Campsites available to rent beginning July 8

Residents and visitors to Mercer County will now have a chance to camp out and enjoy a unique perspective of the park system with the creation of an overnight campground in the East Picnic Area of Mercer County Park.

County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the Mercer County Park Commission announced the opening of the campground at a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 1. The facility features 10 campsites, six with lean-to structures and four that will accommodate a tent. The hike-in campground can hold six campers per site and has entry to trails throughout Mercer County Park, which offers activities including bike rentals, boating, fishing and hiking that are accessible from the campground.

“With this new addition, the public can now enjoy an overnight stay in one of our premier parks,” Mr. Hughes said. “The campsites are a wonderful way to experience an outdoor retreat, and I encourage residents to take advantage of this new amenity.”

Campsites are available for rental beginning July 8 through Community Pass for $20 per night with a maximum stay of seven consecutive days. Each campsite includes a campfire ring, picnic table and charcoal grill. Full restrooms, water service, playground and trash disposal station can be found at the East Picnic Area, a short walk from the campground. The lean-tos were constructed from repurposed ash wood from the Park Commission’s Maintenance Department and provide an elevated platform for campers. An ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp is available at one of the locations. Rentals will run through Nov. 15.

“Developing this campsite has been an exciting project for the Park Commission” said Aaron T. Watson, Executive Director of the Park Commission. “The grounds are an excellent way for families and friends explore the diversity Mercer County Park has to offer.”

For more information regarding the Mercer County campground and rentals, please visit: http://mercercountyparks.org/facilities/campgrounds.

For up-to-date information regarding Park Commission programming, recreation and events, please visit www.mercercountyparks.org or follow the Park Commission on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.