Visitors pleased that parks are open

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Signs of joy were seen at Flandrau State Park on Saturday. On a hot and humid day, many were thankful that the park was open, as children splashed around in the swimming pool and families were seen laughing as they spent time together.

Gov. Jesse Ventura signed the environment, natural resources and agricultural finance bill on Friday, to prevent a shutdown of state parks.

"Thankfully, the vacation plans of thousands of tourists will not be disrupted now that the funding is in place to keep the state parks open," said Bill Morrissey, director of the Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division, in a DNR press release on Friday.

It was good news for the employees at Flandrau.

"We found out that we would stay open at approximately 10:30 Friday morning," said Tom Schmitz, Flandrau assistant park manager.

Thousands of peoples' plans would have changed if the state parks would have shut down this weekend. Flandrau would have been no exception.

"Virtually every campsite was booked this weekend at Flandrau," Schmitz said . "We're usually full, over-filled, or just under full every weekend."

Schmitz mentioned Flandrau is the 10th busiest state park in Minnesota, out of 72 state parks. He said business picked up for the park after they opened the swimming pool in 1987.

On holiday and festival weekends such as Heritagefest, Flandarau gets filled very quickly. Reservations for state parks in Minnesota can be made up to 90 days in advance.

People were happy to find out that they wouldn't have to rearrange their plans to camp at Flandrau over this Fourth of July weekend.

"We were relieved to hear that the parks would stay open. We don't know what we would have done if we came down on Friday and got kicked out on Saturday," said Mary Weniger, who came with her husband Jim and family from Eagan. "I guess we would have just had to drive home if we had to."

For one New Ulm resident, a closed park would have spoiled some of the fun for her two grandchildren.

"I came here with my two grandchildren so I could take them swimming," said Elaine Henning of New Ulm. "I guess if the park would have been closed, I would probably have had them run under the sprinklers at home."

A closed park would also have taken fundraising opportunities away from the New Ulm Figure Skating Club. The club runs the concession stand at Flandrau to make money for ice-skating activities throughout the year.

"It's a big fundraisier for the club. If the parks would have shut down it would have made a difference in the organization," said the concession stand worker. "Last year the club raised $3,500 from the concession stand."

Over 250,000 people visit Flandrau every season. Schmitz said they are attracted by the combination of the park being right in town, the swimming pool and the fact that New Ulm is a wonderful tourist community.