State-park officials talk camping, boating and safety during the Fourth of July weekend

A busy Fourth of July weekend is expected at Tuttle Creek State Park.

That’s according to Todd Lovin, the Tuttle Creek State Park manager, who says camp sites are all booked up.

“This year, we’re seeing just record numbers of people coming to the park,” Lovin said. “If you want to camp, you need to make a reservation early. Every weekend is pretty much 100 percent full. Cabins, you know, are the same way. Even during the week is the same way on those.”

According to Lovin, there are still plenty of primitive camping areas available, such as the Cedar Ridge area by Wildcat Marina.

He says that people who do decide to go camping should avoid setting off fireworks, as they are banned at parks across the state.

“They just don’t fit very well, is one of the main reasons,” Lovin said. “Any direction you shoot something off there’s people. And really, it just becomes about public safety more than anything else.”

As for general safety tips, Lovin encourages people to stay away from alcohol when boating and to use extra caution around camp fires.

Ben Jedlicka, a game warden for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, says each person on a boat needs to have a life jacket available to them.

For more information about camping reservations, activities and safety at Tuttle Creek State Park, visit ksoutdoors.com or call 785-539-7941.