Bright Angel Trailhead Area Design Plan

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Updated December 1, 2008:

An Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Bright Angel Trailhead Area Design Plan has been completed. The EA was available for a 30-day public comment period. The project's primary objectives include enhancing the area's signing, shade, seating and restroom availability, improving paths and connecting trails, eliminating rim-edge vehicle parking and creating a sense of place - an area visitors will immediately recognize as the Bright Angel Trailhead. The EA evaluated two alternatives for addressing the purpose and need for action and also evaluates taking no action (Alternative A, No Action).

Actions under the preferred alternative (Alternative B) include developing a plaza near the primary trailhead; separating vehicle parking and circulation areas from pedestrian zones; enhancing trail connections and wayfinding; and constructing a new restroom near the proposed plaza and existing mule corral. These actions are planned for implementation as funding becomes available. Future phases of the project could include hardening the parking area surface and delineating approximately 70-80 parking spaces, creating an interpretive area at Kolb Garage and enhancing signage, revegetation and site amenities.

A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed on November 24, 2008 by Michael D. Snyder, Regional Director for Intermountain Region of the National Park Service. The Regional Director concluded that implementation of the preferred alternative does not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and is not an action that normally requires preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS).

Contact Information

Rachel Stanton, NEPA Planning Leader
928-774-9612
rachel_stanton@nps.gov