Historic Preservation

After emotional hearing, Arizona state parks board puts off decision on closures

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[Source: Andrea Wilson, Cronkite News Service] — Eileen Gannon’s ancestors gave Arizona the land and structures that make up Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff.  The agreement has the property reverting to the family if the park closes.  On Tuesday, with Arizona State Parks recommending closing Riordan and seven other parks as it deals with budget cuts, Gannon said her family would wind up having to protect the 13,000-square-foot mansion and its historic artifacts, something that she said it isn’t in a position to do.  “This would be an enormous problem for my family,” Gannon told the Arizona State Parks Board during an emotional public hearing.

Rather than endorsing the plan, the board asked Arizona State Parks to look at options other than closures, such as employee furloughs and cutting back on park hours, before it takes up the issue again at its Feb. 20.  “We need a bigger menu of options,” said State Land Commissioner Mark Winkleman, a member of the board.

Ken Travous, the agency’s executive director, also proposed closing Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde, Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow, Lyman Lake State Park in Springerville, McFarland State Historic in Florence, Oracle State Park, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park.  Travous said he selected the parks based on visitor counts and the cost of running them as the agency tries to deal with a deficit projected to reach $647,000 by June.  “We need to make up a lot of money real fast,” he said. “We’re out of time.”

The board’s seven members said they regretted having to address the possibility of closures because they have attachments to the parks.  “It makes me sick to think that we are in this situation, but we are,” said Reese Woodling, the board’s chairman.   [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Arizona state park closures delayed

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[Source: Casey Newton, Arizona Republic] — The closure of eight state parks was delayed Tuesday as the Arizona State Parks Board asked to be given more alternatives to consider.  The board voted unanimously to ask parks director Ken Travous and his staff to consider closing parks seasonally, furloughs for employees, and other reductions in operating expenses in an effort to spare the parks targeted for closing.  “I’d like to see a bigger menu,” said Mark Winkelman, a member of the board and the Arizona State Land Commissioner.  “We need to come up with some options instead of (just taking) one approach.”

The board will meet again Feb. 20, when it is scheduled to make a final decision.  The parks up for closure are: Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde; Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow; Lyman Lake State Park in Springerville; McFarland State Historic Park in Florence; Oracle State Park in Oracle; Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff; Tubac Presidio State Historic Park in Tubac; and Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park.

About 20 people from around the state spoke out during a Tuesday morning meeting that lasted more than three hours.  In all cases, speakers urged the board to resist closing the parks and seek alternatives to closing a 2009 budget deficit estimated at $650,000.  “We must be vigilant in saving our few remaining historic buildings as a legacy for our future generations,” said Shifra Lea Boehlje, a volunteer at Fort Verde.  “If we don’t preserve these buildings and artifacts, we will be destroying the only remaining monuments devoted to the memory of those soldiers who gave their lives for this great state.”

Despite residents’ cries, Travous was not optimistic that park closings could be avoided. “We need to make up a lot of money real fast,” said Travous, who has worked at the parks department since 1986. “We can chip around the edges, but the fact is that we’re out of time.”

All work on Arizona Historic Preservation Grant projects is to stop immediately…

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E-mail memo from Arizona State Parks…

Dear HP Grant Recipients:

Most of you are aware the Arizona State Legislature is in the process of resolving a $1.5 billion dollar budget shortfall for the remainder of fiscal year 2009 and a $3.5 billion dollar shortfall for 2010.  All State Agencies are being hit hard and the affect to State Parks will be crippling.  It appears all of the State Parks administered state funded grant programs will be discontinued until further notice.

All work on Historic Preservation Grant projects is to stop immediately, effective February 1, 2009 (especially if HP Grant funds are critical to the completion of the project).  I need your Grant Reimbursement requests no later than 2/13/09.  Any project expenses incurred after 2/1/09 will not be reimbursed — doing otherwise could jeopardize the entire reimbursement.  Some of you have completed your project, please send the closeout documentation by 2/13/09.

The Governor and the Legislature have already passed a budget.  The State Parks Board is holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday 2/3/09 to determine the fate of the grant programs, existing grants, and State Parks personnel.  Information on the Parks Board Meeting has already been forwarded.

Words cannot express the deep personal sorrow I feel delivering this blow to historic preservation in Arizona.  All of you have demonstrated the passion necessary for preserving Arizona’s history and I know you will find a way to rise above this temporary set back.

The Winner says; “It may be difficult, but is it possible”
The Loser says;  “It may be possible, but is it too difficult”

/signed/

Restoration of historic Arizona mission south of Tucson advancing

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[Source: The Associated Press] – – The White Dove of the Desert is living up to its nickname again, its west tower refurbished, resplendent in a dazzling white finish once more.  The tower at Mission San Xavier del Bac emerged just before Christmas from the scaffolding that restoration workers had being using _ like a butterfly shedding its cocoon, said architect Bob Vint, who spearheaded the five-year, $2.5 million project.  Now, it’s on to restoring the east tower of the 226-year-old Roman Catholic church, which is still an active parish for southern Arizona’s Tohono O’odham Indians. Its towers are visible for miles, and their restoration is intended to ensure that the structure remains intact.

“The interior of the mission is what it’s all about,” said Vint. “All of this exterior work is being done to protect the interior.”  The mission, sometimes called “the Sistine Chapel of the United States” and the “White Dove of the Desert,” is considered the finest example of Spanish colonial architecture in the country. The walls of its Byzantine-influenced interior are ablaze with frescoes, a religious gallery of work painted directly on its walls by missionaries two centuries ago. [Note: to read the full article click here.]