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 local businesses.

Zion Forever and county officials said the funds would be managed with transparency; the nonprofit said it has experience administering grants and has worked with the commission previously. Presenters provided examples of near‑term needs: Zion’s sewer infrastructure projects could reduce the park’s annual porta‑potty expense by roughly $300,000, they said, and other parks cited smaller but high‑return needs such as school‑bus access and trailhead repairs.

Commissioners pressed presenters on process and priorities. Some members said the commission must balance any out‑of‑sequence award against funds expected through the regular regional council review and ranking process later in the year. Commissioner Natalie Randall and others requested clearer breakdowns of where the $5 million would go, whether counties and gateway communities would match or contribute funds, and how the award would coordinate with regional councils and existing grant cycles.

Pitt Grewe of AllTrails and other commissioners noted parks nationwide are experiencing higher visitation and corresponding declines in some satisfaction measures; presenters said superintendents across Utah are reporting similar trends and that the requested funds would address immediate operational shortfalls while Zion Forever and peers continue to pursue federal and congressional solutions.

No motion was made and the commission did not vote on the request. Commissioners asked staff to return with additional detail about proposed projects, stakeholder engagement (including regional councils and affected counties) and how the request would align with the commission’s statutory priorities before any out‑of‑sequence allocation would be considered.

Who spoke (selected)

- Stephanie Lyon — Zion Forever Project (presenter) - Heath Hansen — Washington County / Greater Zion Tourism and Convention Office (presenter) - Chris Horton — Chief Operating Officer, Zion Forever Project (online) - Jeff Bradybaugh — Superintendent, Zion National Park (mentioned as participant) - Adam Snow — Washington County Commissioner (online) - Pitt Grewe — AllTrails (commission member) - Natalie Randall — Managing Director, Office of Tourism (commission member) - Commissioner Jerry Taylor — Utah Association of Counties (commission member) - Commissioner Josh Vanjura — recused later on separate vote (not on this item)

Clarifying details presented

- Ask amount: $5,000,000 (out‑of‑sequence request to the commission). - Deferred maintenance cited by presenters: $387,000,000 across Utah’s national parks (presenters’ figure). - Potential savings example: Zion sewer project could reduce up to ~$300,000 per year in porta‑potty costs for canyon operations. - Initial focus: the “Mighty 5” national parks, with possible inclusion of smaller monuments like Golden Spike.

Why it matters

Presenters argued state funding could stabilize visitor services, reduce deferred maintenance risk and protect gateway economies that depend heavily on national‑park visitation. Commissioners emphasized the need to align any out‑of‑sequence award with regional priorities and suggested additional stakeholder engagement and a project‑level list before considering formal action.