Assistant Secretary For Fish, Wildife And Parks Applauds Grand Canyon Improvements

Grand Canyon, AZ - Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the U.S. Department of Interior, today visited the Grand Canyon to discuss a variety of improvements to the park and enhancement of visitor experience.

Since FY 2002, the Grand Canyonhas 91 improvement projects that are completed, underway or proposed, totaling nearly $38 million. Assistant Secretary Manson today visited a number of the ongoing projects and was briefed on developments for additional projects, including a lower-cost transportation alternative being developed by the park that will address traffic congestion, visitor safety and other improvements for park visitors.

"Four years ago, President Bush made a commitment to reduce the maintenance backlog in our national parks," said Manson. "Here at Grand Canyon I've had a chance to see how hard the Park has been working to meet that challenge."

"Grand Canyon is unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers to visitors," Manson added. "I was pleased to get this chance to be briefed on issues in the park and to see the improvement in facilities that enhance the visitor experience here. I was especially pleased to be briefed on a common-sense, environmentally friendly, fiscally responsible solution to some of the traffic and safety issues that we will be addressing a report to Congress this fall."

Joe Alston, Park Superintendent, said, "It has been a great opportunity to have Assistant Secretary Manson review first hand the issues in the park and to see the progress being made to address maintenance backlog and traffic management."

Since FY 2002, the Bush Administration has invested more than $104 million in more than 300 projects to preserve and protect Arizona's 20 national treasures. Once FY 2005 funds are allocated, national parks in Arizona could receive an additional $33 million . Grand Canyon's operating budget itself for FY 2004 is more than $18,000,000, an 8% increase since FY 2000.