American Fork Canyon is one of the Wasatch Back’s most treasured wild places — a rugged gateway between Utah County and the soaring peaks near Summit County, where Utahns hike, bike, camp, climb, and explore the wild heart of our state. The canyon’s beauty, its trails, and its access are part of what makes this region special, and protecting that access has taken real leadership from everyday citizens who love these lands.

In 2017, a grassroots movement that began with a simple outreach — Protect and Preserve American Fork Canyon — resulted in a bold step forward: the American Fork Canyon Alliance purchased a small, strategic parcel on Miller Hill to secure public access and preserve open space for all. What many said was impossible became reality because citizens stepped up and acted — not because it was popular, but because it simply needed to be done.

At the top of that hillside today stands a 400-pound sentinel rock monument — a tribute to that accomplishment and a symbol of what common-good stewardship looks like when neighbors work together. Through that effort, an effective buffer zone now exists between private resort lands and public lands, helping ensure fee-free outdoor recreation remains available for everyone who loves this canyon.

This spirit of stewardship didn’t begin with public accolades. It’s the same commitment that helped protect Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon when it was under threat of development that could have included commercial buildings or a helipad atop the waterfall. Through partnership with community advocates, the Utah County Commission, and a conservation easement now held by Utah Open Lands, that iconic falls and its surrounding lands were secured in perpetuity — remaining open for all to enjoy.

Across the Wasatch Back, in Provo Canyon, and throughout our wild places, development pressures continue to grow. Keeping public lands accessible, natural landscapes intact, and recreational opportunity available for future generations requires new ideas and proven leadership — leadership that acts without political agenda and that makes preservation a priority before it’s politically correct.

As your future representative in Legislative District 59, I ask you to vote for someone with a track record of land protection and stewardship — someone who protected wild places before it was fashionable, and who will continue to stand up for Utah’s outdoor heritage for all who live here now and those who will come after us.