Grand Opening of Shared Use Path
May 19, 2016
Grand opening of the Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path, a path that will connect Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon National Park and extend 6.2 miles into the Park. This project has had significant support from a large number of partners including Utah Department of Transportation, Federal Highways, U.S. Forest Service, Bryce Canyon City, and Garfield County, UT.Grand Opening
The 6.2 mile Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path is one way visitors can now link Bryce Canyon City, north of the park, to Inspiration Point inside the park. The paved trail offers bicycles, wheelchairs, strollers, and pedestrians, runners, and dog walkers, the opportunity to recreate. With only a 6% grade or less, the shared-use path complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This is the only “trail†that allows bicycles (be safe – wear a helmet). Stay to the right – announce your presence when passing someone. Options include combining the path use with a return trip via shuttle bus (bike racks and wheelchair lifts available on all shuttles). Entrance station fees in effect for path users (entrance fees support cost of bus).
Ribbon-Cutting Event for Solar Panels
Ribbon-cutting gala will celebrate the completion of the twin 75kw dual-axis Concentrating Solar Photovoltaic (CPV) system. Now on-line, the system will offset the majority of the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center/Headquarters building electrical consumption.
Upon arriving at the Visitor Center, you can’t miss the solar collection system perched between parking areas. This new twin 75kw dual axis Concentrating Solar Photovoltaic (CPV) system will track the sun and offset the majority of the visitor center and headquarters building’s electrical consumption. This CPV system will save the park approximately $40,000 in electricity each year with a 22-year return on investment. Climate change is everyone’s concern. This forward-thinking of alternative energy designs could be compared to other dreams and ideas incorporated a century ago when the National Park Service was being established for protecting our public lands for all of us today.