海角大神

Nothing says camping like a charcoal grill, a tent next to an open fire ... and a clear view of the New York City skyline?

So says Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who announced plans Monday to extend trails around New York Harbor, draw new visitors to the area鈥檚 10 national parks, and transform a small camping area into America鈥檚 largest urban campground.

鈥淲hat we are doing in New York,鈥� Mr. Salazar said in Brooklyn at the future site of the campground in Jamaica Bay, 鈥渨ill create a model for a new generation of great urban parks in America.鈥�

Visitors today can choose from five campsites at Floyd Bennett Field, which served as New York鈥檚 first municipal airport in the 1930s and has been part of the Gateway National Recreation Area since 1972. The National Park Service plans to expand the campground to 90 sites within the next two years 鈥� and up to 600 sites when eventually completed.

The park enhancements are part of an initiative launched last year by President Obama to reconnect Americans, particularly young people, with the great outdoors. Hiking, biking and camping 鈥� even in a semi-urban setting 鈥� are good for the mind and body, Salazar said during an interview Monday.

鈥淧eople that spend time outside,鈥� Salazar said, 鈥渁re healthier than people who stay inside on the couch.鈥�

In an effort to convince stubborn city-dwellers to trade their tenements for tents, Gateway National Recreation Area will host free camping workshops this summer tailored to multigenerational families. The park service may also send staff to low-income communities to encourage visits to the campground, says Suzanne McCarthy, Gateway鈥檚 deputy superintendent.

The hope, Ms. McCarthy says, is to engage 鈥減eople that might not traditionally think about camping 鈥� especially in New York City.鈥�

So, what might a camper looking to pitch a tent in the Big Apple expect? A Gateway spokeswoman describes the campsites as "primitive" 鈥� each about 900 square feet (envision a space 30 feet long x 30 feet wide) with a fire ring, charcoal grill, and heavy wooden picnic table. There are portable restrooms but no showers. Of course, there are the harbor views.

The park service plans to ease travel between the region鈥檚 parks by bridging gaps in the extensive New York Harbor trail and working with the city to expand its ferry service. It will also give would-be campers a chance to preview several outdoor historic sites via smartphone applications and video podcasts available on iTunes.

More than 13 million people visit New York Harbor鈥檚 national parks each year 鈥� generating about $1.8 billion in revenue for the region, according to the Department of the Interior. Still, it may take some convincing to get tourists here to spend a night under the stars.

鈥淲hen I think of New York, I think bright lights and excitement,鈥� says Amy Wilson, a visitor from Harrisburg, Pa., as she took in the decidedly unnatural sights in Times Square. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 associate New York with camping at all.鈥�

Michele Calamia, Ms. Wilson鈥檚 travel companion, who is from Palisade, Colo., chuckled at the thought of a Brooklyn campground.

鈥淚鈥檓 camping now,鈥� said Ms. Calamia, 鈥渁t the Marriott.鈥�