River campgrounds have new concession operator

DINGMANS FERRY — John Lonergan will operate the concessions in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, including camping, retail, equipment rentals and other services at Dingman’s Campground and the Valley View Group Campground along the Delaware River.

"This new concession contract will retain the same high standards of service that visitors enjoy now and will improve the environmental sustainability of a very efficient operation," said Michael Caldwell, Northeast Regional Director of the National Park Service.

Expanded visitor services include an array of retail camping supplies and equipment, canoe and kayak rentals, firewood and group camping at the Valley View location, Caldwell said.

The new and expanded concession operation will give visitors a chance to take home a reminder of their Delaware Water Gap experience, he said. Each location will also serve as an information center about the park as a whole, some with interpretive exhibits, brochures and maps.

The new ten-year concession contract is authorized under the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998, which requires a competitive process.

The NPS solicited offers for this contract through a prospectus taht was publicly released in July 2014.