Zion Forever asks commission for $5 million to stabilize national parks; commissioners press for regional vetting

The Zion Forever Project asked the Utah Outdoor Adventure Commission to accept an out‑of‑sequence proposal for $5,000,000 to stabilize operations and address urgent infrastructure needs at Utah’s national parks and several monuments.

Stephanie Lyon, chief of staff for the Zion Forever Project, told the commission the request is a statewide, coordinated effort that would initially concentrate on the five most‑visited parks in Utah — Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion — and could extend to nearby monuments such as Golden Spike. Lyon said park partners and peer nonprofits have identified “urgent, ready‑to‑implement” projects that would focus on trail repair, visitor sanitation and emergency response.

Heath Hansen of Washington County and Commissioner Adam Snow both described Zion National Park as an economic engine for their region. Hansen said Zion alone generates roughly $970 million in annual economic impact, including about $650 million in direct spending in gateway communities, and argued the requested funding would protect jobs and…