Activities/Projects

2012

• At the Legislature. Jeff and Elaine Packer and Robin Watson-Christianson staffed a Friends of Utah State Parks booth in the State Capitol Rotunda on Utah Tourism Day, Wednesday, February 1, 2012. They talked with legislators about state parks issues, particularly concerning false, derogatory information about state parks that was spread in an anonymous letter to legislators.
• At the Legislature. On the morning of January 26, 2012, Friends of Utah State Parks sponsored a "legislative break" in the Utah House and Senate. Steve Burr, Barbara Riddle and George Sommer staffed the table in the House; Vaughn Jacobsen, Spence Kinard and Steve Roberts worked the table in the Senate. The activity provided refreshments for legislators and gave our FUSP representatives the opportunity to talk about Utah state parks issues.

2011

• At the Legislature. On October 19, 2011, FUSP board members and other Utah State Parks supporters filled the seats at the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee at the state capitol. After a presentation by Utah State Parks Director Mary Tullius, FUSP's Jeff Packer joined State Parks Board Chair Irene Hansen and others in testifying on on the future of state parks if budget cuts continue. More information: Salt Lake Tribune article; Deseret News article
• Utah State Parks Recognition Day. Smith’s Food and Drug Stores graciously offered Utah State Parks the use of their storefront lobbies on Utah State Parks Recognition Day, Saturday, June 11, 2011, to help spread the word about Utah’s beautiful and diverse state parks. Utah State Parks staff and scores of volunteers from Friends of Utah State Parks, Friends of Antelope Island, Friends of Wasatch Mountain State Park, Friends of Snow Canyon State Park, Iron Mission Foundation, Friends of Frontier Homestead State Park, Friends of Camp Floyd State Park and other organizations staffed information booths at Smith’s stores around the state from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to talk with customers and give out prizes to people who correctly answered Utah State Parks trivia questions
• Utah State Parks Road Trip. Friends of Utah State Parks proudly supported the Utah State Parks Road Trip. Starting at noon Thursday, May 12, 2011, at Antelope Island State Park, a group of six people piled into an RV. In three days they drove approximately 2,200 miles, visited all 43 state parks and returned back to Antelope Island Sunday on May 15. The privately-funded Road Trip showcased the importance, beauty and diversity of Utah’s state park system and rallied Utahns to come out and support their favorite state parks. For more information, visit the Road Trip Website, or read the press release.