How lucky are we as citizens of Bountiful and surrounding areas to have a beautiful outdoor recreation facility that is close to home. There is something for everyone at the Bountiful Lake: fishing with handicap access, bird watching, kayaking, picnicking, overnight camping for scouting, fire pits, shaded bowery, restrooms, trash containers, horseback riding, biking and walking. There is an asphalt path that follows the shoreline around the entire pond which is also open in the winter. 

The Bountiful Lake was built in the late 1990s in a cooperative effort with the City of Bountiful and the Utah State Division of wildlife resources. While the Division of Wildlife Resources provides fish stocking periodically and law enforcement they also monitor water quality. Bountiful City provides garbage removal, restroom cleaning, general maintenance for trail clearing and vegetation clearing (primarily phragmites) around the lake so that it may be accessed from the banks.

We as tax payers and those that purchase hunting and fishing licenses provide funding to maintain and provide fish stocking for the facility. Unfortunately at this time the facility is at a low point as far as usability. The condition of the restroom facility is basically unusable, unsanitary and with non- operable doors. Needless to say people are finding unhealthy options for restroom use. The picnic bowery is not useable due to the condition the birds have left it in. Bird flu concerns? Other picnic areas are overgrown with weeds and are not accessible. The vegetation around the lake is overtaking the walking path and blocking access to the shoreline. Garbage cans are overflowing with trash.  

Who are the people in charge of this facility, where are they and why are they not doing their job to maintain this wonderful part of our community? 

K. Scott Parkin