ST U D I O S
9
IN S IT E S
REC & O P E N S PAC E During fall semester 2018, LAEP Juniors in LAEP 3100
and addressed an array of exciting design challenges along
had a fantastic opportunity to work on several unique
the eastern corridor of Zion National Park jointly with
projects under the direction of Ole Sleipness. For their first
Phil Waite’s planting design studio. Over the last several
project, students redesigned a picnic and day-use area at
years, the western gateway of Springdale has become
Timpanogos Cave National Monument in American Fork
overwhelmed by increased park visitation. In response, the
Canyon. The project was a great opportunity to learn about
Zion Friends group, Kane County, and private landowners
increasing demand for recreation from the Wasatch Front’s
have begun to see Zion’s eastern gateway as an alternative
growing population, and how existing recreation facilities
for some park visitors. Sponsored by Zion Mountain
can be improved to better accommodate a broader range
Ranch and Kevin and Stacey McLaws, students conducted
of users. Students also got to interact with the Timpanogos
preliminary research on issues facing gateway communities
Friends group, specialists in recreation management and
around the West, the interface between public and private
stream restoration, Superintendent Jim Ireland, and LAEP
lands, and strategized ways in which visitors might enjoy the
alumna Betsy Byrne, of the NPS RTCA. The students’ work is
area while protecting its unique qualities. During their site
currently being refined under the stewardship of Jake Powell,
visit, students met with community partners and immersed
LAEP Extension Landscape Architecture Specialist.
themselves in the site, explored the area’s connection to Zion National Park, and stayed at Zion Mountain Ranch for
The semester’s second project focused on the 26-acre
several days. In response to a regional transportation study
Blacksmith Fork Park at the south end of Cache Valley, in
by KFH and design proposals by Design Workshop for Zion
Hyrum. Students worked closely with both Ole and Dave
Mountain Ranch, students focused on an area identified as
Evans in developing a range of recreation design alternatives
the Junction—located at the Intersection of State Highway
to serve Hyrum’s growing population. Following the studio
9 and North Fork County Road in a valley between Juniper
project, Dave Evans guided an ASLA Community Design
and Pine covered hills—and close proximity to activity hubs
Team in selecting and combining key components of
of Zion Mountain Ranch and Zion National Park’s east
students’ work into a single master plan for the city planners
entrance. The area is a potential location for a proposed NPS
to undertake. In a letter dated May 13, 2019, Hyrum city
Visitor Contact Center, shuttle stop and parking area, and
administrator Ron Salvesen stated, “We now have an
hub for visitor activity. Students’ design proposals illustrated
excellent plan to guide our completion of the park in an
alternative visions for the Junction area that incorporated
organized and planned manner. The city council was pleased
agritourism, visitor amenities, and transportation facilities
with the wide range of needs that will be met by this park as
which they developed with input from the McLaws, Jake
planned.”
Powell, Dr. Carlos Licon, Design Workshop’s Jeff Zimmerman, Zion Forever’s Mark Preiss, Zion Ponderosa’s Steve Neelman,
The semester’s largest project was set in southern Utah
and Kane County’s Dirk Clayson.
