Parks to adopt reservation system, campers unhappy

Oconee’s county parks are on their way toward a reservation system for camp spaces. And some of the county’s most faithful users at the parks expressed their dissatisfaction during last night’s county council meeting. Walhalla resident Duane Wilson presented 175 signatures of park users opposed to a reservation system that’ll open county park camp sites nationally through an online network called Reserve America. Wilson and others say they like the current system of being able to reserve a spot for up to 30 days on a first come, first served basis. But Phil Shirley, director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, said he has greater efficiency in mind and a move to offset slack park attendance outside of the major summer holidays.