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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK



MARCH 21, 2007

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................1
Introduction.........................................................................................................................2
Project History................................................................................................................2
Purpose of this Master Plan............................................................................................3
Planning Area.................................................................................................................4
Parcel Boundaries and Mapping.....................................................................................4
Summary of BLM Environmental Assessment/Recreation and Public Purposes Plan of
Development Planning Process...............................................................................5
North Rim Park Advisory Committee............................................................................6
Summary of North Rim Park Master Plan Process.........................................................6
Project Initiation..........................................................................................................6
Stakeholder Interviews................................................................................................7
Design Charette...........................................................................................................7
Assessment..........................................................................................................................8
Issues and Concerns Summary.......................................................................................8
Site Analysis, Constraints, and Opportunities................................................................8
Park Vision and Goals........................................................................................................9
Vision..............................................................................................................................9
Site Goals........................................................................................................................9
Master Plan.......................................................................................................................10
Design Program Overview............................................................................................10
Design Program............................................................................................................11
Implementation Projects...................................................................................................15
Management Policies....................................................................................................20
Programs.......................................................................................................................22
Design Principles..........................................................................................................25
Action Plan........................................................................................................................28
Short Term – Within 3 Years........................................................................................29
Medium Term – Within 7 Years...................................................................................30
Long Term – Within 20 Years......................................................................................30
References.........................................................................................................................32

TABLES
Table 1. Charette schedule.

APPENDICES
Appendix A Stakeholder Interview Content Summary
Appendix B Charette Summary and Maps
Appendix C Applicable Policies
Appendix D Maps


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MARCH 21, 2007
Acknowledgements
The North Rim Park Master Plan is the product of a collaborative effort between the
Jerome County Commissioners, North Rim Park Advisory Committee (NRPAC), South
Central Idaho Tourism and Recreation Development Association, consultant staff, and
residents of the Magic Valley. The individuals listed below contributed substantially by
sharing their time, skills, knowledge, and thoughtful participation. In addition, many
Magic Valley residents shared their knowledge and offered constructive comments
through the stakeholder interviews and the charette process.
Jerome County Commissioners
Charles “Charlie” Howell
Joseph “Joe” Davidson
Diana Obenauer
North Rim Park Advisory Committee
Lori Armstrong
John Bokor
Debbie Dane
Joe Davidson
Tim Duffner
Gary Grindstaff
David Johnson
Melinda Johnson
Debbie Kovar
Terry Kramer
Dan Olmstead
George Panagiotou
Mel Quale
Bob Richards
Travis Rothweiler
Laura Russell
Elizabeth Thomas
Julie Thomas
Amy Williams
Max Yingst
ERO Resources Corporation
Julia Kertz Grant – Natural Resource Specialist
Bill Mangle – Natural Resource Planner
Jana Petersen – Geographic Information
Specialist
David Hesker – Graphic Designer
MGB&A – The Grassli Group
Sharen Hauri – Landscape Architect

Environmental Protection Agency

Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality





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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


Introduction
Project History
The land now referred to as the North Rim Park first came under federal ownership
in the early 1880s and has since been managed by the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM). Recognition of the North Rim Park site as a unique landscape with historic,
cultural, geological, and ecological values dates back to the early 1900s, when Shoshone
Falls and the surrounding landscape were proposed for designation as a National Park
(BLM 2003). BLM designated these lands as a Special Recreation Management area in
the 1970s and around that time local business and community leaders started to discuss
the concept of a North Rim Park. The BLM Resource Management Plan (RMP) of 1983
identified these lands as a recreation area because of their previous designation. Then in
1994, there was a public outcry upon the release of the draft of the BLM’s Bennett Hills
Resource Management Plan where some of the lands along the north rim of the Snake
River Canyon in Jerome County were marked for disposal. In the mid-1990s, a group of
citizens working with the Jerome County Commissioners conceived the idea of the North
Rim Park as a way to provide long-term preservation, care, and use of the land. The
Jerome County Commissioners contracted with the South Central Idaho Tourism and
Recreation Development Association (SCITRDA) in 1997 to explore long-term
development of this area.
Conditions and uses on the North Rim Park site changed over the years and as a
result, the 1983 RMP no longer provided sufficient direction for protecting the resources
or for managing public recreational use (BLM 2003). Due to this fact and the interest of
Jerome County in obtaining a Recreation & Public Purposes (R&PP) Act Lease with the
BLM, the Shoshone Field Office of the BLM completed a Plan of Development in 2003
for the land that is now referred to as North Rim Park. In mid-2004, Jerome County
secured a 25-year R&PP Act Lease from the BLM to be able to use and manage North
Rim Park lands for public benefit and to protect critical natural resources, including the
underlying Blue Lakes aquifer. Shortly after obtaining this lease, Jerome County
established the NRPAC to guide the future of the park and to include the public in its
management. Its members represent the many different recreation user groups, adjacent
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


landowners, regulatory agencies, and people who care about its natural resources and its
future. During the summer of 2006, the committee secured funding and initiated the
public process to further refine some of the development concepts outlined in the 2003
Plan of Development during a design charette. The end result of the public process is to
provide the committee with a master plan and prioritized list of action items to enable
them to bring the North Rim Park concept into reality.
Purpose of this Master Plan
This Master Plan suggests projects, policies, and programs needed in future years to
achieve the vision and goals of North Rim Park. This Master Plan was developed
through a public charette process in the Twin Falls and Jerome area initiated by the
NRPAC.
• The Introduction section includes background information on the project and a
synopsis of the public participation component of this Master Plan.
• The Planning Context section provides a summary of the other plans and
policies that affect North Rim Park, issues and concerns about North Rim Park
expressed during the stakeholder input process, and a map highlighting
opportunities and constraints within the project area.
• The Vision section outlines the goals and objectives that must be met in order
for the vision of North Rim Park to become a reality.
• The Master Plan section contains a map of the proposed designated use areas
within North Rim Park and the design program associated with these areas. A
prioritized system of projects, policies, and programs, as determined by the
public, is included along with some design guidelines.
• The Action Plan provides a timeline prioritizing when key projects, policies,
and programs should be implemented.
• More information on the content of the stakeholder interviews, the charette
maps and summary, and other applicable policies are included as Appendices.

This Master Plan provides a general idea as to the locations of future uses and the
projects, policies, and programs in North Rim Park. As such, this Master Plan does not
contain detailed information about specific resources such as cultural, historical, wildlife,
and vegetation types. This information will need to be gathered, documented, and
mapped before proceeding with many of the proposed projects, policies, and programs.
As the manager of the land, the BLM office in Shoshone, Idaho is home to most of the
information on these resources. The BLM also has set policies and requirements that
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must be met for any proposed development or improvements, which may require
additional study or data gathering.
Planning Area
This Master Plan is focused on those BLM-owned parcels leased to Jerome County
just north of the Snake River canyon rim in Jerome County. There are five parcels
totaling close to 7,200 acres from Auger Falls on the west to Hansen Bridge on the east.
The bulk of the land lies south of I-84 and east of Highway 93 in one large contiguous
parcel.
Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) owns a large parcel of about 1,200 acres to the
east of Highway 93 along the rim of the Snake River Canyon and adjacent to North Rim
Park. IDL is participating with the NRPAC in development of this plan with the hope of
facilitating a future land exchange so that their lands north of the Snake River and south
of Golf Course Road are transferred to the BLM. IDL owns 440 acres west of Highway
93, 200 of which lie south of Golf Course Road just above Blue Lake Golf Course, which
are under a long-term lease to the City of Twin Falls for ground water source protection.
IDL property is also known as stewardship lands as the purpose of the property is to
generate income for public schools (see Appendix D - North Rim Park Project Area
map).
Parcel Boundaries and Mapping
Parcel mapping for this planning process was provided by the BLM, IDL, and the
city of Twin Falls. This planning effort used the same parcel map boundaries that were
used during the BLM Recreation and Public Purposes Plan of Development Planning
Process. The last formal survey of the BLM parcels was completed in 1981. For the
purposes of this Master Plan, it is assumed that the boundaries shown on the map are
reasonably accurate and sufficient to direct the action items outlined in this Master Plan.
Mapping discrepancies exist, so exact parcel boundaries shown on the maps in this
Master Plan are for planning purposes only and should not be relied upon for accurate
delineation of property boundaries.
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


Summary of BLM Environmental Assessment/Recreation and Public Purposes Plan
of Development Planning Process
With funding assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
Idaho Power, SCITRDA worked with the BLM to initiate a formal Environmental
Assessment (EA) / Recreation and Public Purposes Plan (R&PP) of Development process
in 1998. Shapins Associates from Boulder, Colorado were the consultants hired to lead
this process. After extensive review of the resources on the property by Science
Applications International Corporation, a subcontractor, J. Kent and Associates, another
subcontractor, spent some of May and June 2000 working in Twin Falls and Jerome
counties to identify community issues and concerns related to North Rim Park.
The process then moved into the public participation portion to better understand the
issues that generated the most concern, and personal interviews were conducted to learn
about users’ interest in North Rim Park. Over 350 people were directly contacted
through personal interviews. In August 2000, an open house was held at North Rim Park
under a large open tent. Approximately 50 people attended the event, as well as the local
TV station and newspaper. At the two open house meetings in December 2000 at the
College of Southern Idaho and Jerome County Fairgrounds, the public was able to review
and provide feedback on the four preliminary management concept alternatives. Each
alternative and subsequent list of actions focused on a specific approach for managing
North Rim Park. In all, over 500 citizens participated and 57 user groups were
represented. The Environmental Analysis was completed in October 2003.
A combination of Alternative 2 (the proposed action) and Alternative 4 became the
basis for the development of the R&PP application by Jerome County to the BLM.
SCITRDA, under direction of the Jerome County Commissioners, prepared the R&PP
Lease Application and submitted it to the BLM. A Notice of Realty was published in the
Federal Register in December 2003 and public comment period was open from January
to March of 2004. The BLM received a record number of positive responses supporting
the North Rim Park concept. Shortly thereafter in July 2004, the North Rim R&PP Lease
(lease) was signed by the Jerome County Commissioners and the BLM. The lease allows
North Rim Park to be used for recreational purposes while being managed for public
benefit and to protect the underlying aquifer.
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


North Rim Park Advisory Committee
In November 2004, Jerome County Commissioners formed the NRPAC to bring
federal, state, and local government entities; private landowners; special use interests
groups; businesses; and interested citizens together for the purpose of developing and
planning a mixed-use park for the benefit of the citizens of the Magic Valley, State of
Idaho, and United States of America. Participation in the governance of the NRPAC is
based on nomination and appointment by Jerome County Commissioners. As stated in
the August 23, 2005 bylaws, the initial composition of the NRPAC is as follows:
• Back-country Horsemen (1)
• Bureau of Land Management (3)
• Jerome County (1)
• Jerome City (1)
• Jerome Historical Society (1)
• Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (1)
• Idaho Power (1)
• Private Land Owner (1)
• Southern Idaho Off-Road Association (1)
• South Central Idaho Tourism, Recreation and Development Association (1)
• Twin Falls City (1)
• Twin Falls County (1)

Expansion and alteration of the NRPAC shall be at the discretion of the existing NRPAC,
but at no time shall the NRPAC exceed 50 members. Currently the NRPAC is composed
of 18 members. The NRPAC meets monthly. From time to time, the NRPAC may
appoint ad-hoc subcommittees. Currently there is an ad-hoc planning committee tasked
with overseeing the North Rim Park charette and action plan process.
Summary of North Rim Park Master Plan Process
Project Initiation
The planning process was kicked off during the NRPAC’s regular October 2006
meeting. It was lead by the consultants, ERO Resources Corporation (ERO) and
MGB&A, and was held at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s conference room at
their office in Jerome County. This meeting on October 24, 2006 was attended by 15
NRPAC members and eight interested members of the general public. The NRPAC
talked about how they used North Rim Park, their role on the NRPAC, why they cared
about North Rim Park, their vision for the property, their goals and expectations for the
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


planning process, and stakeholders. At the conclusion of the meeting, a schedule for
upcoming stakeholder interviews, the charette, draft final Master Plan review, and the
Jerome County Commissioners public meeting were outlined.
Stakeholder Interviews
On November 13 and 14, 2006, stakeholder interviews were held at the Jerome
County Recreation Center and Barnes and Noble in Twin Falls. During those 2 days of
meetings and interviews with local residents, the consultants talked to more than 75
people about how they envisioned the future of North Rim Park. The interviews were
full of lively discussions, history lessons, candid opinions, and covered a full range of
topics. The shared ideas provided the planning subcommittee and the consultants with a
good foundation for formulating this Master Plan. Results from the interviews were
presented to the NRPAC during their November 28, 2006 meeting.
Design Charette
The next phase for public input during the planning process was a design charette. A
design charette is a collaborative work session used by a group of designers/planners to
draft a solution to a design problem. Charettes quickly generate solutions by integrating
the skills and interests of a diverse group of people with different disciplines and
interests. Charettes often take place in multiple sessions with different groups, allowing
them to tackle the problem, and then bring ideas back to inform the full group and build a
holistic solution. Charettes strive to create and support a feasible master plan that
represents transformative community change.
A design charette was held from January 8-10, 2007. Charette sessions were held
with the NRPAC, as well as with the public in both Twin Falls and Jerome County, to get
input from a diversity of people who use or care about North Rim Park. At the charette
sessions, participants worked in groups of eight or so to create maps and lists of priorities
for how North Rim Park should be built, managed, and enjoyed in the future. The
NRPAC reviewed and synthesized the results after all the sessions and noticed
remarkable similarities in what people wanted for North Rim Park. The NRPAC ended
up with maps from 11 different groups reflecting their discussions about what the park
should look like and prioritized lists of policies, projects, and programs to make their
vision come to fruition.
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Table 1. Charette schedule.
Group Location Attendees Date and Time
NRPAC
session IDFG Hwy 93 Business Park 15 Monday, January 8, 2007
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Twin Falls
session Red Lion Canyon Springs Hotel 43 Monday, January 8, 2007
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Jerome session Jerome County Fairgrounds 17 Tuesday, January 9, 2007
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
NRPAC
synthesis Evergreen Building at College
of Southern Idaho 11 Wednesday, January 10, 2007
9:00 am – 10:00 am

Assessment
Issues and Concerns Summary
• North Rim Park needs to adapt and respond to the needs and wishes of a
growing and changing local population.
• Some uses of the past (such as shooting) need to be moved, and others that have
been displaced by incompatible mixing of uses should return. Displaced uses
should be accommodated elsewhere before removing them from North Rim
Park.
• This land has suffered from a lack of management and care, including
potentially dangerous mixing of uses. A higher standard of care should be set,
which will require education, enforcement, and restoration.
• North Rim Park needs new identity and life that is cleaner, safer, more
welcoming, and more diverse.
• North Rim Park is big enough to accommodate many different uses and
interests.
• North Rim Park needs to function seamlessly and have consistent management
and enforcement between the different parcels under different ownership that
are a part of the park.
• North Rim Park needs to remain affordable and accessible to local residents and
encourage everyday use.
• There should be a balance of recreational uses, preservation of natural and
cultural resources, and continuing permitted uses (such as grazing).
• Basic amenities are needed such as parking areas, trash cans, water, and
restrooms; and services to keep the park clean, attractive, and usable.
• The public should be involved in all stages of building North Rim Park –
planning, design, building amenities, and stewardship.

Site Analysis, Constraints, and Opportunities
See Appendix D - Analysis, Constraints, and Opportunities map.
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


Park Vision and Goals
Vision
With public participation, the NRPAC will develop the foundation for a multi-use
park that balances recreational activities while preserving the natural qualities of the land.
During the planning process, the public made a few suggestions regarding the
NRPAC’s vision. These are listed below for future reference:
• Mention historical
• “Enhance” instead of “preserve” – suggests a different set of actions
• Foundation?
• Time frame issue with the lease
• Add “and restoring”…the natural qualities
• Talk about “long-term, perpetual” planning/management
• Mention: What are we doing? Why? What is it there for?
• Here is the statement we drafted for the site:
North Rim Park is a tremendous asset to Southern Idaho’s
quality of life that can become the “Central Park” of our
region through careful planning, management, and
stewardship on the part of all the people who care for and
use this land.
Site Goals
Goals are the philosophical core of this Master Plan, providing specific guidance that
will assist the NRPAC as it develops North Rim Park into a high-quality system of
protected areas and public recreation sites. The goals outlined below are a descriptive
statement of desired future conditions for a particular topic:
• Protect the underlying Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer that supplies our
drinking water and feeds into the Snake River.
• Protect and restore the important cultural and natural resources of North Rim
Park, including historic and archaeological sites, vegetation, wildlife habitat,
and ecological systems.
• Promote diverse, responsible recreation by designating some areas for multiple
uses and other areas for separate activities.
• Set a high standard of care, stewardship, and legal enforcement to make the site
safe and enjoyable for everyone.
• Concentrate intense uses and visitor amenities in defined areas in order to
reserve others for preservation and restoration.
• Protect the natural resources and scenic beauty of the site by building only basic
improvements, minimal structures, and by protecting viewshed areas of the
park.
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


• Encourage education and interpretation to foster understanding and appreciation
of the North Rim’s unique ecosystem, natural features, and human history.
• Protect future site opportunities through preservation, active management, and
flexible, long-term planning.
• Create a new park identity that is cleaner, safer, more diverse, and more
welcoming to local users and visitors.
• Foster park management, public stewardship, and funding strategies that allow
the park to be as open as much as possible, financially sustainable, and follow
best management practices.
Master Plan
Design Program Overview
This Design Program is the text companion to the Master Plan map, giving a
conceptual description of how North Rim Park is designed and functions. In addition to
providing a brief explanation of how these areas should function, the overview discusses
the reasons different areas of the site were given certain designations (see Appendix D -
North Rim Park Master Plan map).
• Primary Protection – Those areas with diverse plants and wildlife, watershed
value, cultural/historic resources, geologic interest, views, and viewsheds.
These areas include the most critical portions of the park to protect and restore,
often due to multiple resources or high natural resource value.
• Secondary Protection – Those other important areas with valuable resources,
views, and viewsheds, and high potential for restoration. These areas serve as a
buffer between primary protection areas and use areas and buffer adjacent lands.
Dispersed and primitive recreation is allowed, including designated trails,
overlooks, interpretation, education, and wildlife watching areas.
• Recreation - Those core areas for developed recreation facilities and services
for nonmotorized users. Restrooms, parking, amphitheatre, pavilions, group
recreation, developed courses, picnicking, river access, and off-leash dog areas
are the types of uses and facilities found in these areas. They also see a mixture
of users including hiking, biking, equestrian, cross-country skiing, climbing,
wildlife watching, and passive recreation. Several uses are specific to a
particular location, including rock climbing and trails better suited for certain
uses because of the natural surface and terrain.
• Future Determination – Those areas protected for future determination of best
use, including possible recreation, restoration, and/or resource use. Areas are
located adjacent to recreation areas that may require expansion and as buffers
between protection and use areas where restoration efforts may be expanded.
Interim management stresses resource protection and prohibits motorized use.
• Future Inclusion – Those areas where inclusion in the park is desired, but land
is currently not publicly owned or under agreement for public use. Including
these lands within the park boundaries or the park’s management would require
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


a formal agreement, easement, acquisition, or exchange with willing
landowners. Development of these lands is viewed to be incompatible with the
park vision.
• Motorized Recreation – Those core areas for developed recreation facilities and
services for motorized users. Concentrated uses and support facilities such as
restrooms, parking, group recreation, developed courses, and free-play zones
would be located in these areas. Areas should be designated for different
motorized users such as jeeps, ATVs, and motorbikes. Motorized uses are
somewhat flexible in location, and some features can be created to suit in any
location.
• Education and Interpretation Sites – Those locations with unique opportunities
for interpreting the site or offering educational experiences. They include
cultural resources, beginner recreation areas, places for historical reenactments,
and ecological resources for research and study.
• Proposed Trails – Those trails located in recreation areas, motorized recreation
areas, and secondary protection areas. The trails may be user-specific or
multiple-use where appropriate. Trails should be laid out by user groups to a
width and surface appropriate to the use.
Design Program
Area-specific recommendations for North Rim Park are outlined below and the
locations for most of the resources and activities are identified on the associated map (see
Appendix D - North Rim Park Master Plan with Design Program map).
1. Primary Protection
A. Canyon Rim Preservation on all parcels
i. Temporary ¼-mile buffer, final distance should be determined by on
the ground visual and resource survey
B. Vineyard Lake Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)
C. Devil’s Corral water resource and rim areas
D. Sub-canyon areas including the Perch
E. Buffer to IDL watershed area adjacent to West Parcel
F. Auger Falls riparian corridor protection
G. Areas with unique habitat and high quality vegetation as identified by
future resource surveys (not shown on map)
H. Areas with unique historical/cultural resources as identified by existing and
future resource surveys (not shown on map)
2. Secondary Protection
A. Canyon Rim buffer
i. Buffer zone primary rim protection and the existing road
ii. Rim trail recreation and overlooks permitted
B. Park Gateway
i. Protect view into park and entry experience
ii. No development or facilities in this area
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


iii. Minimal signage
iv. Restore degraded areas and user-created trails to natural vegetation
C. Devil’s Corral area
i. Protection of area north and east of Devil’s Corral for restoration and
buffer to more sensitive lands
ii. Low-impact recreation including nonmotorized trails, dispersed
recreation, and no developed facilities
D. Emigrant Trail
i. Identify and protect cultural resources
ii. Nonmotorized travel only along trail
iii. Establish selected crossings at less sensitive locations
iv. Nonmotorized travel and limited motorized travel by permit
v. Establish selected crossings at less sensitive locations
E. Shoshone Falls Road / Golf Course Road corridor protection
i. ¼-mile buffer of no facilities, no trails, minimal signage
ii. Preserve view traveling through the site on east parcel
iii. Travel restricted to the roadway; unauthorized crossings and user-
created trails adjacent to road prohibited to encourage responsible
motorized travel
iv. Protect all land south of Golf Course Road on West Parcel
F. Secondary Road corridor protection
i. Buffers along Walgamott Road, Devil’s Corral Road, 700 East
ii. Travel restricted to the roadway; unauthorized crossings and user-
created trails adjacent to road prohibited to encourage responsible
motorized travel
G. Highway 93 Visual Corridor Protection Zone
i. Preserves views into the site along 93 according to Jerome County
zoning and the R&PP lease
H. Interstate 84 visual corridor protection
i. Setback to protect open view into site
ii. Buffer to protect users from highway
iii. Development prohibited and dispersed recreation managed to be
unobtrusive
iv. Suggest minimum ¼-mile buffer, but actual distance should be
determined by visual survey and be adjusted depending on terrain and
visibility
I. Auger Falls
i. River bottoms/foothill protection between riparian zone and rim
ii. Restore degraded areas and user-created trails to natural vegetation
J. Adjacent lands protection buffer
i. ¼-mile buffer (minimum) along residential areas at Country Club
Estates, Sawtooth Acres, and private properties (Breckenridge,
Panagiotou, Lickley)
ii. ¼-mile buffer (minimum) along adjacent agricultural areas
iii. ¼-mile buffer along College of Southern Idaho (CSI), IDL
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


3. Recreation Areas
A. North Rim Park Day Use Area
i. Parking and trailer parking for equestrian, motorized overflow
ii. Restroom, potable water, and power
iii. Picnic area pavilions and informal amphitheatre area
iv. Landscaping and trees for shade
v. Interpretive area for Emigrant Trail and Walgamott Road, and access
to Emigrant Trail and Walgamott Road trails
vi. Rim Trail trailhead and kiosk
vii. Pedestrian crossing to Rim Trail and Pillar Falls overlook
B. Devil’s Corral Day Use Area
i. Parking and trailer parking for equestrian users
ii. Equestrian amenities – hitching area
iii. Trailhead for Devil’s Corral trail
iv. Interpretive area for Devil’s Corral
C. West Parcel Day Use Area
i. Parking, restroom, potable water, and trailhead area
ii. Trails for equestrian, mountain bike, and off-leash dog walking
iii. Trailhead and pedestrian crossing over Golf Course Road for Rim
Trail
iv. General parks and recreation uses that serve local needs, such as off-
leash dog park
D. Hansen Bridge Parcel Day Use Area
i. Improve existing parking and trailhead for Rim Trail and Raptor Rim
area
ii. Interpretive area for Raptor Rim
E. Auger Falls Day Use Area
i. Parking, boat ramp (nonmotorized), and river access
ii. Trailhead for Rim-to-Rim Trail
iii. Restroom, potable water, and power
iv. Picnic tables
v. Landscaping and trees for shade
4. Future Determination
A. East Parcel
i. Area between CSI frontage and Interstate 84 – highly visible area
ii. Area between gateway and proposed recreation hub
iii. Area north of motorized recreation and Interstate 84 around existing
gravel pits
B. West Parcel
i. Area between private frontage and proposed recreation area around
existing gravel operations
C. Resource use areas (not shown on map)
i. Lands used for grazing, mineral extraction, or other BLM-permitted
uses to the exclusion of other uses, but may transition out in the
future; includes corrals and gravel pits
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


5. Future Inclusion (from willing parties)
A. IDL property proposed for exchange
B. CSI land
C. Breckenridge, Panagiotou, Thorncreek Ranch, and Lickley
D. Rim Trail connections
i. between Auger Falls and West Parcel
ii. between East Parcel and Raptor Rim Parcel
iii. between Raptor Rim Parcel and Hansen Bridge Parcel
6. Motorized Recreation Areas
A. Core Motorized Recreation
i. Parking and trailer parking for motorized users
ii. Restroom, water, and power
iii. Trailhead kiosk for motorized trails
iv. Designated free-play areas – rock crawling sites, ATV track, and
motocross track
v. Other uses as determined by motorized users
B. Dispersed Motorized Recreation
i. Open area with trails outlined on designated trails/travel plan;
separate designated trails for jeeps, ATVs, and motorbikes
ii. Crossing over Walgamott Road to Core Motorized area
7. Education and Interpretation Sites
A. Viewpoints
Viewpoints should provide a place to view canyon, rest on benches or
tables, and interpret canyon history, geology, wildlife, and vegetation;
viewpoints should have a small turnaround that allows for short-term
parking and spur roads at selected viewpoints; overflow and trailhead
parking occurs at day use areas
i. Pillar Falls
ii. Shoshone Falls
iii. Blue Lakes (adjacent to IDL watershed area)
B. Interpretive Areas or Kiosks
i. Emigrant Trail and Walgamott Road
ii. Devil’s Corral
iii. Vineyard Lake
iv. Raptor Rim wildlife interpretation
v. Archaeological/Historical area (not shown on map)
a. Location to be determined
b. Interpret pre-historic and historic resources such as cave features,
mining camps, rock art
C. Amphitheatre (not shown on map)
i. Site to be determined; utilize areas with topography that lends itself to
a natural amphitheatre
ii. Used for small educational, interpretive, and cultural programs
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


8. Proposed Trails
A. Rim Trail
i. Hiking, dogs on-leash
ii. Paved
iii. Will require easements across nonpark lands to complete
B. Devil’s Corral (not shown on map)
i. Hiking, equestrian, dogs allowed
ii. Natural surface
C. Emigrant Interpretive Trail
i. Hiking, equestrian in the Emigrant trail corridor
ii. Natural surface
D. North Rim Perimeter Trail (not shown on map)
i. Long-distance multiple-use trail for hiking, mountain bike, and
equestrian
ii. Natural surface
iii. Alignment to be determined by motorized users
E. Motorized Trail System (not shown on map)
i. Designated trails for different motorized uses, located within
motorized recreation area
ii. Natural surface
iii. Alignments to be determined by motorized users
F. West Parcel Trail
i. Hiking, equestrian, and dogs off-leash area
ii. Gravel
G. West Parcel Mountain biking challenge loop (not shown on map)
i. Alignments to be determined by users
ii. Natural surface
iii. Location to be determined by users
H. Vineyard Lake Trail
i. Existing natural surface hiking path to access lake
ii. Protect access

Implementation Projects
Projects listed below were generated during the charette process and prioritized by
those attending the charette sessions. These projects represent a significant amount of
labor and time needed to establish amenities or designation of user specific areas at North
Rim Park. Some of these projects would occur on lands that are not currently part of
North Rim Park; therefore, those lands would need to be brought under the North Rim
Park umbrella either with a management lease or fee title. They are divided into four
tiers depending on how important they are to the foundation or long-term goals of the
park.
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


First Tier – Critical First Steps
1.
2.
3.
4.
Rim Preservation Area
A. ?- to ¼-mile rim preservation buffer of no development – do visual survey
to draw actual line; perch included
i. No buildings or visible structures.
ii. Parking and cars kept out of rim preservation buffer
iii. Signs permitted if unobtrusive.
B. Nonmotorized travel south of Shoshone Falls Road and ¼-mile buffer
north of Shoshone Falls Road. Fence as needed to limit unauthorized off-
road use
C. Spur roads allowed to access viewpoints on rim.
D. Interpretive signs
E. Outdoor classroom / amphitheatre site (primitive development)
F. Restoration of native vegetation
G. Wildlife protection (seasonal closures of certain viewpoints or trail spurs)
H. Dogs on-leash only
Rim Trail
A. Connecting from Auger Falls to Perrine to Hansen Bridge
B. Primarily paved (especially in East Parcel), may be gravel in some sections
(Auger to Perrine, Devil’s to Hansen); universal design for accessibility
C. Connect to south rim trail where possible
D. Parking area(s) for access
E. Setback/fencing
Entry Improvements
A. Park entry sign
B. Information kiosk (map, posted rules, and information)
C. Small parking or turn-out space
D. Entry gate and/or booth
i. Option to close road (residents have keyed access)
ii. Entry booth manned by volunteer rangers at peak use times to patrol
and educate
iii. Police “sub-station” equipment (radio, walkie-talkies, etc.)
iv. Brochures on park
v. Registration/guestbook
vi. Survey and monitoring projects
vii. Donation box
E. Restore degraded vegetation and revegetate tracks and parking areas; move
parking away from Hwy 93 further into park
i. Post entry sign at east side of park at Hansen Bridge
Auger Falls Improvements
A. Set and post policies
i. 10:00 p.m. curfew
ii. No motorized recreation
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


B. Road improvements
C. Control access to private ranch road
D. Restoration and clean up
Second Tier – Important Comprehensive Projects
5.
6.
7.
8.
Designated trails (multiple or specific use)
Plan, construction, signage, and markings; construction timing determined by
efforts of interested users and ability to garner resources for each trail
A. Devil’s Corral Trail
B. Emigrant Interpretive Trail
C. North Rim Perimeter Trail
D. Motorized Trail System
E. West Parcel Trail
F. West Parcel mountain biking challenge loop
Recreation Day Use areas
A. North Park Welcome Area for general recreation use; flexibility to
accommodate equestrian and motorized for short-term until specialized day
use areas constructed (included in Tier 3.)
B. West Parcel Day Use Area
C. Auger Falls Day Use Area
Viewpoints
A. Pillar Falls Viewpoint
B. Shoshone Falls Viewpoint
C. Blue Lakes Viewpoint
Site Preservation and Restoration
A. Preservation and Restoration Master Plan and Task Force
i. Set boundaries, policies, and best practices for Protection Areas (see
Policy 5a)
ii. Spend restoration money first on areas with most potential for
restoration and with the least potential impacts; Rim areas are highest
priority; areas adjacent to Hwy 93, Interstate 84, motorized areas, and
extraction areas are lowest priority
B. Resource inventory and mapping
Conduct with any proposed development or restoration plan
i. Historical/Cultural/Archaeological
ii. Wildlife
iii. Vegetation
C. Visual resource inventory and mapping
i. Ground-truth visual corridor buffers and map appropriate boundaries
with GIS
D. Vegetation restoration, which may include:
i. Burning
ii. Grazing
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


9.
iii. Reseeding
iv. Determine which areas to start with (suggestion to start with
nonmotorized first)
E. Wildlife habitat enhancements, which may include:
i. Nesting area closures or enhancements
ii. Seasonal closures
iii. Vegetation replanting
iv. Wildlife watching areas
F. Facilities repair and maintenance
Park Identity and Information
A. Logo/graphic
B. Signage standards (coordinate with interpretation)
C. Brochure
D. Website
Third Tier – Important Special Projects
10.
11.
12.
Interpretation
A. Interpretive Master Plan and Task Force
i. Plan outlining overall themes and messages for educational and
stewardship purposes including, but not limited to:
a. Ecological: aquifer, geologic, vegetation, wildlife
b. Cultural: historic/cultural/archaeological
c. Management: restoration efforts, stewardship messages
ii. Propose locations of interpretive signs and amenities
iii. Suggest interpretive activities, brochures, and other materials
B. Construct interpretive signs and sites
Motorized Recreation Area
A. Motorized Recreation Master Plan and Task Force
B. Designated trails/travel plan
C. Motorized recreation play areas
i. Jeep / 4 WD course
ii. ATV track
iii. Motorcycle track
iv. Fat-tire bicycle area
v. Training areas
Equestrian Improvements
A. Equestrian Recreation Master Plan and Task Force
B. Designated trails plan
i. Horse-only trails
ii. Off-leash dogs permitted trails
C. Equestrian day use area (at Devil’s Corral)
i. Trailer parking
ii. Hitching areas
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


13.
iii. Corrals/fences (as needed)
Emigrant Trail Interpretive Area
A. Emigrant Trail Master Plan and Task Force
B. Walking trail and interpretation along Emigrant Trail
C. ¼-mile protection buffer to each side to protect potential cultural resources
and visual quality
D. Designated motorized crossings in areas where impact can be minimized
E. Seek official designations from BLM [and/or] SHPO, such as National
Register of Historic Places
Fourth Tier – Specialized Interest and Long-Term Projects
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Transportation Improvements
A. Traffic light or roundabout at entry
B. Second access or new road north of existing road
C. Access to north BLM parcel
Administrative area
A. Small buildings or sheds for maintenance and administrative activities
B. May expand as park grows
North Rim to South Rim Trail connection
A. Restore bridge at Auger Falls
B. Connections over private land and land outside North Rim boundaries
C. River trail spur below the rim
Raptor Protection Area
A. Areas at Hansen Bridge Parcel and Raptor Rim Parcels protected and
interpreted for raptor species that inhabit them
B. Managed in a manner similar to Idaho Fish & Game cooperative agreement
on South Rim in same location
Specialized Recreation Areas
A. Off-leash dog area (west parcel)
B. Rock climbing (rim zone)
C. Ice climbing
D. River trail
E. Cross-country skiing trail
F. Archery range (if deemed appropriate)
G. Camping (if deemed appropriate)
H. Permitted uses with no designated location
i. Hot air balloon landing
ii. Remote control plane landing strip
iii. Stargazing
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


19. Future plans and/or Future Inclusion areas
A. BLM land north of I-84 – possible expansion area
B. IDL land west of Hwy 93
C. Move or hide power lines
Management Policies
Policies listed below were generated during the charette process and prioritized by
those attending the charette sessions. These policies represent the issues that need to be
resolved and addressed as North Rim Park takes shape over the next 20 years. They are
divided into two tiers depending on how important they are to the foundation or long-
term goals of the park.
First Tier – Critical First Steps
1.
2.
3.
Protect other parcels that impact the park
A. Acquire or protect private in-holdings for park purposes through
agreement, easement, acquisition, or exchange
B. Lickley, Panagiotou, Breckenridge, and Thorncreek Ranch
C. Protective agreements with IDL and CSI
D. Secure easements across adjacent parcels for Rim trail (mentioned in the
4th tier of projects – how does that line up)
E. Buffer agricultural lands
Secure alternate location for shooting
A. Coordination between counties and shooting community to identify and
secure alternate location with possibilities of:
i. On BLM land north of Hwy 84
ii. In Twin Falls County
iii. Joint public/private facility built by volunteers
Revise and post North Rim Park policies
A. NRPAC to recommend and adopt new policies, BLM, and Jerome County
to approve.
B. Park policies include:
i. Park closed 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; no camping or overnight use
ii. No dumping
iii. No shooting (including rifles, shotguns, paintballs, or archery)
iv. No launching or shooting anything across the river from rim
v. No fireworks
vi. No fires
vii. No drugs
viii. No glass or glass bottles
ix. Hunting according to state regulations
x. Pack all trash out
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


xi. Parking in designated areas only
xii. Speed limit
C. Recreation policies include:
i. Motorized recreation in designated trails or designated areas only
ii. Off-road vehicles must have spark arrestors
iii. Bicycles and equestrian on designated trails only
iv. Dogs must be leashed except on designated off-leash trails or off-
leash areas
v. Stay on trails in Preservation Areas
D. Recommend fines for breaking policies that can be levied by local police or
BLM rangers
Second Tier – Important Comprehensive Policy Actions
4.
5.
6.
Policy cooperation between Twin Falls and Jerome counties and the
different land agencies
A. Establish Inter-jurisdictional/Intergovernmental Task Force that explores
ways to establish and adopt new policies to be enforced by both counties
and the different land agencies
B. Recommend a new planning and zoning vision for this parcel; recommend
any new ordinances or zoning actions
C. Develop cooperative enforcement policies
D. Joint funding venture
Establish relationship with neighboring lands
A. Begin long-term planning concerning future of adjacent and in-holding
parcels
B. Establish buffer zones along park boundaries to reduce impact of park
activities on neighboring parcels and vice versa
Polices for each use areas
A. Protection Areas
i. Primary Protection Areas
ii. Secondary Protection Areas
iii. Future Determination
B. Recreation Areas
i. Dog policy, suggest:
a. Off-leash park on west parcel
b. Leashed on east parcel unless otherwise designated
c. No dogs allowed in Primary Protection Areas
d. West Parcel trail that allows off-leash dogs with horses
ii. Trail designations (by user)
iii. Maximum group sizes
iv. Climbing policies (permanent bolts, etc.)
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


7.
8.
C. Permitted uses
i. These are defined by the BLM, but the NRPAC could make a
recommendation for what direction they would like to see long-term
on grazing and extraction
ii. Hunting policy
Definitions
A. Limited development
B. Primitive development
C. Intensive use areas
Sponsorship policy (corporate, private, etc.)
A. Establish policies for desired types/categories of sponsors and content
B. Establish fundraising standards such as sponsorship levels, naming rights,
etc.
Programs
Programs listed below were generated during the charette process and prioritized by
those attending the charette sessions. These programs represent the enforcement,
education, and cooperative efforts needed at North Rim Park. They are divided into three
tiers depending on how important they are to the foundation or long-term goals of the
park.
First Tier – Establish a Presence
1. Establish enforcement programs
A. Set up system for general, visible enforcement; possibilities include:
i. Volunteer rangers
ii. Volunteer entry greeters
iii. Survey and monitoring projects to get “eyes on the site”
B. Dumping and cleanup
i. Advertise and post incentives and alternatives (like free dump days at
Twin Falls and Jerome transfer stations)
ii. Post and enforce penalties for dumping
iii. Establish official clean-up days for all user groups to participate in
C. Shooting
i. Establish and post list/map of official alternative locations for
shooting
ii. Enlist shooters as volunteer park patrol to educate people about
alternative locations for shooting
iii. Fund for short-term gun club memberships subsidies on a “first-come,
first-serve” basis or as a reward for cleanup efforts
iv. Cleanup program to remove evidence of shooting from all previously
popular shooting areas
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


v. Authorize Jerome County to begin enforcement of no-shooting policy
2. Establish relationship between Jerome County and Twin Falls County to
work on park together
A. Ask each to contribute “in-kind” staff hours
B. Make sure both have representatives on the NRPAC from Parks and
Recreation and Planning/Zoning or Council/Commission
C. Explore possibilities for cooperative enforcement and safety for park
(police/fire)
3. Create “Friends of North Rim Park” group
A. Establish 501(c)(3) status to accept donations and grants
B. Group acts as an extension of the board, assisting with volunteer projects,
public relations, and a way to get people involved in the park
4. Build board capacity
A. Get additional NRPAC appointments to bring more diverse and
comprehensive representation on the board – recommend representatives
for bicyclists, vegetation/wildlife restoration, education/interpretive,
historical interest, and general parks and recreation (city or county)
B. Bring on regular facilitator to facilitate NRPAC meetings and help keep
NRPAC on-track in meeting Master Plan and implementation goals; could
use in-kind expertise from BLM, spell out (DEQ), Idaho Power, CSI, or
other institutions that regularly use such assistance
C. Find ways to fund or get in-kind professional support for plan and
implementation goals
5. Host several simple programs or events to establish a presence on site
A. Plan three or four events each year to start welcoming people to the park
and change people’s impressions of it; suggested events include:
i. Lecture or tour about natural history or human history (on- or off-site)
ii. Recreation event – such as fun run or bicycle hill climb
iii. Historic reenactment in costume and character – Emigrant Trail or
Walgamott Road crossing
i. Park celebration – all-day event with several activities such as
rock-crawl competition, trail run, equestrian trail ride, dog
competition, clean-up session, balloon lift-off, and pancake
breakfast
iv. Scouting badge day – experts and leaders available to help scouts
work on several applicable badges on-site
Second Tier – Park Activities and Management
6. Develop partnerships for programming
A. Establish Programs Task Force and consider writing a programs master
plan and to outline future events and programs desired and suitable for the
site
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


B. Create a system to encourage people to suggest and organize programs and
events to be run on site
C. Create partnership with CSI for outdoor curriculum on the site
D. Create partnerships with user group organizations (motorized groups,
Backcountry Horsemen, 4H, Scouts, mountain bikes, Audubon Society,
etc.)
7. Begin “Adopt-a-Project” program and grants
A. Start official program to enlist volunteer and interest group help in funding
and constructing park improvements.
B. Establish “seed grant” program of small competitive grants that groups can
apply for to undertake projects on the site
8. Create funding strategy
A. Establish short-term and long-term goals for funding improvements and
park organization/management
B. Develop funding partnerships with state, federal, and local agencies
C. Explore possible tax revenues from special sources such as tourism,
outdoor recreation gear, registration tags, and/or recreation special services
district
9. Secure professional staff
A. Staff is critical for fundraising, park management, board support, and
developing partnerships
B. Secure in-kind staff and some funding for part-time assistance
10. Establish funding for basic operations
A. Funding for items such as office operations (e.g., mailing, phone, and
printing)
B. Funding for volunteer ranger activities (e.g., radios and shed)
11. Establish permanent volunteer ranger program
A. Entry gate rangers
B. Site patrol rangers
C. Naturalists for viewpoints and interpretive areas
Third Tier – Long-Term Site Stewardship
12. User education programs
A. Motorized recreation safety programs
B. Interpretive programs
C. Dog training
D. Fire prevention education
E. Restoration training programs
13. Funding streams
A. Special project fee assessment
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


B. Park passes
C. Park license plate
14. Special interest programs and events
A. Cultural tours
i. Emigrant Trails
ii. Grazing/agricultural legacy – FFA, 4H
iii. Archeological
B. Restoration projects and volunteer opportunities
C. Interpretive programs
i. Stargazing
D. Native plant society
E. Motorized events
F. Amphitheatre events
G. Kids adventure camp
H. Recreation events
i. Runs
ii. Road and mountain biking
iii. Cross-country ski events
Design Principles
With this Master Plan, the NRPAC has a broad blueprint for developing park
amenities while enhancing its natural resources. Improvements will likely be carried out
on a project–by-project basis as funding and staffing permits. Thus, design guidelines are
needed to lend a consistency of style and function to future construction and
enhancements.
Developing a detailed set of design guidelines can be a distinct project, or can be
started with the first project to be undertaken and embellished by subsequent projects. In
either case, professional expertise on both the aesthetics and functional components of
the design is important for setting an appropriate standard and unique character.
Guidelines should recommend form, materials, and style. Guidelines are most helpful
when illustrated with sketches or photos and examples of similar work in similar
conditions.
The BLM has designers and architects who provide design assistance at its National
Science and Technology Center (NSTC) in Denver (www.blm.gov/nstc). Depending on
the project scope and timing, those experts can provide design services at no cost to the
local office and can also suggest examples of similar projects or recommend suitable
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


products and solutions. The BLM is also currently developing a Built Environment
Image Guide Project that could be a useful starting point for these guidelines (expected
completion 2009).
At this master planning level, the following Design Principles recommend areas that
the design guidelines should cover and outline basic standards:
• Buildings and Shelters
o The number and location of buildings should be limited to areas of most
intense use.
o Buildings and shelters should be minimal in scale and have natural materials
that blend in visually with the surrounding landscape. Native rocks and soil
from the site should be utilized where possible.
o Buildings should be integrated into surroundings with berms, extending
walls or overhangs, landscaping. Custom designed buildings and shelters
are preferable to prefabricated items, unless these items can be suitably
altered or integrated to blend seamlessly into the site.
• Walls and fences
o The site should remain as open as possible. Walls and fences should be used
only as needed to define use areas and manage travel.
o Solid walls should be used only in intense use areas. Walls should be
constructed of natural materials, preferably native rocks from the site.
o Fences should be used judiciously to help direct travel and prevent access to
areas under restoration or special preservation. Fences should be visually
unobtrusive. The style of fences used regionally on agricultural lands is
preferred.
• Signage
o All signs should follow uniform sign design guidelines stipulating sizes,
color, logo, fonts, and basic graphics.
o Sign frames and structures such as kiosks and multiple-panel signage should
match the style of buildings and structures.
o Directional signage - Simple, clear signage should be used to direct people
to use areas and access roads.
o Informational signage – Signage should be used to outline park policies,
user behavior, and best practices for protecting the site.
o Interpretive – Interpretive signage should be developed and designed.
o Trail markings – Trails should utilize a uniform trail marking system to
designate trail names, distances, and permitted uses.
• Roadways
o Roadways should be designed to slow traffic through the site and discourage
off-road travel. Road cross-sections should be as narrow as possible to
minimize impact and slow travel speeds.
o Intersections should be designed with small curb cuts and turning radii to
encourage slow turns.
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


o Sight lines at intersections should allow traffic to be seen in both directions
for a distance sufficient with travel speeds.
o Roads should be designed to minimize stormwater runoff. Porous pavement
may be appropriate. Natural swales and drainage should be used instead of
engineered piping and draining wherever possible.
o Road surfacing should be suited to the designated use. Roads may be
natural surface, gravel, or paved depending on level of use and desired
access.
• Trails
o Trails should be designed to suit the designated users – including width,
surface material, shoulder, and maximum grades. Universal design is
encouraged where possible.
o Trails should be designed and built by experienced trail builders to ensure
proper function in terms of drainage, materials, and construction.
o Trail construction should minimize impact on the surrounding land and
revegetate and regrade adjacent disturbed areas to match the natural
landscape.
o Trails should be visually inobtrusive. Large cuts, fills, or switchbacks are
discouraged.
• Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management
o Grading should be minimized to protect the natural topography of the site
and limit areas of disturbance.
o Drainage and stormwater should be designed to utilize natural channels and
topography to the extent possible. Drainage technology should utilize
natural solution for retaining and reabsorbing water into the landscape over
engineered and artificial solutions.
• Utilities
o Utilities and facilities that require utilities should be located as close to
existing service lines as possible without being visually intrusive.
o New utility lines and features should be buried where possible.
• Lighting
o Lighting should be minimized and used only where evening use is expected
or for necessary safety precautions.
o Lighting should follow “dark skies” principles to minimize intensity of the
lighting, use cutoffs to direct lighting only where needed, limit lighting
spillage, and minimize glare.
• Visual Resource Management
o Visually sensitive areas are included in the Primary and Secondary
Protection designations on the Master Plan.
o Buildings, structures, and parking areas should be excluded from the canyon
rim and setback from other visually sensitive areas to minimize their
visibility.
o Building materials, forms, and scale should be selected to minimize the
appearance of structures.
o Reflective materials should be avoided.
• Resource Protection
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


o Design and construction should follow principles of sustainable design to
minimize resource use while maximizing efficiency and beauty.
o Projects should conserve water and protect water quality. Reuse of waste
water is encouraged.
o Best practices for establishing and restoring native vegetation should be set.
o Fire management policies and practices should be set.
o Noxious weed control should be planned. These measures should use the
lowest impact tools found to be effective. Weeds should be controlled
before restoration efforts begin in a specific site.
• Landscaping
o Landscaping should be used to create comfortable microclimates for human
use in high impact areas, to screen uses, to direct traffic, and to restore areas
as needed.
o Trees are recommended for creating shade in high impact areas. An
example of tree species and spacing can be found in the native area of the
Hansen Bridge parcel.
o Landscaping should blend into the site. Plants should be of a size, scale, and
species that are compatible with existing and historic vegetation. Intense
landscaping such as grass, ornamental plants, and formal landscaped areas
should be avoided.
o Native plants should be used to the greatest degree possible. Plant species
should be recommended based on the native and historic vegetation, as well
as compatible introduced species that can integrate with this regime without
dominating or displacing natives. Recommendations for trees, shrubs, and
perennials, as well as annual grasses and forbs should be included in these
guidelines.
Action Plan
The goal of this Master Plan is to provide the NRPAC with further direction and
actual implementation steps to make the vision of North Rim Park a reality. The
following Action Plan lists Projects, Programs, and Policies that the NRPAC will be
working through in the short term (3 years), medium term (7 years), and long term (20
years). It is important that the NRPAC makes progress during each of these time frames
as the later steps often depend on the implementation of earlier ones.
The Action Plan does not correspond exactly with the tiered order of Projects,
Programs, and Policies outlined earlier. Those were prioritized by the public during the
charette process, but items cannot necessarily be completed in that order due to budgetary
and other foundational processes that must take place first. There are also additional
items in the Action Plan that were not considered by the public, but are essential to
successful implementation.
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MASTER PLAN FOR NORTH RIM PARK


Short Term – Within 3 Years
In the short term, the NRPAC has no funds to move forward on many important
steps. This time period should then be focused on developing policies, programs,
partnerships, and funding sources that will enable them to address future needs for North
Rim Park.
Policies
Publish this Master Plan widely and make it available on the Internet, in city and
county offices, local libraries, and other locations.
Secure an alternate location for shooting and publish in Federal Register.
Establ