Zion National Park looks to redesign south entrance

Zion's iconic south entrance sign and monument provides a favorite photo opportunity for visitors to the park, Zion National Park, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Zion National Park, St. George News

SPRINGDALE – The iconic sign and monument at Zion National Park’s south entrance, a favorite photo opportunity for visitors from all over the world, is likely to get an overhaul soon. It is one of the many things the park is planning to help ease congestion caused by increased visitation.

This simulation shows what a reconfiguration of the monument at the south entrance to Zion National Park, Utah, may look like. Simulation dated June 13, 2016 | Image courtesy of Zion National Park, St. George News
This simulation shows what a reconfiguration of the monument at the south entrance to Zion National Park, Utah, may look like. Simulation dated June 13, 2016 | Image courtesy of Zion National Park, St. George News

The monument’s current placement is too close to the roadway, Zion Public Information Officer John Marciano said.

“Many visitors who park their vehicles and get out to take photos with the backdrop of the monument sometimes wander out into the fee station road lane and become a safety hazard,” he said. “Anytime we can do something to mitigate vehicle congestion, and or enhance safety for our park visitors then it’s a make-sense proposition.”

The current placement of the South Entrance monument “has resulted in prolonged visitor wait times to enter the park,” according to the South Entrance reconfiguration planning page. “The current location of the site forces visitors stopping to view the monument to congregate in the roadway which presents a safety hazard to pedestrians and further delays traffic entering the park.”

Zion is proposing to move the entrance monument, which is over 80 years old, approximately 28 feet east from its current location, construct a monument plaza surrounding it, and restructure the parking area next to it in order to provide additional space for vehicles entering the park. A simulation image of what the reconfiguration of the monument may look like is included with this report.

“The existing parking area would be reconfigured to allow for a monument parking exit lane and parallel parking spaces bordering the pedestrian walkway,” the park’s planning page on the South Entrance configuration states.

The project will also install a walkway on the eastern edge of the parking area and a seatwall, “which would help keep visitors from climbing on the monument structure and therefore protect the monument and further enhance visitor safety,” Marciano said.

The monument itself would be reinforced by an underground concrete footing and the wooden pole and the sign would be reoriented “to reflect the historic arrangement,” the planning page states.

According to a recent news release, the redesign should, “enhance visitor safety, expand cultural resource protection measures and help mitigate factors contributing to vehicle congestion experienced at the South Entrance.”

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the park will prepare an environmental assessment that will evaluate potential issues and impacts to park resources the project might incur, especially since the monument is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“It is necessary to make sure accurate studies are made, and all precautions are taken to mitigate any impacts on the proposed site change of the monument,” Marciano said.

The reconfiguration of the monument site is a separate project from the current visitor use management plan, which has discussed installing an express lane and another fee station at the South Entrance, Marciano said, but it “certainly will figure into helping the congestion issue at the front entrance.”

Read more: St. George News series “Zion National Park traffic jam”

To reduce impacts on Zion’s traffic, the project would be done simultaneously with a larger Utah Department of Transportation reconstruction project along state Route 9.

“The UDOT State Route 9 project that would include resurfacing and other types of road improvements from the Town of Rockville, through Springdale and ending at the South Entrance to the Park,” the planning page states. “Historic material would be salvaged and reused to the extent possible and any new construction would be designed to blend with existing structures and/or landscape through the use of similar architectural features, materials, and color.”

Marciano said the park hopes to have the monument reconfiguration done by Spring 2017. It is anticipated that the project, funded by visitor entrance fees, will take 60-90 days to complete once construction begins.

As it has been doing with the Visitor Use Management Plan it’s currently formulating to address recent overcrowding issues, Zion is seeking public input regarding the monument reconfiguration. Interested parties can comment online or glean additional information on the proposed project by visiting Zion’s planning website. They can also comment through the U.S. mail by writing to: Superintendent, Attention: South Entrance Monument EA, Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767. Comments must be submitted by Dec. 28.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

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1 Comment

  • .... December 2, 2016 at 8:17 am

    This is absolutely fantastic news and I’m sure this will result in a positive reaction from the visitors and will help ease congestion and also improve safety for all those visiting. and I would like to thank all those involved in making this possible !

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