Plans For The Overlook

Reported by Bess Huefner

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  April 30, 2013.  Garden City council members, Brian House and Bess Huefner met with officials from USFS, UDOT, Rich County Tourism (Melinda Hislop, & Don Hunt), the management of rest areas, and Wayne Earley from the State Parks, at the Overlook for a discussion about the use and future of the Overlook.

 

The group learned that there had been questions on how the use of the overlook had strayed from the original design. Originally, the use was just to be in the summer and fall.   However, there are enough people stopping in the winter that perhaps the facility should be open and manned year round.  Also, vegetation had changed from the original design of xeriscaping for high mountain deserts. 

During the discussion the group was informed that in order to keep the Overlook safe for future use, the original agreements may need to change. 

Jennefer Parker, from the USFS, suggested that the group meet again, review the original plans, and see what is now needed at the Overlook. 

Suggestions were made to change the urinals to flushless ones, to encourage bus companies to just stop for the view and then go on to Garden City to use facilities there and perhaps shop. The group was told that the mountain vegetation just did not take root and grow and had been replaced with plants that are now surviving.