Some Hart County residents are frustrated because the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will close all five cottages at Hart State Park on July 1.

Six employees at the park will be laid off, said Sally Winchester, the communications manager for Georgia State Parks. Three employees will be given the opportunity to transfer and nine vacant positions will be eliminated, she said.

There will be no on-site manager or emergency services at the park in Hartwell, according to DNR officials. The cuts were announced late last month and will be made effective on July 1 because that is when the new fiscal year will begin, Winchester said.

Residents have started a petition advocating against the cuts and expressing concern that the moves will leave the park open to an infestation of drunkards. The petition will be delivered soon to State Rep. Alan Powell of Hartwell.

Michele Dipert, the president of the Hart County Chamber of Commerce, said her organization is working with the Hart County Board of Commissioners and the Hartwell City Council to find an alternative to the cuts to park services.

“The chamber is disappointed that this could happen,” Dipert said. “We are happy the park will remain open and people will be able to camp there. We are trying to look at the positive aspects rather than the negative.” Dipert said residents will try to form a friends group to advocate for the park.

Winchester said the boat ramp at Hart State Park will remain open and the campground will be open seasonally. There will be a campground host and management from Richard B. Russell State Park in Elberton will visit periodically to help with events and general upkeep, she said. The campgrounds will be self-serve and campers will put money in a lock box before setting up their campsites.

People who have already rented the cottages will have the option of being transferred to another park or receiving a refund, Winchester said.

The cuts to Hart State Park are part of a series of moves associated with a 39 percent reduction of state appropriations to DNR as ordered by the Georgia governor. Winchester said residents have been civil to recreation officials in discussing their thoughts on the cuts.