Only two sites are available on Friday, and two will open on Saturday. That makes it a typical weekend, Deffner said.

The park also brings in revenue from rental of its picnic pavilions, which range from $62 to $86 on weekends, and $42 to $66 on weekdays.

According to DCNR, last year’s revenue at the state park was $135,000. Its budget is almost $600,000.

“Anecdotally, across our parks, we are seeing a slight pickup this year,” said Christina Novak, DCNR spokeswoman. “Overall our reservations for overnight stays are up slightly, but for shorter periods of time. Anecdotally, people are staying closer to home, and looking for an affordable opportunity to get away.”

-- E-mail comments to tpursell@dailyitem.com.

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600 may attend rally

A picnic and rally are scheduled for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 21 at R.B. Winter State Park, the recreation area near Mifflinburg that may be closed as the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources faces budget cuts in a number of 2009-2010 spending plans.

Local legislators and officials are invited so they can hear the views of attendees, said Stephen Connolley, of White Deer Township, near Lewisburg.

Connolley and Dave Bressi are listed as site administrators of a recently created Facebook account, “Save the R.B. Winter (Halfway Dam) State Park.” The effort has attracted nearly 3,000 members.

Web site creator Bressi writes on the page, “Please help fight against the proposal to close 35 state parks in Pennsylvania as well as many other DCNR programs, such as gypsy moth spraying and the tree seedling program due to proposed cuts of $19M in funding to the DCNR.”

“There is so much sentiment attached to R.B. Winter,” Connolley said. “This is something people care deeply about.”

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