Some seasonal visitors to the Cochrane Pond campground are relieved that the sad state of the park is no longer out of sight and mind.

Once a thriving cog in the provincial park system, it went private a few years ago with once quaint campsites morphing into makeshift, substandard housing.

In essence, lots of old trailers and trash.

Located across the highway from Paddy’s Pond, the park falls under the City of St. John’s, which last week gave livyers two days to leave, saying the current owner failed to address serious “life-safety” issues.

The city said it will be flexible with the order, noting it will take some people longer than others to pack up, leave and find somewhere else to live.

But there was no sign of movement when VOCM News paid a visit late last week, with most people declining comment.

Two longtime park-goers, however, driven to the site based on news reports, bemoaned what it has become.

“We did camp here about 25 years ago. It was beautiful, the kids loved it, the sites are nice and big, we had friends across the way, we had a wonderful time,” said one woman. “But now it’s really dilapidated and run down. It’s too bad.”

“It’s become a cemetery for camper trailers,” added the woman’s husband, noting at least two went up in flames over the past year. “People go off and just leave them and their mess behind.”