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BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (AP) -- A developer wants to move commercial businesses into This is the Place state park -- a plan he says will save the financially troubled attraction.
Developer Ellis Ivory pitched the idea to the board that oversees state parks on Friday. Ivory heads the foundation that manages the Salt Lake City park, which celebrates Utah's pioneer heritage.
Ivory's proposal would develop a dozen acres of the park for commercial use. He wants to lease space to ARUP Blood Services, which would construct a 100,000-square-foot commercial building. That could annually bring up to $400,000 into the park's budget, he said.
Ivory also proposes constructing a $2.5 million reception center, that would draw additional revenue through fees. He said he hopes the state parks board will approve his proposal by spring 2007.
Neighbors of the park, which sits across the street from the Hogle Zoo at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, object to the plan because of the loss of green space and increased traffic.
But Ivory believes other solutions, specifically turning the public-private park over to either the state or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are out of the question.
"You know what happens if the church takes over? They proselytize," Ivory said. "That is not going to happen in a state park."
The 450-acre park has a $2 million annual operating budget and has consistently lost money despite subsides from the state and Salt Lake County. The parks sees just 30,000 visitors annually.
Park director Matt Dahl said Friday that revamped entertainment and education attractions, along with an in-park transportation system promise to increase attendance and put the park budget in black.
The foundation plans a series of public hearings on the commercial development proposal.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
