Eastern Leaders Academy Highlights Local Parks, Recreation, Tourism

The Eastern Leaders Academy April Experience Day focused on parks, recreation and tourism, giving participants a closer look at how these industries support the local economy and community across Carbon and Emery counties.

Tourism has become a big part of the local economy in both counties. As the region continues shifting away from primarily relying on coal mining, tourism and recreation are playing a larger role in helping the area expand.

City of Helper Mayor Lenise Peterman spoke about this transition as part of her presentation. She taught the importance of balancing the region’s history with its future, saying: “We shouldn’t be ashamed of our coal mining past. We need to take pride in what we’ve accomplished. But we need to use that and also look to the future of the area.”

Academy members started the day learning about the role taxation plays in tourism, including how Transient Room Tax and Tourism, Recreation, Cultural, Convention and Airport Facilities Tax are collected and distributed to support tourism-related efforts. They also talked about how local businesses like hotels, restaurants, gas stations and others play a part in generating that revenue.

Throughout the day, the group traveled across Carbon County to visit a range of local assets such as recreational organizations, businesses and tourist attractions.

The group visited businesses that originated outside the region but chose to locate in Carbon County after recognizing its potential. These businesses have since grown and continue to serve both residents and visitors, showing how outside investment is helping the county develop.

“It’s great to see the businesses that come from outside the area,” one participant said. “They see the value here and chose to come here to thrive and help grow the community.”

A visit to North Springs Shooting Range helped highlight the region’s tourism appeal. The facility brings in visitors from across the country and even internationally and is known for both law enforcement training and family-friendly recreation.

Reflecting on the variety of places visited during the day, one participant said: “It’s important to realize that even though we are a small area, we really do have so much here.”

Academy members also participated in leadership development discussions throughout the day. The goal of the Eastern Leaders Academy is to help participants grow as leaders and leave the program stronger than when they entered.

The 2025-2026 ELA cohort will conclude in May with its final Experience Day, followed by an academy graduation celebration.