KVNUFTP

Twelve Utah Parks Get Stimulus Funds

Tribune:

Twelve parks in the state will get funds from the massive federal stimulus effort to prop up crumbling trails, buildings, walls and historic sites, Salazar said at a news conference atop the Interior Department building overlooking the Washington Monument.

“From the Statue of Liberty to Yellowstone, from Independence Hall to Death Valley, American workers will revitalize our parks, rehabilitate visitors centers and tackle long-delayed maintenance projects,” Salazar said. “This is not only an investment in our economy, it is an investment in our heritage.”

In Utah, Dinosaur National Park near Vernal will get the biggest boost: $13 million to demolish and replace condemned portions of the Quarry Visitors Center.

The visitor center has had continuing problems with foundation movement since its 1957 construction. In July 2006, the Park Service closed the building due to serious life and safety hazards.

Zion National Park will get funds to install solar panels and fix trails, while Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southeastern Utah will get about $8 million to preserve 68 miles of roads.

The $24 million is only a start in addressing a $9 billion backlog in maintenance and repair requests from national parks across the nation, left underfunded by the Bush administration.

The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees says this is a “bold start” to what they see as an opportunity for major job creation within the National Parks system.