Stony Creek Metropark has opened a new campground and is offering five family-friendly weekends there this summer and fall.

Families can make reservations now to camp at the new Ridgewood Campground during these special weekends:

• June 22-24
• July 20-22
• Aug. 10-12
• Aug. 31-Sept. 3
• Oct. 12-14 (This will be a Halloween-themed weekend.)

Ridgewood features 45 secluded and rustic campsites, located near park attractions. It's a short walk through the woods to Stony Creek Lake and to the park's hike/bike trail, which circles the water and accesses most park facilities. The campground is one mile from the park's Eastwood Beech, and two miles from the Nature Center.

Of Ridgewood's 43 standard campsites, two are handicap-accessible and four are primitive walk-in only. The campground also has two larger, premium sites which can accommodate more tents or campers.

The standard campsites can accommodate up to one camper and two tents. Only tents are allowed at the primitive sites. Up to two campers and three tents, or five tents (no campers), are allowed at the premium sites.

The standard campsite fee is $40 per weekend; the premium campsite fee is $80 per weekend. For the three-day Labor Day Weekend, campsites will be rented for $20 per night for a standard site, and $40 a night at a premium site. Park entry is charged separately. Pre-registration with a full non-refundable payment is recommended.

All campers will have 24-hour access to restrooms. Showers are available at the Eastwood Beach bathhouse. Tents, campers and motor homes are allowed but there are no hookups (water or electricity) at the campsites.
Check-in time starts at noon on Friday; checkout is by 6 p.m. Sunday.

Also, in an effort to provide a quieter, more natural experience, no generators will be allowed, except at four designated sites, which include the two handicap-accessible ones.

To help campers, a campground host will be on site each weekend.

For more information, contact Stony Creek Metropark at 586-781-4242, or go to www.metroparks.com.