Monday, April 19, 2010

Changes

The First and scond photos are taken with the same camera, same lens, in the same month and in virtually the same postion just two years apart.

I was sorry to find the Grotto park area remodeled when we went this past Easter weekend. Instead of having a nice open area to run, throw the football, and gather in( as picnic areas are ment for) it was roped off into small single table units with gravel paths. The larger parts left to let the grass grow and little signs said "give plants a chance." Where we could once move the tables around to accommidate our large extended family, they had cemented the tables in so it is only useful to a group of eight or smaller. Where we have had our egg rolls, they had flattened out the ground and put logs to discourage explorers.

I love nature. I believe in engaging with the landscape. As a child we would play in the water, squish mud between our toes, slip down moss covered rock waterfalls, climb bloulders and play in the gorgous red dirt. It makes me unhappy when I see that only the wealthy (you can take a car in if you stay at the pricey lodge) or childless people are able to enjoy the park like i remember enjoying it. It is a hassle getting into the park because of the trams. They simple don't accommodate demand. they are either empty or packed and you wait forever in both cases. Zion is my park and I have an intimate opinion about how they manage and run it. You might too. They need feedback! Go here and write a quick comment.

But like I said in a previous post about how curves were thrown in. Federal management aside, God made Zion and they did not ruin the splendor and magnificence of the cliffs or the spiritual nature of being in a certain place at a certain time. To have beautiful monuments named after people and things in the gospel adds another layer of meaning to the expirience. There is no place like it.

6 comments:

The Berg's said...

Totally agree!

Michael and Anita said...

I love Zions! I'm glad you got to go. Sorry it was a bit of a bummer in those ways, though.

Unknown said...

My comment on the NPS site - thanks for keeping us in the loop:

We have been coming to Zion as a family for Easter for better than three decades. There is nothing more wonderful than to be surrounded by God's majesty while we enjoy the company of relatives. Recent changes made to Grotto Park have made our trip much more difficult. While I can appreciate, and agree with, an effort to preserve the beauty of the park, the mentality of the NPS reflects a "you can look but don't touch" attitude. Cementing tables to only accommodate small groups of 6-8, roping off large segments of the park except for gravel paths, and flattening ground and placing logs to discourage toddling explorers are all disappointing developments in the park.

As you cater your park more and more to the wealthy and childless, you deny our little ones the opportunity to develop the same love for the park that I have grown to have. While this is a federal park, I urge you to do a better job considering the impact on the families of Utah as you make changes to your park. 68% of our state land mass in Utah is federal land - that land receives PILT money and is out of the tax base that would support local education. Our children sacrifice a great deal to preserve these lands. Please do your best to ensure that locals see that as a protection of natural beauty instead of an oppressive encroachment by out-of-touch federal bureaucrats.

dixon.mary said...

Well done, Scott.
Thanks, Sally.

Tricia G said...

Well that's just sad and disappointing.

patti said...

amen