Chewelah Relaunches City Park Campsites With Reservation System

The city of Chewelah has relaunched camping at Chewelah City Park with a new, reservation-only system after concerns last year about campsite use, payment, and management. City officials said they closed the campsites for the season last fall after residents raised concerns about the use and abuse of the sites. Resident Tom Ward had previously brought concerns to the Chewelah City Council about issues at the campground, including transient camping and people abusing the former honor system, which relied on campers using an onsite drop box to pay for sites. The future of the campsites had also been discussed by the council, including whether the area should be converted into additional parking for the Chewelah Farmers Market and park users. Instead, the city has moved forward with reopening the campsites under a more structured system. “We have launched a reservation system – Campspot,” Chewelah City Administrator Tonya Wallace said. “The campground will be reservation-only.” The reservation system is available through the city’s website, cityofchewelah.org, under the Chewelah City Park campsite page. Wallace said the city is also working to make the new system accessible for campers who may arrive at the park or need help making a reservation. “To make the process as easy as possible, we are installing new signage with a QR code and a phone number,” Wallace said. “Folks are also welcome to stop by city hall, where we will assist them in person.” Wallace said visitors will notice improvements to the area. “While not a complete renovation, the restrooms have been deep cleaned and polished, with new windows installed,” Wallace said. “You will also notice new gravel and clearly delineated parking spaces.”