Grand Canyon National Park Seeks Comment On Revised Proposal for Grand Canyon Greenway Trail Segments

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Joseph F. Alston today announced the release of a Revised Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction of two trail segments as part of the Grand Canyon Greenway from Canyon View Information Plaza (CVIP), the new orientation/transportation hub on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, to the future Grand Canyon Transit Center in Tusayan (located near the park boundary).

The National Park Service (NPS) invited the public to review and comment on an EA released on November 26, 2001 for the proposed Greenway segments. The NPS received comments proposing equestrian use on the trail, a use not in the original proposal. After careful consideration, the NPS has included equestrian use in the revised trail proposal and is again seeking public review and comment.

The trail segments would continue to be ten-feet wide, constructed with a hardened surface, and could be used by bicyclists, hikers, and equestrians. The EA analyzes two alternatives; A) a no action alternative, and B) the revised proposed action - the agency preferred alternative. Through Alternative B the NPS proposes to construct 2.3 miles of trail in previously undisturbed areas in Grand Canyon National Park that would complete a seven-mile trail connecting the park with the town of Tusayan as mentioned above. The other 4.7 miles of this seven-mile trail were analyzed and previously covered under a Categorical Exclusion.

The Greenway on the South Rim is being constructed in several phases. The first two phases are in areas within Grand Canyon Village, the third is the section of trail from CVIP to Tusayan. Phase I consists of a two-mile trail from Yavapai Point to the westernmost overlook on Desert View Drive known as Pipe Creek Vista Overlook - the first segment of this trail from Yavapai Point to Mather Point was completed and opened to the public in August 2001. The remaining segment from Mather Point to Pipe Creek Vista Overlook has been constructed and will be paved next fall, subsequent to the annual Mexican Spotted Owl breeding season. Phase II consists of a two-mile trail from CVIP to Grand Canyon Village. A majority of this phase was completed in late fall 2001. The remaining section should be completed by mid-summer. Phase III is the proposed trail from CVIP to the Grand Canyon Transit Center.

A copy of the Revised EA can be found on the Grand Canyon National Park website, www.nps.gov/grca/compliance/. Comments will be accepted for 30 days and should be sent to the Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023, Attn: Sara White, Compliance Officer no later than May 24, 2002. For questions or additional information about this project, please contact, Michael Terzich, Project Manager at (928) 774-3402. Additional information on the Greenway can also be found at www.nps.gov/grca/greenway/.