Richard Ardito lives in Cranston.
I have been vacationing at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground in Rhode Island for many years, and each year it takes me four to seven days to get a site. Reservations are made through Reserve America, which most state parks use, and are available down to the minute starting at a year in advance. The reservation window for all Rhode Island campgrounds opens at 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends.
My wife and I sit at the computer at 10 minutes to eight o’clock 365 days in advance, each with a computer and an iPhone, and the page we want to reach is already loaded. All we have to do is press the booking button at 8 o’clock sharp on weekdays or 9 o’clock on weekends.
But even though we make four attempts to access the site, we are usually too late. Hundredths of a second too late. So the next day it’s back to the computer and iPhone.
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The process is frustrating and frightening.
When we arrive at Fishermen’s Campground to begin our vacation, we are surrounded by campers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and other states, many of whom have prime spots – spots we missed 365 days ago.
This process is not fair to the people of Rhode Island.
I have used Reserve America to book campgrounds in other states, and most of those states offer their residents first choice by opening the reservation window to out-of-towners for up to six months. after Your residents make their decisions. I understand that and think it’s fair since they are the taxpayers who fund the recreational facilities in their state.
Here in Rhode Island, we pay an income tax, we are taxed at the pumps, we pay a sales tax, and many other taxes. With all this revenue generated at the expense of residents, why don’t we get anything in return – like preferential booking of our state’s recreational facilities? In other states, this is already the case. Why am I competing with people who can theoretically book online anywhere in the world?
Every time I meet other Rhode Islanders at Fishermen’s, I hear the same question: Why is it so hard to book a campsite?
I suggest that facilities that book campgrounds in Rhode Island give Rhode Island residents the opportunity to book an hour earlier than residents of other states. I realize they pay more than locals, but I do that when I travel to facilities in other states, too. It just makes sense that Rhode Island residents get that benefit.
