The GNAR Initiative exists to help gateway communities, their regions, and the public lands around them, thrive and preserve the things that make them special – across Utah, and the Intermountain West. Our goal is to help community leaders and land managers prepare and respond to the numerous challenges facing them by leveraging our three pillars: research, education, and capacity building.
Small cities and towns outside of significant natural amenities such as national parks, public lands, ski areas, and scenic rivers throughout the western United States are becoming increasingly popular places to visit and live. As a result, many of these "gateway" and natural amenity region ( or GNAR) communities grapple with “big city” issues, including severe congestion, lack of affordable workforce housing, and concerns about sprawl.
The work of the GNAR Initiative has always been one rooted in our team’s love for the vibrance, charm, and enduring character of gateway communities throughout the west. Although we tend to do this quietly, often our work gets noticed – and occasionally r...
Over 3 million acres of public land could be sold in the next five years, after Senate Republicans on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee reintroduced land sales into the party’s major spending bill. Released on Wednesday night, the megabill text
In our first episode we talk to a few people who study the recreation industry and how it intersects with rural communities. We start out in Montezuma County, Colorado, Ilana’s home in Southwest Colorado and also visit Monte Vista, Colorado, another small...
The route is set. The buses have arrived. But as of early October, a new public transit line connecting Zion National Park with St. George is running behind its planned July start date. The hold-up has been hiring enough drivers, said St. George
