Yes, definitely park in the park. Besides getting ticketed or towed, parking without permission amounts to trespassing. I'm sure that all the parking in the small space available on park property and it getting torn up into a mud pit is what got it closed. The businesses pay dearly for their space and it's not fair to them to park there and take up potential customer parking to go fishing behind their place of business. I'm sure none of us would tolerate someone parking in our driveway or front yard to go to the park at the end of the street.
Also note that "berm parking" is prohibited in the park as well, so pulling off and parking in any area that isn't a designated area can result in tickets as well. It only takes a few people to get things going in the wrong direction. Especially with the theft issues out there last year, we need the eyes of the park rangers and local sheriff and pd. Not keeping them busy ticketing and towing cars gives them more time to patrol and watch out for suspicious activity.
Spud one, spud two, if it went through, so will you!