North Rim Park Talk Resurfaces in Jerome County

(KLIX)- Talk of a park on the north rim of the Snake River canyon has come up once again. For years there have been various groups and individuals wanting to establish a multiple use  park in Jerome County along the canyon. Terry Halbert with the North Side Soil and Water Conservation District brought the discussion up once again with Jerome County Commissioners on Monday. In 2004 a lease agreement was signed between the Bureau of Land Management and the county. A development plan was presented in 2007 but was not put into action. The area is known to many people who use it as a gun range, ATV and off-road track and to hike. It stretches from the Hansen Bridge through the Devils Coral area and out past Highway 93. It sits between the interstate and the canyon. Halbert’s talk with the commissioners was to restart discussions to develop a portion of the land into a park. He says if the populace of Jerome County wants to develop the park then it will happen, if they don't it wont. Halbert says there is still a lot of interest in a developed park. Yet, not everyone is for a park along the north side of the canyon. Del Kohtz, who says he served on the county planning and zoning commission when the lease was signed, also spoke to commissioners in opposition to such a park, sighting the use of tax payer money as a major concern. The commissioners decided to take the matter up again for more discussion.