The Mooretown Campground is getting a one-year reprieve.

Council discussed closing the facility at its meeting Monday afternoon. The campground needs some improvements to both water and hydro at the campground estimated to cost between $1 million and $2 million.

Staff says over the past three years Mooretown has generated $97,962 in revenue, and used $37,457 of General Revenue funds for capital/operating expenses.

It was suggested the council should close the grounds at the end of the 2025 camping season.

The council chamber was filled with people who rent spots at the site, asking council to reconsider. Brenda D’Angela was among them. D’Angela says she and her husband specifically chose Mooretown because it is close to Sarnia. They care for an aging parent and need to be close by. And she says, they found the atmosphere they wanted at the campground.

“We’d stop and talk to people, how do you like it here? And we did explore other campgrounds as well. But the feel was family. It was family. Everybody was close knit. Everybody got along. It was fun. It was just a it was what we were looking for close to home,” she said.

Camper Ethel Symington asked staff what had been done to increase revenue, particularly after the township removed 10 seasonal campsite several years ago.

Mayor Jeff Agar said there was nothing that could have been done.

After a 40 minute discussion, Councillor Pat Brown, suggested the township needed more time to look at the options. “I don’t know what we’re going to do with this property if we do close it,” he said adding the township should continue to keep it open and come up with a plan. “We could upgrade (hydro and water) section by section…it’s got to be workable.”

Council agreed and postponed the closure a year.

Mayor Jeff Agar suggested the campers have to be open to new ideas, including a surcharge to help pay for the upgrades. “If I was losing my spot and I had a chance to do something like that.”

D’Angela, who spoke for a committee at the campground, said the group was interested in helping the township make Mooretown a success.