Covered bridge at the Beaverkill campground

MONTICELLO – Sullivan County officials Tuesday suggested to the State Department of Environmental Conservation that the county take over the operation and management of the Beaverkill Campground, which the state has announced will close this spring.

The county proposed to operate the facility in much the same way as the current arrangement with the Palisades Parks Commission to operate and manage Lake Superior Park.

County Legislature Chairman Jonathan Rouis said it was felt by local lawmakers and a number of local groups that the campground should be saved.

“That campground is of some important significance and especially in our tourism business through the summer, especially in the Roscoe and Livingston Manor areas, so we looked at that, we talked with the chambers of commerce up there and felt that we could operate that on behalf of the DEC for a year or two until things straighten out with their budget and maintain the livelihood of a lot of the small businesses in that area.”

The county would not seek to take title to Beaverkill Campground and the long-term ownership and improvement options would remain with the DEC. The county’s proposal does not seek any state funding to run the facility and the county expects to break even or generate modest income through its management. Sullivan would hope to open the campground on May 1 as been the tradition.

Supporters of the campground, including Catskill Mountainkeeper and local chamber of commerce in Roscoe and Livingston Manor, have said the region benefits from the tourism dollars brought in by people who stay at the campground.