Wisconsin's state parks may soon have more camp sites with electrical service available. State Representative Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) says the way people go camping is changing, and interest in camp sites at state parks with electrical service continues to climb. Nearly 90 percent of electrified sites in the state are being occupied during the weekends over the summer.
Gottlieb is sponsoring a bill that would allow the DNR to have electrical outlets present at 30 percent of state park camp sites. The current limit is 25 percent. Officials say that would allow them to add service to about 468 sites around the state. The bill allows up to 50 percent of camp sites in a single state park to have electrical service.
The Port Washington Republican says state parks are designed to offer a natural camping environment, but the current limits on electrical sites leads to other problems. He says many campers who can't get a site with service will just crank up a generator, eliminating the rustic atmosphere the DNR hopes to preserve.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:07)
