FARMINGTON — The December meeting for Friends of Antelope Island ran a little long, but only because the group was going over its accomplishments from 2012.
The 15-member volunteer group, which promotes and preserves the island and protects its wildlife in opposing state-sponsored hunts on the island, in reviewing its yearly donations was pleased to find the group had invested just more than $31,000 into the state-owned island, not including volunteer time.
The total also does not include the annual Antelope Island By Moonlight Bike Ride held in July, which the group helped sponsor in partnership with Davis County and area merchants.
The bike ride drew a record 2,163 participants, generating $32,000 in net rider registration revenues for the Friends group, said Barry Burton, president of Friends of Antelope Island.
Based on the turnout for the ride this year, Burton said, the group may have to make some changes to accommodate the increasing numbers.
Friends of Antelope Island in 2012 donated $5,000 to the Frary Homestead Trail interpretation project; $5,000 to the renovation of the U.S. Army Ranger Memorial located on the island causeway and $15,000 to create and refurbish a mercantile store inside the historic Fielding Garr Ranch House.
The refurbishing project, creating a gift shop at the island ranch house, is expected to be complete by next Memorial Day weekend, Antelope Island State Park Manager Jeremy Shaw said.
The group also donated $2,500 to remove from the ranch house grounds old trees, which were threatening the structure.
The group also spent a total of $750 for the three summer concerts held at the island’s amphitheater.
Shaw said based on the success of the series he anticipates it will return in the summer of 2013.
The group also donated $2,300, with Wells Fargo Bank donating $1,000 of that amount, to buy digital equipment and renew a license for the park’s radio station.
There was also a $1,500 donation by the group to repair a golf cart used to transport island visitors who have a difficult time walking.
The group also took a position against hunting on the island, with Friends of Antelope Island board member Barbara Riddle representing the board’s position at an August meeting of the State Parks Board in Cedar City, Burton said.
This year the group also joined the Friends of Utah State Parks; provided chili dinner for those riders participating in the October bison roundup and sponsored a booth at The Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, held in May.
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