Wyoming State Parks will host an informational meeting to again present the final Sinks Canyon State Park Master Plan on August 30, at 7 p.m. at the Lander Community & Convention Center located at 950 Buena Vista Drive.
The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about how the park will be managed and maintained over the next 20 years. Attendees will be able to ask questions and discuss the master plan with State Parks staff.
The meeting will be held in several parts. First, Ayres Associates, the company that partnered with Wyoming State Parks to work on the Sinks Canyon Master Plan will provide a presentation.
That will be followed with a short public comment period, followed immediately by small group breakout sessions where State Parks can better address individual concerns and thoughts in greater detail. At the conclusion of the evening State Parks will distribute comment cards that attendees can use to provide additional feedback.
Ayres Associates was recently recognized with the 2021 Sheldon D. Gerber Merit Award by The Western Planner, a professional organization for planners in the western United States, for their work on the Sinks Canyon plan.
The park master plan was finalized in September 2020 after completing a two-year public planning process and was presented in an online public meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions. The plan, which is available to view online, is intended to help guide park management over the next 20 years. The previous master plan was developed in 1975.
“One of the things we focused on in the master plan is preserving the wild character of the park,” said Deputy Director, Nick Neylon. “While many new projects and developments were proposed in the planning process, the plan actually reduces the overall visible footprint of the park.”
For example, the plan includes relocating the administrative offices and maintenance shop out of sight while restoring the “Sinks” and “Rise” areas of the park to a more natural, less developed character.
Also, in response to public feedback during the planning process, a new bike path off the busy highway, a group camping spot, wayfinding signs, and a “Via Ferrata” climbing route are highlights of the new developments within the plan.
Wyoming Game and Fish, the owner of most of the land managed by the State Park, will also be on hand to answer any questions related to wildlife management reflected in the plan.
For more information and to view the Sinks Canyon State Park Master Plan, visithttps://wyoparks.wyo.gov/