DNR Deer Creek Fox Den Campground & Rockport Reservoir Park Cedar Point Day Use

Summary

Meridian Engineering is thrilled about the completion of two new outdoor recreation areas. While working with the State of Utah-DFCM, and the Department of Natural Resources, Meridian’s civil engineering division has finished off two of four separate state funded recreation projects cohesively. The first to the finish line is Rockport Reservoir’s Cedar Point new day use area that opened its gates September 2022. We recently celebrated its official ribbon cutting on July 6, 2023, adding 12 scenic new picnic sites, 10 pavilions, access road, parking stalls including ADA stalls, and 2 new restrooms constructed by PRT Builders. Rockport Reservoir is located off SR-42 and easily accessed by I-80 by hanging a right at the Wanship exit. This lake offers year-round recreation opportunities for fishing and camping.

Project Details

  • Owner: State of Utah, DFCM
  • Client: Department of Natural Resources
  • Completion Date: 2023

State Parks Team

  • Civil
    • Randall Vickers, PE | PIC
    • Mark Cook, PE | PM
    • Jaymin Vickers, EIT | PM
  • Geotech
    • Alan Spillker, PE | President
  • Architect
    • Scott Evans, President
    • Jason Evans, Project Manager
  • Landscape Architect
    • Jay Bollwinkel, President
    • Dan Sonntag, Project Manager
  • Electrical
    • Paris LeLaCheur, PE
    • Ken Garner, PE | Senior Project Manager
  • Mechanical
    • Brad Lash, PE | PIC
    • Brook Rawlings, PM
  • Traffic Study
    • Josh Gibbons, Transportation Engineer

The Updated DNR Park Areas

The new Fox Den campground at Deer Creek Reservoir recently celebrated its groundbreaking on July 12, 2023. Fox Den will delight campers with 31 sites all equipped with full hook ups, new restrooms, and an upgrade to the overall water and sewer systems for campsites near the marina. “This actually increased our camping opportunities by about a third,” explained Deer Creek State Park Manager, Ranger Stephen Studebaker. Deer Creek Reservoir lies in the southwest corner of beautiful Heber Valley, at the base of towering Mount Timpanogos and its major park activities are water-based, including boating, water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, swimming, and fishing. Located near Wallsburg, its cooler waters provide some of Utah’s finest year-round fishing with splendid views.

 

At Jordanelle Reservoir’s northeast side, the excitement is building up as we near completion for the Ross Creek Day use area beach expansion with 11 beach cabanas, 12 traditional picnic cabanas, trail access, enhanced parking improvements, restrooms and entry station. Ross Creek plans to be fully opened for Labor Day 2023. The Rock Cliff RV and van campground on the eastern end of Jordanelle is set to be ready in the fall of 2024 offering 24 RV sites, 18 van sites, 9 tent sites, and 3 new restrooms.

 

Meridian assembled a team of qualified state park savvy consultants to work with to bring these projects to actuality including GSH Geotechnical, SPE Architects, MGB+A, Colvin Engineering, and WHW Engineering. Meridian’s innovative contributions include coordination with existing utility agencies and stakeholders for utility impact analysis, UAS flights and conventional topography surveys, and civil site design phases for all 4 projects including grading and drainage plans, storm water retention plans, and construction administration. Overall, these expanded areas are anticipated to enhance recreational activities at each of the reservoirs for years to come while meeting local public demand for camping and day use activities.