Glen Canyon NRA officials are looking for public input on what sort of concessions should be offered at the park/NPS

Staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on the Utah-Arizona border are working on what sort of concession operations are suitable for the NRA and are seeking your input on the matter.

The contracts involve the uplake, downlake, and possibly Lees Ferry districts.

“We are taking this extra step and asking for public comments now because we want to hear from folks at the beginning of the process,” said Superintendent William Shott. “This is an opportunity for anyone interested to offer options as we look at a blank slate for new visitor service contracts for the park.”

The existing visitor service contracts for those areas expired and are operating under annual extensions until new contracts can be set in place. Comments will be accepted through 5 p.m., April 27, at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/glca-FutureContracts

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area administers a concessions program to provide visitor services within the park. Concession contracts currently provide for water-based services, lodging, campgrounds, restaurant/food, and tour services. Over the past few years, visitation trends and demand for land-based recreational opportunities have increased. With two of the larger contracts needing renewal, the park has an opportunity to restructure contracts in such a way as to address increased visitation and changing visitor use and to increase efficiency in managing contracts. Suggestions for visitor services at Lees Ferry are also welcome.

This public comment opportunity is not part of a formal environmental planning and compliance process and is not legally mandated. The park feels that the public can provide valuable insight, perspective, and ideas to assist in developing contracts that provide needed visitor services. In situations where proposals include significant changes to an area or would result in additional development, the park will provide further public comment opportunities as part of the formal environmental review process.

Comments submitted by the public that would be particularly useful would include topics such as:

• Changes to the required and authorized services provided (reducing, changing or increasing services to customers).
• Separating contracts by geographical location, creating one large contract, or a combination of the two.
• Reducing operating contract locations, or increasing operating contract locations.
• Separating contracts by service type (Hotel Services, Marina Services, and Campgrounds).
• Economic considerations
• Local business opportunity considerations
• Other considerations