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Desert View project<br>set to commence this spring

The National Park Service expects to break ground on its upgraded Desert View facilities by this coming March.

"This will be a two-year project. We expect to start it next March and extend through the next two construction seasons," the park’s Mark Johnston said.

Comments on the Colorado River Management Plan will be accepted until Nov. 1. So far, around 5,800 comments have been received by the National Park Service. (NPS photo)

Johnston said plans call for all components of the project to be finished during the first calendar year, with the new Desert View entrance station to follow in 2003-04.

The main purpose for the project is to accommodate more visitors in the future.

"If any of you have been out to Desert View on a busy day, you know the parking area is not big enough," Johnston said. "This will create more parking and a system of walkways. There will be a loop for transit buses."

Desert View Drive will be altered and will be done in conjunction with other highway work.

The project also upgrades the Desert View housing area, which was dictated by the park’s General Management Plan.

"The GMP calls for a big upgrade to the housing area, especially to remove all the trailers ... with permanent structures to be built so people have a better place to live."

Johnston said work has started on a four-plex and an eight-plex with Xanterra Parks and Resorts to begin an eight-plex of its own in the near future. In addition, Johnston said that in previous discussions, it was brought up that Grand Canyon Association may need a six-plex for its needs. Delaware North Parks Services also will be constructing buildings for its use.

"We’re making use of infrastructure built there in the late ‘60s, but the buildings were never built," Johnston said. "That helps us out in a couple of ways. It allows us to minimize the disturbance and utilize utility corridors."

In other news from the Oct. 10 meeting:

o The park’s John Beshears reported progress on various projects, including the new maintenance complex. Beshears said plans call for interior work to be done at the complex over the winter with the projection completion date set for May 30.

o Beshears reported that landfills on the North Rim will be officially closed. The park actually stopped using them in 1991 but final closure has not occurred until now. A wastewater treatment plant at Desert View, which has been in the works for three or four years, reached the "notice to proceed" stage with the contractor last week.

o The recycling program was reviewed and clarifications made regarding acceptable materials. Beshears said plastic bags are not acceptable, but in certain situations such as bagging shredded paper, they would be OK. The recycling containers will feature new decals in the near future and eventually will be reorganized. Beshears said the new recycling program could cut the amount of solid waste in the park to 1,200 pounds per year. The South Rim landfill will likely not be used after Jan. 1, although an official closing may not occur for several years until it can be financed.

o On the question of a co-regeneration plant proposed for the area, Beshears said the park will "definitely want to participate in any kind of local or regional solution for solid waste because there isn’t one now." But he added, there are concerns about impact on air quality along with other questions. It appears an independent feasibility study for the plant is going to be financed through various grants.

o The finishing touches are the Mather Point-Pipe Creek Overlook segment of the Greenway were to be finished last week. The last hurdles was to tear the gates down.

o Xanterra’s Bill Johnston said a new purchasing warehouse and two houses are under construction.

o Grand Canyon Railway’s Ervin White gave an update on the depot and track upgrade project. White said there’s hope that the project phase will be completed by the first or second week of November.

o The park’s Sara White said there are several projects ongoing and under review. White added that a tamarisk eradication trip was to leave Oct. 11. The project will be taking place in various side canyons, not the main corridor.

o Public affairs officer Maureen Oltrogge reported that 175 people attended Colorado River Management Plan open houses in California and Maryland. In all, the park has received around 5,800 comments on the plan. Comments will be accepted until Nov. 1.

o The park introduced Kristy Bryner, who now heads up commercial filming permits. Bryner, who worked at Grand Canyon about 20 years ago, said there were 33 permit numbers issued in fiscal year 2002, although 10 did not make it through the process. Among the travel shows filmed at the Canyon was a BBC production called "Fifty Places to See Before You Die." Grand Canyon ranked No. 1 on the list. Bryner said the show is supposedly to be reworked for the American market, but under a different title.

o Grand Canyon Walk-In Clinic’s Bill Cooper and Kurt Petrie discussed various changes, including a new physician hired to come on board in November. The clinic is looking for a second physician.


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