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Tuesday, Jul. 01, 2008

Bibb lake getting back into shape for Fourth of July

It may be next summer before Lake Tobesofkee returns to normal from May's tornado damage, but a step in that direction will come this week when Claystone Park reopens for camping.

About 30 campsites will be open in time for Fourth of July outings - and they could be available by Wednesday.

Sandy Beach has been open to the public for the past couple of weekends, said Doug Furney,the director of the Tobesofkee Recreation Area, but Arrowhead and Claystone parks have yet to open. Arrowhead Park in particular still looks like "a war zone," he said.

"It's going to be a year before we get back to where we were," Furney said Monday. But when that happens, "it will be much better than it was before."

Tobesofkee will be upgrading the electricity available at the park, and the water delivery system will be improved as well, he said.

To prepare for the expected surge of campers, debris removal has been going full throttle, Furney said.

Many campers are looking forward to setting up their tents or camping in their recreational vehicles for the first time since the the tornado's substantial damage May 11. The park received more than 30 calls Monday alone, Furney said.

Leah Morris was one of those callers. She has been in touch with Tobesofkee staff weekly since the storm. Ultimately, she decided to make other plans, even though going to Tobesofkee on July Fourth had been "kind of a tradition."

Morris and her husband are playing it safe because they don't want to risk not getting a campsite, which is possible, since spots will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Amanda Craig aims to get one of them. She said she likes Tobesofkee because it's the closest campsite to her house and "its not as crowded as some other lakes," she said.

That may not hold true Friday night. Furney expects a big crowd for the Sparks Over the Park fireworks show, with people "parking just about anywhere they can."

While workers are rushing to clean up Claystone Park and Sandy Beach, work on Arrowhead Park has yet to begin. FEMA still needs to evaluate the site, Furney said.

For now, though, his staff's main concern "is having a good July Fourth."