New York state park officials are looking to expand the chance for private operators to take over some duties they once performed at Allegany State Park.
Parks officials are seeking those interested in constructing and managing year-round cottage and cabin rentals, snowmobile rentals, a ropes course and a zip-line facility. Although the ropes course and zip-line facility's construction are new, as are the snowmobile rentals, parks staff had been in charge of constructing and managing cottages and cabins in the past.
"That's the change here," said Harold Hagemann, director of concession management for the state parks. He said the parks system has a tradition of working with the private sector. He said it has reached out to the public if park officials think someone in the private sector may be able to do a better job for whatever task it is seeking services. Besides, he said, a business opportunity is provided.
For instance, said Hagemann, the license for a concessionaire who once ran some services at the park has expired. An operator is being sought to run a restaurant, gift shop, seasonal snack stands, camp stores, equipment rentals and related services. He said seeking help from the private sector with the concessionaire's license is nothing new.
What is new is the cabin construction not being done by state parks crews, along with the new ropes course, zip line and snowmobile rentals.
"It is not financially possible to do," he said about the state parks system working on those things. Despite that, he said, parks officials saw an opportunity and need for more overnight residential offerings. Hagemann said records show Allegany State Park cabins are occupied at a high rate throughout the year. The park has 1.3 million visitors a year, offering 65,000 acres of wilderness that draws campers and day users from Western New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and more. It has two beaches, picnic areas, offers hiking, cross-country skiing educational programming, horseback trails, snowmobiling and mountain bike trails, along with 424 campsites, 375 cabins and three group camps people can rent.
Hagemann said a portion of the park has been identified as preservation in its master plan, with the new ropes course and zip-line attractions to be in developed areas away from the preserved portions.
He said responses to the requests for proposals are due in coming months, with the new construction expected to be complete in two to three years, as officials try to attract people to the park or extend their stays by offering more.
"There's a market out there," he said about offering more cabins, adding most are pre-rented in advance, limiting others' options to get a cabin. He said if any item is sold out, it is a good direction to provide more, which the state wants to do, despite not having finances to build the cabins itself.
Requests for the two separate proposals, one for the concessions, and the other for the construction, are being sought. Those interested can get more information or a copy of the requests for proposals by contacting Hagemann at 518-486-2932 or emailing him at Harold.Hagemann@oprhp.state.ny.us.