Show Natives Tal Tale Take e Utah Scenery For Granted long have taken the wealth of scenic and recreation recreation- recreational al attractions in n their home state stale for granted so long in fact that they occasionally are accused of smugness by out out-of- state visitors It is s true that Utah ha three national parks tying Calif Calif- California ornia for first place in that category Its It's also true that utah is second in number of national monuments with eight and fourth in the number of national forests with six Then there are two national recreation areas a national his his- tonic e site and a vast vast Id I'd d area protected under the National Wilderness Act The state park system like like- likewise wise has expanded greatly duro dur- during ing the past three years Dur- Dur During leg ing the short period of time more than a dozen state parks have been added bringing the total to 35 It is ironic to that their state still thought to be bea bea a vast desert by many eastern Americans has 16 boating state parks and 15 where swimming is permitted Water Water skiing skiing rap rap- rapidly idly gaining In popularity with is a chief attraction at nearly half the state slate parks inthe in inthe the utah system Sixteen of the state parks are historic in nature eight are geologic attractions 21 parks have camping facilities 24 arc scenic and seven are museums Only seven of the 35 parks are are undeveloped a situation to be remedied as the Utah Park Recreation Commission budget expands Finally utah is liberally sprinkled with scenic areas that if they were to be beat ed in nearly any other state probably would have been in eluded in the state or national park systems ms |