Wellesley Island, Southwick Beach and Westcott Beach state parks will have new toilet and shower buildings by the winter, thanks to a state budget that gave the park system additional capital project money.

Four toilet and shower buildings will be replaced at Wellesley Island and two buildings each at Southwick Beach and Westcott Beach will be replaced. The regional state parks office is preparing to put the projects out to bid.

The estimated cost is between $2 million and $3 million.

"Our hope is that this isn't just a one-year infusion, though we are very appreciative of the funding," Thousand Islands Regional Director Kevin A. Kieff said. "This should be the first year of a five-year plan to address a backlog of needed capital projects."

In addition to the buildings, there will be paving projects throughout the Thousand Islands region, which includes Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Clinton counties, excluding the Adirondack Park.

The three state parks were chosen for facility replacement partly because the existing buildings are in poor condition and partly because there are multiple buildings in close proximity, which may make it easier for a contractor to work on more than one at a time.

Mr. Kieff said this capital projects funding significantly speeds up the schedule for replacing the buildings.

"Our construction capabilities put one of those buildings up a year," he said.

The work will begin after Labor Day as the camping and swimming season winds down.

"We don't want to disrupt patrons utilizing the park," Mr. Kieff said.

But it adds another challenge in planning the work as contractors will have to finish the buildings before winter weather arrives.

The region's state parks, like other state parks across New York, have seen an increase of about 15 percent in reservations for camping this summer.

Mr. Kieff said it appears that the cost of fuel is encouraging New Yorkers to find closer, more affordable vacation options, such as camping.

More campers also means more money for capital improvements at state parks, because camping fees go into a designated infrastructure account for state parks.

"When we have a good year, there's more money for construction projects," Mr. Kieff said. "So far, it looks like it could be a good year."