Published: May 19, 2008 11:42 pm         

Fowler campers facing fouler weekend

Sewage disposal problems are hampering camping in a well-visited Vigo County park, just before Memorial Day weekend.

Campers at Fowler Park will not be able to use two showerhouses, each of which contains a restroom, and another restroom on the west end of the park is closed, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Park and Recreation Department.

“Two [sewer] lift stations are down. The framework that holds the pumps has gone bad. The pumps are OK, but we had to order parts for the framework,” Ruble said.

“We have some Port-A-Potties out and we have one restroom that is open, one that uses a gravity line that goes into the main lift station. People can camp, but we want them to know there are no shower facilities and no place they can dump the sewer out of their camper,” Ruble said.

The one working restroom is near Shelter A and “Romtec,” a year-round waterless toilet, is available in the park’s primitive campground.

“If they want to camp at Fowler, they have to take their sewage to Prairie Creek to dump it,” Ruble said.

Fowler Park is about seven miles south of Terre Haute off of U.S. 41, while Prairie Creek Park is about 15 miles south of the city on U.S. 41, then west on West French Drive.

Fowler Park opened to camping May 1. The sewage problem was not discovered until last week. At first, the pumps had slowed and park officials were able to pump out sewage near the lift stations.

However, now the pumps are out until the 20-year-old frames can be replaced.

“Holidays are our biggest times and usually we are filled on Memorial Day weekend, so this is not going to help,” said Darlene Norman, assistant park superintendent.

Fowler Park last year generated $49,623 in camping fees, followed by Hawthorn Park with $39,745 and Prairie Creek with $14,590, according to the Park Department.

In addition, county park officials are delaying the opening of Fowler Park lake to swimmers until June 2. “The water is still pretty chilly right now,” Ruble said, too cold for swimmers.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.