National Park Service Accepting Comments on Phase V of Greenway Trail System at Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon, AZ - The National Park Service (NPS) is in the initial planning stages for the construction of the Greenway V Trail, a trail segment that would link the rim trail that currently ends at Pipe Creek Vista to the South Kaibab Trailhead on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The rim trail currently provides universal access for pedestrians from Grand Canyon Village along the rim to Yavapai Observation Station and Mather Point, ending at Pipe Creek Vista, a viewpoint parking area and shuttle bus stop. There is currently no dedicated pedestrian path through Pipe Creek Vista and no formalized path along the rim to the South Kaibab Trailhead.

The Park’s 1995 General Management Plan outlined a system of multi-use, accessible trails throughout the park that, once constructed, would encourage non-motorized modes of travel and would provide a greater opportunity for visitors to experience the resources of the park. This section of trail would allow for a continuous connection from other already completed phases of the Greenway to the South Kaibab Trailhead.

Under this preliminary project proposal developed by the NPS, an approximately one-mile-long trail would be constructed between Pipe Creek Vista and the South Kaibab Trailhead. The trail would be for pedestrians only (in keeping with other rim trail segments on the South Rim) and would be universally accessible. It would be approximately 8-9 feet wide and paved for most of its length.

The project proposed is a preliminary option currently under consideration. To ensure that all relevant issues are identified and a reasonable range of alternatives are developed for analysis in an Environmental Assessment (EA) the NPS is accepting comments on this proposal for a period of 30 days. Comments will be accepted until July 3, 2006 and should be sent to: Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, Office of Planning and Compliance, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. Comments can also be emailed to Deborah_Lutch@nps.gov or posted online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grca.

The EA will include detailed analysis of impacts to park resources from implementing the proposal and any other action alternatives developed based on the issues raised, including an analysis of taking no action. Once analysis of all alternatives is complete, the NPS will select a preferred alternative for implementation and will distribute the EA for public review prior to making a decision.

Additional information can be found on the Grand Canyon National Park website at www.nps.gov/grca/compliance or at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grca or by calling Debbie Lutch, Lead Planner at (928) 774-0095.