areas. The new campground reservation system provides an excellent opportunity to explore a park you haven't visited before. Why not explore new places when you know your campsite will be ready for you when you get there?
Also, with a few mouse clicks you can reserve a room at one of seven state park inns.
Warmer weather brings people down to the rivers and out to the lakes. You can buy your fishing license online in just a few minutes. Hunting and trapping licenses, too.
The Indiana Heritage Trust and the Environmental License Plate program have a great story to tell about more than 30,000 acres of land acquired for wildlife and recreation. Find out more online, and make sure to buy an environmental plate next time you renew.
I encourage you to check in at the Web site regularly. We post many important items there that can be printed on your computer, including hunting and fishing regulations, the 2003 Outdoor Recreation Guide and even canoe trip maps.
For many years, I've given my parents state park passes for Mother's and Father's Days. It's a great bargain for anyone who enjoys Indiana's outstanding recreation areas. You can buy those at any park gate or by calling 317-232-4200 or toll-free 1-877-463-6367.
