Zion National Park officials want to explore with the public how to improve the visitor experience/NPS

How would you improve the visitor experience at Zion National Park in Utah? More rangers? Fewer visitors? With visitation to the park on an upward swing in recent years, park staff wants to know how best to welcome visitors while not trampling park resources and the park experience.

To gather your thoughts on this issue, park staff is hosting a series of public listening sessions as part of a Visitor Use Management planning process.

Visitation to Zion has been increasing for decades, but extraordinarily since 2010, according to park officials. In 2015, 3,662,220 people visited the park, 450,624 more visitors than in 2014, which was also a record year. Zion’s busy season continues to extend further into the early spring and late fall. For example, March 2016 visitation was 112 percent higher than 2012 visitation. This increase in visitation has begun to overtax park infrastructure and service capability, degrade natural and cultural resources, and adversely affect visitors’ park experiences.

To address these issues, Zion began a Visitor Use Management planning process in January. As part of this process, the park would like to hear from the public in an informal open house listening session.

“Your voice is extremely important in this process,” says Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh. “We want to hear about your experiences at Zion National Park, your perspectives on visitor use levels, and any recommendations you may have to enhance resource protection and visitor experience.”

The VUM planning process will also include a commercial services strategy for the park. This will outline the park’s five-year plan for providing enhanced commercial services to visitors while looking at current activities, future needs, commercial use authorization permitting, and special park uses.

The public meeting schedule is:

Monday, May 23, 5 p.m.-7p.m.

Canyon Community Center

126 Lion Blvd, Springdale, UT

Tuesday, May 24, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Sharwan Smith Student Center, Brian Head Room

Southern Utah University

351 W. 200 S., Cedar City, UT

Wednesday, May 25, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Dixie Center, Entrada Room

1835 Convention Center Drive, St., George, UT

Thursday, May 26, 5-7 p.m.

Kanab City Library, Multipurpose Room

374 North Main, Kanab UT

There will be no formal presentation; participants can arrive anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Another opportunity people have to participate in a Zion Visitor Use Management Plan Listening Session is through a webex. Participates just need Internet access.

Wednesday, June 1, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time)

Event number: 666 519 501

Event password: eN3JwQPC

To join the webex, go to the following link: https://goo.gl/lH1GMy

To join the audio conference only, dial:

US Toll: +1-415-655-0002

Access code: 666 519 501

During the next few years, there will be many opportunities for visitors and local community members to be part of the planning process. People who cannot attend the listening sessions and wish to be notified of future opportunities for involvement as the planning process continues, should email his/her name and mailing address to [email protected].