“We are planning to start construction in April or May this year, and hopefully have everything done by October,” said Amber O’Neill, park manager.

At the North Equestrian Campground, the plan is to upgrade multiple areas, which include:

• an electrical upgrade to 50-amp service for 87 campsites.

• additional gravel pads for parking areas.

-Messenger file photo by Lori Berglund
Park Manager Amber O’Neill points out some of the planned renovations at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area to Gene and Linda Timmons. The retired Webster City couple are frequent campers and came out to hear about the plans at an open house in April 2024.

• a 15-foot wide, one-way road bisecting the west grass loop.

• new grills and picnic tables.

• 5,000 feet of new water lines.

• upgraded layout of the north cul-de-sac with new camp pads having both 50-amp electrical and water hookups.

• upgrading 25 sites to full hookups.

“The North is having the most work done,” said O’Neill. “All the old water lines are from the 1980s and are leaking, so we need new water lines and new main power lines since the current ones will not support all the upcoming upgrades.”

At the Beach campground, the plan is to expand parking by adding a 40-space parking area east of the campground entrance and upgrading 20-sites to full hookups.

Lastly, at the South Equestrian campground, the plan is to construct a 15-foot-wide, one-way road bisecting the east grass loop and to install approximately 12 pull-through campsites with full hookups.

“Camping standards have changed immensely over the last two to three decades,” she said. “People have much larger campers now. Some even have two or three air conditioners, and water and sewer hookups are in high demand as well. With all the upcoming updates, we will bring in more campers for longer stays when they have the convenience of utilities on site.”

Other updates expected include a new dock and solar lights at the South Boat Ramp. Park officials would also like to convert the rest of the non-electrical sites to 50-amp electric and full hookup sites as well.

State parks have also received funding to make Americans With Disabilities Act improvements.

“At Brushy Creek we will be repairing some uneven sidewalks and obtaining accessible picnic tables and charcoal grills at the shelters,” O’Neill said.

All of the upgrades and construction will affect campers. There will be no camping available in the North Equine campground this summer.

“Depending on the contractor timelines, the South and Beach campgrounds may be open for part of the summer,” added O’Neill. “Reservations are not currently being accepted until we know more.”