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Show Tourism board spending $25, 000 to lobby rebuilding of cause way By JOHN W. CANNON Outdoor Editor ANTELOPE ISLAND - The Davis County Tourism Advisory Board has appropriated $25,000 for the next two years to lobby for legislative and public support for the rebuilding of the Syracuse Causeway to Antelope Island. For the 1990 calendar year, $12,500 has been appropriated, and $12,500 has been appropriated for the 1991 calendar year. The money comes from a three percent transient tran-sient room tax on Davis County businesses and is part of a $100,000 a year budget. The $12,500 will be used each year to hire professional help in communicating the positive effects of opening Antelope Island to the Legislature and the press. "We wanted to spend part of this budget to influence the decision on rebuilding the causeway," said Bruce Lloyd, Chairman of the Davis County Tourism Advisory Board. "We want to get it opened for tourists as soon as possible." "Right now our intent is to gain access for tourists; we have not addressed ad-dressed the issue of water quality of Farmington Bay. We have not addressed ad-dressed any environmental concerns," con-cerns," said Lloyd. Louis Cooper of the Davis County Coun-ty Environmental Health Department Depart-ment has expressed grave concerns about the water quality and environmental envir-onmental impact of rebuilding the causeway as it formerly existed. According to Mitch Lars son, , Antelope Island State Park Manager, the island park was generating ge-nerating about $14,000,000 into the local economy each year before the floods closed the park. This figure includes money spent on hotels, food and other activities on which tourists spend money. "Seventy-two percent of park visitors are from out of state, and that generates economy in Davis County," said Larsson. He predicts that if the park were re-opened, visitors could generate as much as $40 to $50 million into the local economy each year. "Antelope Island is a gem in the rough for Utah, ' said Larsson. Lloyd agrees and said, "I really like Antelope Island, it could be a very successful state park." |