Show rP National Park Observes Second Anniversary y t i is the Big Project Planning JAM During Early Ealy Development BY MAXINE NEWELL National Park will celebrate its second birthday next Monday September September September Sep Sep- and already over visitors have braved the primitive jeep trails rails to see it These visitors do not mind the he void of facilities in the park nor the rough hints of of roads they must travel to see this acres of natural wonders painstakingly sculptured by nature throughout centuries The Big Question But put there is a a much larger larg larg- er that does docs object the group of nature lovers who prefer to look and leave exploring to more rugged travelers These are the people peo peo- pl pie who are prone to ask Where have the last two years gone Where are the thel l loads ds t the e mu museums and the camping facilities which traditionally go with the nations nation's nations nation's na na- tion's p parks r s The answer answer is of course on paper No podge hodge-podge pl planning g goes goes Into a national park Construction and work pr projects j are first incorporated incorporated incorporated into Info a master plan which intricately details blue blueprints p prints pilots for construction lo location lo 10 cation catton of camping and other facilities la s for visitors official park pai-k buildings and ranger r residences water and future future future fu fu- ture maintenance provisions and aha roads Planning Unique The The planning for these facilities facilities fa fa- duties is Unique in the national nat nat- f ional nal park system In a park a road is not located b because ause it is the shortest distance two points It is carefully designed to tota ta Capture ture lc views along along along al al- al- al ong th td destroy the le least st possible vegetation arid and to b blend bend so int in in- t tp the landscape It is not obvious Wand and nd ugly Guardians of the national parks construction programs aye are its its' landscape architects I 1 Iii IN Ca y veteran de de- designer i sinner sl signer ner Paul Fritz was called i in He Ie came caple armed with a ad d degree in landscape architecture archi arch t lure ture acquired at Utah S State ate University and with witha a af backlog of design expert experience exper exper- t i ce ce at such popular parks a a l. l Flaming g Gorge National Recreation Area Big DIg Horn Can Canyon on in Wyoming Crater Crater Crater Cra Cra- ter Lake National Park Lassen Volcanic National Park Parle Lava Beds NM Oregon Oregon Ore Ore- gon gun Caves NM I. and from making malting preliminary studies of proposed parks at Sawtooth Sawtooth Sawtooth Saw Saw- tooth and the Redwoods Meets Objections lie He came too prepared to weather the objections of practical engineers as he doggedly designed his roads around a precious scrub cedar cedar cedar ce ce- dar tree or via a particularly particular particular- ly beautiful view In areas like vegetation Is priceless he knows Once It is removed It is gone for years Such areas do not lend to planting Nature must be respected Nor does docs Mr Fritz want to leave an nn impression on future visitors that Canyon- Canyon lands is a network of roads The roads will be bo there to take people where they want to go But Dut they will will not be obviously there Jeep Tra Trails is Remain In the of the future present jeep trails so loved by these first thousands thousands thousands ands of visitors will still be jeep trails so completely out of sight of the paved road system the visitors will willbe willbe be In an isolated world of their own own- Even eerie Elephant Elephant Elephant Ele Ele- Hill will be left intact for those who desire to I climb its rocky stairway in wheel 4 drive vehicles Paved roads will be a teaser Mr Fritz says They will take the visitors to tempting overlooks which they will want to explore by jeep on on foot or horseback Yet for those who travel only on pavement it will b ba be bea a satisfying trip sun dings Hidden Park utility buildings and ranger residences will be nestled in coves of the park museums and visitor buildIngs buildings build build- Ings will be of a design compatible compatible compatible com com- with the landscape All utility lines will be underground underground underground un un- un- un and campground areas will toe he located in secluded secluded secluded se se- scenic areas where there is proper vegetation and water yet within easy access to the main roads There will be something I for everyone boaters Vf y rt-y V 7 J J I t J I J. J r if h. h T M l' l j p y I 0 I I IY r Y 1 r A k h. h II I r a i rt i Newly constructed thoroughfare at t The Thet Then n I. t Neck Heck In Na lr al Park 1 which links link toads to ta the northern j park pirk entrance The Tho 16 mile mil I 0 construction Job Is 11 nearing Hearing completion by hikers with roads in the most accessible place I possible without marring the scenery Ahead of Schedule Actually though facilities facUlties seem void in the park palk Can Can- planning is three years ahead of schedule Mr Fritz says In In most parks landscape are arc given given glyen gi gl ven yen three years yean to complete their paper planning before any my construction actually begins But nut there was a clamor clamor clamor cla cla- cla- cla mor for action In Canyon- Canyon lands In the past two years he has barely kept ahead of construction work now in progress and at nt the same time completed some plans up to 5 years in advance One major road is under construction across The Neck northern entrance to National Park Location was no problem here there was only one way to go But nut the jutting I Island of rock which bridges this portion of the park was shaved down to widen the foot 27 strip to a n foot 34 road base hase This 16 10 miles of road took thousand out of the budget budget bud bud- get for an idea of the expense expense ex pense involved in the parks park's road system More MOIe Road Scheduled Plans are completed and bids will soon be asked for foron foron foron on another 16 10 mile road at atthe atthe atthe the sou southern thern en entrance trance of the park leading from the famed Dugout Ranch at the Indian Creek Creck Cattle Co spread to Squaw Flat The two creeks which now jeopardize traffic in flood stage will be toe bridged bridge ed e ed I j These and all other roads in the park will be built for traffic as ns It is expected 20 years from now They willbe willbe will willbe be sufficient in width adhere adhere adhere ad ad- here to a maximum 8 per percent percent percent cent grade and all safety factors will be incorporated Roads are to be graveled for forthe forthe forthe the first four years of development development de de- development with paving at ata a later date Temporary housing for park employees has been es established established es es- and drilling projects projects projects pro pro- have netted water which has been a major issue is issue issue is- is sue in planning the park One of the first objectives NIelson Inc of Dolores Colorado Colorado It ItIs It ItIs ItIs Is expected the area arta will be temporarily closed clod to traffic during daring final stages of construction this week s k e y 1 A c I i J- J Jr r Ir 4 J fl z I t a 1 i ka raW s 1 d e et y L 4 4 y s Panoramic view of the Island In the Sky looking toward Moab Valley Neck Nerk Scene o typical of the grandeur of Colorado river canyons seen and the La Sal Sat mountains from the new park roadway crossing The from the northern section of the park T-l T Photos in National Park was to provide for personnel stationed within the park This is is' a tremendous park large rough and isolated and even even even ev ev- en veteran explorers could 1 easily become lost in its maze of canyons It was I vital to visitors' visitors safety to staff the park and provide visitor contact Directed by WIson I Staffing the park began with the appointment of Bates Dates Wilson as superintendent dent of the complex This Includes Arches Arches Arches Ar Ar- ches National Monument and Natural Bridges as well as ns Mr Wilson has since been named State Coordinator of Activities Activities Activities in the state of Utah Roads are Vital Although the master plan includes a complete complete complete com com- management program land classification or zoning zoning zoning zon zon- ing for wilderness sections trails developed areas recreation rec- rec plan accommodations service facilities facUlties for visitors and a construction schedule to name a few Mr Fritz insists roads are arc the most vital part of the work All AU other facilities are useless in without without without with with- out roads In his overall plans for lor the park there will willbe I Ibe be about abou t 75 or 80 miles of paved road costing some 11 or 12 million This Is s exclusive exclusive exclusive ex ex- of 01 the proposed Long Lont Canyon route which would connect the northern entrance en entrance trance access with the Potash Pot rot ash road He Ue points to the history of Flaming Gorge as an ex ex- example example example ample of what roads in a national park area will accomplish ac In 1961 in that recreation area visitors tors registered in 1962 75 75 In lu 1963 after the dam was completed visitors num num- 1961 I 1965 This year over one million visitors will have toured the national recI recreation recreation rec rec- I area at the end of I the season He said no one thought one camper park he designed design design- ed there for fOl 2800 2500 guests would ever fill This year the park was filled and every every ev ev- ery cry other available cove pushed into use as developed develop develop- ed camper space over the July weekend was taxed taxed taxed tax tax- ed 2 and 3 fold Facilities will now be increased to take care of the influx of visitors tors Expect One Million The 20 year master plan for National Park prepares It for over one million visitors per year ear and the figure will be reached reach reach- ed only after roads are arc developed developed developed de de- according to an nn established established established es es- es- es tourist pattern in other parks During the past 15 1 years Mr 11 Fritz has traversed the cowboy trails in hl Canyon- Canyon lands and segregated the areas to be left in iu wilderness state stale lie He has located and desIgned designed de de- signed the toads roads and supervised super super- wised their transportation to working blueprints Campgrounds Campgrounds Camp Camp- grounds and visitor facilities facil tacil ales Hies are arc artistically planned piano ed and priorities for tor construction construction con con- are spread over a 20 year car period Mr Fritz has almost completed his pre pre- preliminary plan Now its it's up to contractors and nUd engineers to complete the job Planning Pays Off By Dy the time the millions of future visitors pour into the park to fall tall under the spoil spell o u its natural beauty when they succumb to to his pre-planned pre lure Jure to jeep into l secluded areas far from the Increasing ever reno man lands land for a look at the West as early explorers saw It U when these visitors camp campat at in the scenic coves out of ot hearing distance of ofa a automotive motors and see t ir children climbing up rocky inclines and enjoying desert wildlife and vegetation vegetation I tion Uon in its native e state litah Mr lr I Fritz ritz will be hopefully In another of the nations nation's pew new parks paving the tho way for recreation areas for the public pub lic to enjoy |