Arizona Heritage Alliance

Arizona Forward Coalition has promising start

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[Source: Arizona Republic Editorial] – Just when the polarization and partisanship inArizonaare becoming as toxic as rattlesnake venom, a new coalition has come forward to find collaborative solutions to maintain our quality of life. Arizona Forward brings together business, utilities, conservation advocates, education interests and civic groups. The charter members range from Sundt Construction to the Nature Conservancy. These aren’t natural allies. But they have a common interest in the viability of Arizona as a place to live and work. They all recognize that our state must find the right balance between economic growth and a healthy, sustainable environment.

The statewide group is an expanded version of Valley Forward Association, which has promoted dialogue and advanced critical projects in the Phoenix metro area for 42 years. It has helped shape our communities with support for open space, recreational areas, freeways and light rail. It conceived the “pedestrian freeway,” a regional system of trails and parks for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Arizona Forward will start off by focusing on the Sun Corridor, thePhoenix-to-Tucson”mega-region” that is home to eight of 10 Arizonans. As Arizona heads into its second century, we will increasingly need this broader perspective to solve problems. Right now, we have a string of communities more likely to spar than recognize their common interests. Here’s an opportunity to create and refine the identity of the Sun Corridor. That alone can be a strong marketing tool.

The challenges that Arizona Forward expects to tackle include land-use planning, transportation, air quality, renewable energy, water and natural areas. In other words, issues where any action requires negotiation and consensus-building. Like its Valley counterpart, Arizona Forward aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and serve as a technical resource. As part of its first project, the organization commissioned a poll about our state’s natural assets. The results showed a big knowledge gap. While Arizonans overwhelmingly believe that parks and open space are essential to tourism (93 percent in the poll), few of us have a strong grasp of how parks are actually funded (18 percent). Arizona Forward is filling that gap with an easy-to-read fact-filled report, “Why Parks and Open Space Matter: The Economics of Arizona‘s Natural Assets.”

Readers aren’t left with a bunch of numbers and no idea of what to do with them. Without endorsing any specific plan, Arizona Forward suggests a list of actions to develop a sustainable financial base.This is important groundwork for urgent issues, including the future of Arizona State Parks, federal funding for national monuments and state-trust-land reform.

Arizona Forward is a welcome new player, and its fast start is encouraging.

Accomplishments of the Arizona Heritage Alliance 2010-2011

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  • In the spring of 2009 and again in 2010, we arranged a trip to the Vermilion Cliffs in Marble Canyon to spend time with a biologist from the Peregrine Fund to get an up close and personal glimpse of the free flying California Condors, an Arizona Heritage Fund project.

 

  • In spring 2010, we were invited by the Director of the Arizona Lottery to assist with the reauthorization of the Lottery at the Legislature. We also worked with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns in this endeavor.

 

  • Also in 2010, in collaboration with the film’s producers, we organized screenings of the documentary, Postcards From The Parks, in Flagstaff, Tempe and Tucson. The film’s goal is to spread the word about the challenges of our State Parks, and to encourage other Arizonans who care about history, our natural treasures, and the outdoors to get involved. After the film’s viewing at these three a facilitated discussion and question and answer period will be was led by Vincent Murray, a historian with Arizona Historical Research, in cooperation with the filmmakers and other parks advocates.  An invitation to all local elected officials was made to these events. They were free and open to the public.

 

  • We also arranged to have the film shown at the 2010 Arizona Preservation Foundation Conference in Flagstaff; the 2010 Arizona Highways Travel Show in Phoenix and the 2010 Arizona Parks and Recreation Association Conference in Paradise Valley.

 

  • In 2011, we were instrumental in getting the strike-everything amendment, HB2425 – Heritage Fund; Reinstatement, introduced in the House of Representatives. This Bill would put the State Parks Heritage Fund back into statute. The Bill passed unanimously out of the Agriculture & Water Committee.

 

  • We continue to expand partnerships with historic preservation groups, Arizona League of Cities and Towns and other appropriate organizations.

Accomplishments of the Arizona Heritage Alliance 2008-2009

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  • For 2007-2008, the Arizona Heritage Alliance Board initiated a visionary project of a more protected and additive funding concept for both Arizona State Parks and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. We engaged a public dialogue, with the goal of a consensus among the parties. A Heritage Fund 2 Working Group was formed from this initial meeting and met several times.

 

  • This same working group designed a simple Pledge for our Arizona lawmakers in 2008. Our Legislators’ Pledge on behalf of the Heritage Fund is an investment in safe playground equipment for our children; new parks and trails; the reintroduction of endangered species into Arizona; the restoration of historic buildings; and the conservation of wild and open spaces and critical habitat for wildlife.

 

  • Commencing in 2009, the Arizona Heritage Alliance Board in collaboration with the Arizona Preservation Foundation and Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter composed a sign-on letter to our Legislators to protect the Heritage Fund. We solicited over 175 organizations concerned with parks, trails, wildlife and habitat; tribes; cities/towns/counties; parks & rec departments; schools; businesses; and more.

 

  • We hosted the event, Papago’s Past, Present & Future, at the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference in June 2009. We provided a lively presentation and enriching experience which included a discussion on the historic significance of Papago Park and the importance of the Heritage Fund to Arizona’s wildlife, habitat and special places.

 

  • Also at the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference in 2009, we organized a panel discussion regarding the future of the Heritage Fund. The panel included: Anthony Verrkamp of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; Bonnie Bariola, Florence Preservation Foundation; Renee Bahl, Director of Arizona State Parks; and the Honorable Kyrsten Sinema, LD15 Arizona House of Representatives.

 

Accomplishments of the Arizona Heritage Alliance 2004-2007

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  • We are always expanding outreach through increased public event participation such as the Arizona Open Space Conference; the Arizona Parks and Recreation Conference: the Arizona Highways Travel Show; the Arizona Preservation Foundation Conference; Valley Forward’s Earthfest Educator’s Night; Sunland Village East Discover Arizona Event; and the Environmental Legislative Day at the State Capitol.
  • We met and exceeded a fundraising challenge grant in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
  • We held special meetings with the leadership of three Arizona communities, Coolidge, Florence and Camp Verde, recipients of millions of dollars of Heritage Fund grants.
  • In 2004, we developed a partnership with the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association and still work with them to promote the importance of the State Parks Heritage Fund.
  • In 2005, we presented Governor Janet Napolitano with our The Heritage Guardian Award for her veto of SB1067 appropriation which would have removed $1.6 million from the Arizona Game and Fish Fund.
  • In November 2006, we celebrated the 17th birthday of the Arizona Heritage Fund with a walking tour of historic downtown Florence and luncheon at McFarland State Park. Guests included representatives from Arizona Game & Fish Commission and staff; representatives from the Arizona Lottery, Arizona State Parks, as well as elected officials from Pinal County and the Town of Florence.
  • In August 2007, the Arizona Heritage Alliance put together a “Call To Action”. Seventy-four people attended this workshop representing over twenty agencies, cities, regional governments, organizations, and individuals.