Recreation balance: Garfield County is biased in favor of ATVs (Utah)
Tribune Editorial
06/12/2007
It's not easy for local officials to make everybody happy when it comes to providing outdoor recreation. But balance should be the goal.
Garfield County's obvious bias in favor of all-terrain vehicle users over hikers, cyclists and horse riders could end up biting the county where it hurts most - in the pocketbook.
The county bills itself in a promotional brochure as "ATV and OHV Headquarters" and has designated 2,500 miles for those vehicles. That puts off the many outdoor enthusiasts who prefer a quieter experience in the county's spectacular forests and red-rock country. And it ignores the potential harm that ATVs can do to the fragile backcountry.
Garfield officials seem to be blinded by the tourist dollars riding into town aboard ATVs. Popular ATV trails such as the 275-mile Paiute Trail bring millions to central Utah counties and cities. Still, it is unwise to cater to only one group, excluding others whose money is just as good and whose impact on the environment is not as harsh.
The Garfield County Trails Committee has so far failed to achieve the balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation that would be in the community's best interests. Its endorsement of an application for $43,500 in state trails money to turn Escalante City Park into a staging ground for OHVs has rightly angered many city residents and business owners who don't want to see their city become an OHV mecca.
Tired of their protests and complaints from non-motorized users, the Garfield County Commission has adopted disciplinary measures against all who voice their objections forcefully.
Instead of looking at the issue from such a narrow perspective, Garfield County could learn from the success of the Park City area in Summit County. Hiking and biking trails there attracted 55,600 tourists last year who each spent about $145 per day in the community's restaurants, rental shops, hotels and recreation outfitters.
Closer to home, two summer bike trails in Garfield County attract nearly 80 cyclists a day and $1.1 million in revenue. The trails committee's leaders say they want to develop more horse, bike and walking trails.
For the sake of the county's gorgeous scenery and those who want to enjoy it in quiet, we hope they do.
Article Reference: Salt Lake Tribune - Recreation balance: Garfield County is biased in favor of ATVs
06/12/2007
It's not easy for local officials to make everybody happy when it comes to providing outdoor recreation. But balance should be the goal.
Garfield County's obvious bias in favor of all-terrain vehicle users over hikers, cyclists and horse riders could end up biting the county where it hurts most - in the pocketbook.
The county bills itself in a promotional brochure as "ATV and OHV Headquarters" and has designated 2,500 miles for those vehicles. That puts off the many outdoor enthusiasts who prefer a quieter experience in the county's spectacular forests and red-rock country. And it ignores the potential harm that ATVs can do to the fragile backcountry.
Garfield officials seem to be blinded by the tourist dollars riding into town aboard ATVs. Popular ATV trails such as the 275-mile Paiute Trail bring millions to central Utah counties and cities. Still, it is unwise to cater to only one group, excluding others whose money is just as good and whose impact on the environment is not as harsh.
The Garfield County Trails Committee has so far failed to achieve the balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation that would be in the community's best interests. Its endorsement of an application for $43,500 in state trails money to turn Escalante City Park into a staging ground for OHVs has rightly angered many city residents and business owners who don't want to see their city become an OHV mecca.
Tired of their protests and complaints from non-motorized users, the Garfield County Commission has adopted disciplinary measures against all who voice their objections forcefully.
Instead of looking at the issue from such a narrow perspective, Garfield County could learn from the success of the Park City area in Summit County. Hiking and biking trails there attracted 55,600 tourists last year who each spent about $145 per day in the community's restaurants, rental shops, hotels and recreation outfitters.
Closer to home, two summer bike trails in Garfield County attract nearly 80 cyclists a day and $1.1 million in revenue. The trails committee's leaders say they want to develop more horse, bike and walking trails.
For the sake of the county's gorgeous scenery and those who want to enjoy it in quiet, we hope they do.
Article Reference: Salt Lake Tribune - Recreation balance: Garfield County is biased in favor of ATVs
