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Grand Canyon, Ariz. – On Saturday, May 18th, 2013, over 500 people gathered to celebrate the trailhead renovation of one of Grand Canyon National Park’s oldest and most visited trails. The dedication ceremony, celebrated

jointly by Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Association was opened with a traditional welcome by tribal representative, Diana Sue Uquala from the Havasu nation. Superintendent Dave Uberuaga spoke of the significance of the renovations to the historic trail that included a new seating area and plaza, new restrooms to replace portable toilets, paved parking, new stone masonry walls, accessible walkways, and a new identity sign.

The project was overseen by Grand Canyon National Park Project Manager, Vicky Stinson with construction completed by Merrill, Inc., out of Cheyenne, WY. Chevo Studios and Rock & Co., both from Denver, CO, built the stone masonry walls, seating areas and the new identity sign.

The project was funded jointly by park entrance fees and private funds raised through the park’s official fundraising partner, the Grand Canyon Association.

Major donors to the project were recognized at the event including:

Liz and Bill Sweeney

Craig and Sally Clayton

Ken and Dorothy Lamm

Robert and Ellen Hostetler

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Rockwell

Penny Schultz

Horejsi Charitable Foundation

American Express

Cal and Barbara Banker

Bill Sweeney, a major donor to the Bright Angel trailhead renovation announced a matching gift of $15,000 to support the renovation of the Historic Kolb Studios which is on the South Rim of Grand Canyon. The match was made in 2 hours and the Sweeney’s raised their matching gift to $25,000 which was matched by the end of the weekend.

“We appreciate the funding that was made available through generous donors that made the completion of the Bright Angel Trailhead Rehabilitation Project possible. We also greatly appreciate the donations made in support

of the renovation of the Historic Kolb Studios, stated Superintendent Uberuaga. “Because of their generosity we have been able to bring the area around the Bright Angel Trailhead up to modern standards, and will be able to make great improvements to Kolb Studio, a facility visited by thousands of park visitors each year.”

For images of the project:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grand_canyon_nps/sets/72157631676210897/with/8541160440/

About Grand Canyon National Park

The world-famous Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River, with adjacent uplands, from the southern terminus of Glen

Canyon National Recreation Area to the eastern boundary of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The forces of erosion have exposed an immense variety of formations which illustrate vast period of geological history.

Grand Canyon was established as a national park on February 26, 1919. It is one of the most visited national parks in the system, second in visitation (Great Smokey Mountains National Park being first) with nearly 4.5 million visitors annually.

For more information about Grand Canyon National Park, please visit http://www.nps.gov/grca.

About Grand Canyon Association

Founded in 1932, the Grand Canyon Association (GCA) is the National Park Service’s official nonprofit partner raising private funds to benefit Grand Canyon National Park, operating retail shops and visitor centers within the

park, and providing premier educational opportunities about the natural and cultural history of the region. GCA works to help preserve and protect Grand Canyon National Park by cultivating support, education and understanding of the park. To learn more about this and other projects

visit http://www.grandcanyon.org.