Desert View Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site Plan / Environmental Assessment

Located at the southeast edge of Grand Canyon National Park, Desert View functions as the east entrance to the park and provides many visitors with their first introduction and orientation to some of the park's most significant resources - including the Desert View Watchtower (a National Historic Landmark) and its surrounding historic district as well as spectacular views of the Painted Desert and the Little Colorado River gorge. The area also serves as the first stop for information, restrooms, water, food, souvenirs, and gasoline to visitors entering the park from the east along Arizona Route 64 and provides convenient access to some of the neighboring tribal lands.

Given the significance of the site, its infrastructure, and proximity to neighboring tribal lands, the NPS is proposing to transform Desert View from a traditional scenic overlook and visitor services area into an Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site that provides opportunities for first-voice cultural interpretation from associated American Indian Tribes - including cultural demonstrations - and enhances visitor orientation to both the cultural significance of the site and greater park, as well as information about tourism opportunities on surrounding tribal lands.

To accomplish these goals, the National Park Service (NPS) is proposing some modifications to existing infrastructure (such as restriping parking lots), some demolition (and potential reuse) of underutilized facilities (such as the existing visitor center, shade structures and some walkways), as well as some new construction (such as expansion of existing amphitheater and construction of new restrooms) within the existing developed footprint at Desert View.

Public review of the proposed site plan / environmental assessment is currently underway for this planning effort, and public comments on the plan will be accepted for 30 days (closing November 24, 2018). During this time, any individual or group can submit scoping comments electronically on this website (see "Open for Comment" on the left banner), in person at public scoping open house events/webinars (see "Meeting Notices" on the left banner), or via mail to Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, Attn: Desert View EA, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. The preferred method for submitting comments is though this website.

Following the public review period, the NPS will consider all feedback and make a final decision as to which alternative (or variation of an alternative) will be implemented. This final decision document, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), will be reviewed by the Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park and, if appropriate, approved by the Regional Director of the NPS Intermountain Region.

Document Content:

Desert View Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site Plan / Environmental Assessment.pdf   (6.5 MB, PDF file) Public Review News Release_October 25 2018.pdf   (180.5 KB, PDF file) Frequently Asked Questions for Public Review.pdf   (1.2 MB, PDF file) Public Review Newsletter.pdf   (4.0 MB, PDF file) Public Meetings Presentation.pdf   (7.2 MB, PDF file) Public Meeting Open House Posters.pdf   (35.7 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.