Tentrr pairs with state to set up camp at 45 regional parks

MILLERTON — Although the four tents placed by the private tent-renting company, Tentrr, directly on the hiking path at the secluded Iron Mine Pond at Taconic State Park in Millerton at the end of April, just a mile from the more popular Rudd Pond, were still standing as of Friday, May 14 — despite assurances from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) on May 2 that they would be relocated, North East town Supervisor Chris Kennan said he’s not worried.

“I have no doubt that the state intends to take them down and I’m guessing that it requires Tentrr to take them down,” said Kennan on Friday morning, “and I’m sure they’re not going to be occupied until they take them down. I’m not worried [the state has] given me an assurance that they’re coming down.” 

That assurance came from Regional Park Director Linda Cooper just days after the tents were erected and so upset members of the community that two petitions were created, one collecting 558 signatures in 24 hours and convincing the parks department and Tentrr to agree to move the four tents from Iron Mine Pond elsewhere. 

On Monday, May 17, Kennan gave a quick update.

“Haven’t been up there, but I’m told they will all be gone by today,” he emailed.

Kennan is among the more than 19 million New York residents (according to the 2010 Census) plus the 265.5 million tourists (according to 2019 numbers, before COVID hit the scene), who have heard the news that the state is hoping to draw everyday citizens to camp at its state parks this summer, through a new private-public partnership with Tentrr. 

Even during the midst of the pandemic in 2020, OPRHP reported the more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more that it oversees were visited by a record 78 million people, despite, or perhaps because so many were tired of being cooped up due to COVID-19. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced 45 new sites that will be outfitted by Tentrr at four state parks in the Hudson Valley on Tuesday, May 4. Tentrr will provide all one needs at the campsites. They can be reserved, including locally at Taconic State Park in Millerton in Dutchess County (it also crosses into Columbia County) and Lake Taghkanic State Park in Columbia County, as well as at Mills-Norrie State Park in Dutchess County and at the Sebago and Silver Mine areas of Harriman State Park in Orange and Rockland Counties.

According to the governor’s office, Tentrr will provide
“the tents, sleeping accommodations and an array of equipment needed for camping at each site.” 

The equipment will be set up and ready to use “upon arrival”  to make camping extra convenient; the camping sites will be maintained by Tentrr staff.

“Camping at a State Park is an ideal way to explore the great outdoors with friends and family,” Cuomo said. “This partnership continues our work to create diverse and exciting destinations to attract visitors to New York’s great outdoors, enhance our tourism economy and help people experience all that the State has to offer.”

The amenities

As described by the state, all of the Tentrr camp sites will offer a 10-foot by 12-foot, canvas-walled tent atop a raised platform. Each site will include a queen-sized bed and memory foam mattress, a propane heating source, a solar-powered “sun” shower, a camp toilet, water container, Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, grill and a picnic table with storage and benches. There will be multiple options for everything from single occupancy to camping available for groups up to 12. 

Local reaction

Kennan said he supports the pilot program, and hopes it accomplishes its goal of getting more people outdoors — especially important after the past year and a half of everyone being confined in quarantine conditions due to the coronavirus.

“I think anything that gets people out into our state parks is a great thing,” he said. “Our state parks are wonderful resources for people to connect to nature, and after the year we’ve been through I think that’s a very healthy, restorative activity, and the Tentrr solution will be something that people that are not diehard campers might think is very attractive.”

New York State Senator Sue Serino (R-41) agrees that the governor’s initiative is a positive one.

“I love this program,” she said, adding Rudd Pond is an ideal place to explore while camping. “I think of when I was growing up. It wasn’t uncommon to take a tent and put our sleeping bags in the backyard; somebody living in the city might not have had that opportunity. In light of the last year, with everybody wanting to be outside and have some breathing space, it’s wonderful for people to get outside. It will bring tourism to our parks, it’s a great opportunity to do that.”

Serino added that she thinks “the state needs to make some nice investments for our parks, too, and it makes sense to do this all the way around and make some revenue.”

Costs and profits

It will cost $135 a night for folks to set up camp at a state park through Tentrr. The  partnership highlights the governor’s NY Parks 100 initiative, “which renews the historic commitment to investing and expanding the State Park system by committing at least $440 million over the next four years,” according to Cuomo’s website.

When asked for specifics on how much of a percentage the state will earn and how much money will go to Tentrr, OPRHP Public Affairs Bureau Public Information Officer Dan Keefe gave the following response:

“It’s too early to reliably predict revenue/visitation impacts as we are in the first weeks of a pilot agreement.” 

Private companies profit off public land

As to concerns some local residents have voiced regarding private companies profiting off of renting tents on state land, Keefe said that shouldn’t be a worry.

“State Parks has several other active partnerships with private vendors to provide camping services, including at Allegany and Sampson State Parks,” Keefe said. “State Parks has long partnered with private vendors to leverage limited resources to offer expanded visitor services. All contracts must comply with state law and are independently approved by the state comptroller’s office and the attorney general. Vendors provide an array of recreational and hospitality services that enhance the experience for many visitors — from small snack bars to historic hotels such as the Bear Mountain Inn and the Gideon Putnam to kayak rental concessions and rafting tours to the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.”

Regarding other sensitive issues about Tentrr tents, especially at Taconic State Park, Kennan mentioned specifics.

“The siting of tents in state parks is something that should be carefully thought through,” said the town supervisor. “And especially when they are in close proximity to a community like Millerton, I think community input is my first concern. And I think the state park should be thoughtful in places that are frequently used by a community which are very beautiful and undeveloped because putting tents in the middle of or right by a pond that has no other structures, no other signs of human occupation, is really intrusive.”

Serino, meanwhile, is confident the parks department wants to do right by the town and village.

“They want this program to work the right way,” she said, “they don’t want anything to prevent this from being a complete success.”

For more information, go to www.tentrr.com or go to www.parks.ny.gov.