Yosemite Plans Major Changes

National park seeks public comment on several proposals

by Mark Grossi
Fresno Bee - September 13, 2003

Yosemite National Park is planning big changes in some familiar places around Yosemite Valley, and officials want to know what the public thinks.

Among the highlights: The road at Yosemite Lodge's doorstep would become a pedestrian promenade, and lodge rooms would be added. At Curry Village, a 460-seat amphitheater and guest cabins with bathrooms would appear.

Those are just a few alterations involved in extensive projects at two well-known Yosemite Valley locations - the lodge and Curry Village. The work will repair some of the damage from a large 1997 flood and complete part of the vast renovation of Yosemite Valley.

"You'll hear us say this a lot: We're trying to make the visitor experience better," said Yosemite planning official Michael Reynolds, "And we're trying to balance protection for the resources."

Until Oct. 11, officials are accepting comments from the public about the lodge and Curry Village environmental assessments. The documents are called the draft "Curry Village and East Yosemite Valley Campground Improvements Project" and the draft "Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment Project."

The plans are part of a larger, long-running effort to revive the valley, a 7-square-mile area where 70% of the park's 3.5.million visitors go each year.

For many, years, officials have planned such valley projects, but opposition, lawsuits, and lack of funding often delayed them. Dating back to the 1970s, thousands of public comments have been submitted on valley plans, which crept slowly through the political, bureaucratic and legal processes.

That changed in 1997, when the Merced River flood damaged buildings, swamped sewage systems and swept over campgrounds. Congress gave Yosemite almost $200 million for repairs, and many projects suddenly had funding.

But disagreements and debate did not depart with the flood water. Members of nearby communities fear the new projects will remove too many parking spaces and force people to unwillingly ride buses around the valley. They also oppose the closing of riverside campgrounds.

Critical comments on the lodge and Curry Village plans also are expected from some environmentalists who believe the park is too focused on construction at the expense of the ecosystem.