Construction projects may affect Flandrau Park visitors

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Visitors to Flandrau State Park between now and mid July should expect to rough it a little bit more than normal.

Flandrau, which had been on a list to receive bond money from the state for improvements, will be able to do some much-needed remodeling this summer. The Division of Parks had a record bonding year in 2002 with $23.5 million planned for improvements to state parks. Of that money, $800,000 will fund the three construction projects at Flandrau that are already under way. The money from the projects comes from outside the regular budget, which has seen large cuts the last two years.

Park Manager Gary Teipl wants to stress that the electric, non-electric and rustic campgrounds will be open as usual; however, because the park is constructing a new shower building in the camping area from now until approximately July 15, campers will not have flush toilets, showers or sinks available for use in that area.

"The buildings are really outdated, and there aren't enough fixtures for both campgrounds, and there have been problems with the septic system," Teipl said. "The new one with be handicap accessible and have a family-friendly unit."

Water will still be available for use for drinking and for use in campers in the loops. After the pool opens Labor Day, campers will be able to use those facilities. Because of this change, electric sites will be reduced from $15-$11, non-electric from $12 to $8, and rustic will remain at $8.

"Of all the construction, that might have the biggest impact on campers," Teipl said. "If people have big camping rigs, they can shower in there; it will mostly affect tent-campers or those with smaller pop-up units."

To compensate for the lack of toilets, the park will have extra portable toilets available after May 1.

Teipl believes that the inconveniences caused by the construction won't have a great effect on the park's attendance, which is one of the higher in the state due to the facilities and the proximity to New Ulm. Of the park's 250,000 visitors in 2002, 20,721 were overnight visitors.

The electric campground is already full for Memorial Day weekend.

Another building renovation will also affect the public. The shower buildings at the group camp site on the south side of the Cottonwood River are being updated.

"They are really in poor shape," Teipl said. "They are hard to keep clean -- the ventilation is no good, so it gets very humid in there."

Because the group site is usually booked every weekend all summer long, as well as about half of the weekdays, park staff decided the problem needed to be addressed. They are also installing a new mound septic system.

The park's third project is to connect all buildings north of the Cottonwood River into the New Ulm city sewer system. The park has had issues with its septic systems in the past, and tying into the city sewers will solve the potential problems.

"It will be a great addition to the park; a number of the systems are the original WPA septic systems," Teipl said. "So to have the opportunity to tie into the city sewers is great -- and it will be good to get the systems away from the flood plain and potential contamination."

Although when the river has flooded, it has not flooded the septic system, the possibility is there. The park has also had problems with lines backing up into the buildings. The new system will also eliminate the necessity of treating and discharging pool water into the river; it will now be drained into the sewers.

The sewer project will be done with minimal impact on the environment, and is expected to be completed June 28.

Fort Ridgely State Park near Fairfax also received bond money for improvements. According to Assistant Manager Peter Bakken, it has taken time to get the golf course reconstruction project out for bids. At the earliest, the project will begin after Labor Day.