Arizonans value their parks and open space, ranking them as key quality of life indicators. In addition, parks create jobs and generate billions of dollars in revenue.
Multiple land ownerships and funding mechanisms produce parks and open space issues that are complex, confusing and sometimes controversial. Meanwhile, a depressed economy and recession has impacted parks negatively at every jurisdictional level from federal and state to county and municipal governments.
Arizona Forward, a business-based coalition vested in enhancing the state’s environmental quality, has developed a parks and open space primer to provide unbiased facts, background information and answers to frequently asked questions on this important topic. Download a copy here.