Park kicking off season with high hopes

This Is the Place Heritage Park on Salt Lake City's east bench is looking to continue its dramatic increase in attendance this summer, starting with opening celebrations today and Saturday.

The park is expecting 10,000 visitors during the two days, which will feature costumed mountain men and 19th century actors.

Visitors will get a repeat of last year's baby-animal petting zoo, said park spokeswoman Christy Goff. The popular event may become a tradition.

Target practice and demonstrations of century-old crafts, such as blacksmithing, carpentry and tinsmithing, are some of the activities scheduled. Weaving, using llama wool sheared on site, will also be demonstrated.

A mountain-man rendezvous will have the bearded mountain men camping on site.

Visitors paying the $6-$8 admission fee will also get a ride on a train providing views of the park's many historic buildings, the orchard and farmyard.

The buildings have been moved to the park from around the state. They include a former home of Brigham Young, a schoolhouse, workshops and a hospital.

A major goal for the park this year is to improve promotion and public education, Goff said. Last year, the park's focus was programming. The year prior, it aimed to stabilize and get its finances in order.

The park is in rebound mode after information about its troubled finances came to light in May 2006. The park, run by a nonprofit foundation, had received $2 million in emergency funds from the Utah Legislature in addition to its annual grant and other subsidies. But the bailout came with a demand: improve accountability or turn the park over to the state.

Since then, the park has greatly improved its financial situation and is now operating in the black, Goff said. Departments areheld to strict budgets. Also, the park is working toward balancing its revenue streams so that patrons, private sponsors and the state provide equal thirds, Goff said.

In 2007, more than 127,000 people visited the paid part of the park. This year, the park is reaching for attendance numbers near 200,000.

The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit thisistheplace.org.

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E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com