WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
FIRE LAKE PARK
Ivins, Utah
It is an Ivins City park, in cooperation with the Washington County Water Conservancy District,
the Shivwits Band of Paiutes, Washington County, the Ivins Irrigation Company, and Terry Marten (Kayenta developer).
LOCATION
37° 10' 51" North Latitude, 113° 42' 52" West Longitude37.181° North Latitude, 113.714° West Longitude
3,119 feet (951 meters) MSL
The entrance is to the north off of Old Highway 91, 0.35 miles west of Kayenta Parkway
and 0.66 miles east of the Paiute gas station & minimart.
DESCRIPTION
A levee was constructed to partition of a 4-acre area of the reservoir for swimming. Fresh water from the Gunlock Reservoir is piped into the swimming area and drains over a spillway into the rest of the reservoir. This keeps the swimming water clean without disrupting the irrigation uses of the water.HISTORY
The Ivins Reservoir dates back to 1918 when it was created for irrigation purposes. In the 1990s, the Washington Water Conservancy District and the Shivwits Band of Paiutes began plans for further developing the reservoir, adding recreational uses. Plans really started to gell in 2014 and consruction started in the middle of 2015Preliminary names for the park were the Ivins Reservoir Park and the Ivins Reservoir Recreation Area and Nature Park.
The name that stuck was Fire Lake Park, from the Paiute's observation of the sun lit red cliffs reflecting on the smooth surface of the water.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 18, 2016 marked the official opening of the park to the public.
PHOTOS
TBDREFERENCES
Fire Lake Park at Ivins Reservoir – Now OpenCity of Ivins, May 18, 2016
Plans for Ivins Reservoir recreation advance
by Kevin Jenkins
The Spectrum, August 15, 2014
Ivins City plans open house to discuss reservoir plans
by Kevin Jenkins
The Spectrum, November 6, 2014
Ivins Reservoir improvements set to begin in mid-April
by Alexa V. Morgan
The Spectrum, March 31, 2015
Ivins City cuts ribbon on Fire Lake Park
by Kevin Jenkins
The Spectrum, May 26, 2016
New: Fire Lake Park opens at Ivins Reservoir
by Julie Applegate
St. George News, May 26, 2016