The National Park Service (NPS) has begun the Visitor Experience and Access Plan for the newly developed regions of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (California) and is looking for public comments to help determine its main problems and ways that the service can enhance the visitor experience.
Participation is encouraged in the development process in the period for public input from November 17 to January 17, 2023, according to NPS’s news release.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have seen record-breaking visitors in the past decade. Popular destinations within these parks can be challenging for staff and visitors to navigate, especially during busy times.
This project is designed to meet the ever-changing demands of visitors to parks and address current issues caused by the high volume of visitors to the most visited parks.
The NPS is expected to host three public meetings regarding the project’s planning process between December 2022 and January 2023. A public meeting via video will be held on December 12 from 4 p.m. PST. Recordings will be posted on the project’s webpage following the meeting.
The NPS will also be hosting in-person meetings. One will be held on December 8, Thursday from 6 p.m. at Visalia, CA, and another on Wednesday, January 11 at 6.30 p.m. at Three Rivers, CA.
Instructions on how to join the virtual meeting and specific locations for meetings in person can be found on the web page.
“It’s wonderful that unprecedented numbers of people are coming out to enjoy their public lands, but it’s also important that we plan appropriately to accommodate that volume of people,” said Superintendent Clay Jordan.
“We are concerned about how increasing visitation can affect visitors’ access to and experiences within the parks, but it is critical that we understand the perspectives of those of you who visit, or used to visit, or hope to visit in the future. What do you most value about your experiences in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks? What are we doing well, and what could we do better?”
This comment period, open from November 17 to January 17, is the first phase of the planning effort. Future comment public comment periods will be announced as this effort moves forward.
To learn more about this planning process and provide your feedback, please visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SEKIFrontcountryFall2022.
Comments may also be mailed to:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Attn: Visitor Experience and Access Plan
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271
For any specific questions regarding this proposal, contact Elly Bourke, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (559) 565-3102.