EVANSDALE -- One of the Cedar Valley's largest campgrounds is about to get bigger in an effort to relieve congestion during busy weekends.

Deerwood Park, just off Highway 20 in Evansdale, already has 132 sites for campers and 30-some spots for tents. Yet, patrons say by Friday evening it's tough to find a spot to camp at times and the park feels crowded due to the volume of campers, vehicles and people.

Turning five more acres into 20 modern, spacious campsites will provide a little more breathing room. Park officials hope Frickson Brothers, a local contractor, will start moving dirt in the next two weeks and have the project competed by the end of the camping season.

"I think it will relieve the congestion," said Marilyn Benhoff, camp host. "Even without sewer, they will be very high demand sites. … All the old (electrical) sites weren't designed for the large units."

The city will use $116,000 in local option sales tax and hotel/motel tax money to pay for the expansion just south of the original campground. Frickson Brothers will build a horse shoe-shaped road with 12 back-in and eight pull-through sites to accommodate today's large motor homes and campers. Each site will have 30-amp and 50-amp power and water.

The back-in sites will be angled for easier parking. Each new site will have a level, graveled pad, the opposite of the majority of Deerwood spots.

Campers in the new addition will enjoy about 50 feet of space -- much more than the Fogdall Addition that was built six years ago where space gets pretty tight when slide-outs and awnings are extended.

"I saw the need for expansion," said Jeff Dawson, Evansdale Park Board president who spearheaded the project. "There's a lot of potential here, it's just getting the funds to follow through, and people still want us to do more."

Given the popularity of camping these days, the opening of the Isle of Capri casino that's expected to draw thousands of people to the area each year, busy local families that still want to camp but not miss activities and the price of gas -- spending money to expand is a can't-miss opportunity, Dawson said.

Deerwood revenues have increased by 5 percent each of the last five years. Camping receipts for 2006 totaled $106,000. By April 14, the campground already collected $36,300, keeping it on pace to meet or exceed the trend.

"We expect a lot more traffic. We don't count people, we count money," Dawson said.

Mayor John Mardis said that's why the City Council doesn't have a problem with earmarking tax dollars for Deerwood. Not only is it a public-use treasure, but one of the rare money makers for the city. The campground is self-supporting and then some.

This year's Parks Department operation and maintenance budget was $65,000. Some profits are tucked away for improvements before winding up in city coffers. For example, electrical upgrades and the bathroom/shower house was built without taxpayer support, as are repairs and clean-up when the Cedar River invades the campground on occasion washing away sites and roads.

"It's a great amenity for our residents. You would be surprised to find out how many use it," Mardis said. "It's also a great revenue producer for our town. There's not many proprietary services cities can offer.

"It pays for our entire Parks Department," he added. "If we put some capital funds in, I think it's a great return for our citizens."

Angie Roquet, who lives on Hansen Drive, couldn't agree more. She and her husband spent a few days during the middle of the week recently at Deerwood with their five children, ranging in age from 1 to 13.

A small fold-down camper for the family of seven is a tight fit. But luckily, Angie said, Deerwood has plenty of new playground equipment to entertain the kids so they're off playing most of the time.

The weekend congestion is exactly why the family chose a mini mid-week vacation. Angie said Deerwood is great -- the couple can still work and the kids don't miss T-ball and other games -- but she'll be glad when the addition is done so weekend camping is more of an option again.

"We like it here. It's nice and inexpensive compared to other parks," Angie said. "I think it (the addition) is a good idea. It's always pretty busy."

Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.