SACRED HEART -- The July 1 storm and the high waters of the Minnesota River have left their marks in Renville County's parks too.
All of the Renville County parks offering overnight camping are open for both camping and day use, but visitors will see piles of brush as cleanup efforts continue.
The July 1 storm inflicted damage to trees in all of the county parks, according to Barry Huisman, parks supervisor. Huisman and his crew have been able to open the park roads and trails, but there is still cleanup work under way.
The July 1 storm made roads impassable in Beaver Falls. Fortunately, one of the campers in the park that night was the owner of a tree clearing service, according to Mark Erickson, environment and community development director for the county. The chainsaw wielding Samaritan opened the way for his fellow campers to exit the park on the day after the storm.
High waters along the Minnesota River have kept two Renville County parks -- Mack Lake and Anderson Lake -- closed for the entire summer. They were closed for much of last season due to high water levels as well.
