Arizona State Parks Board

Arizona State Parks Board Authorizes Fourteen Projects out of the Off-Highway Recreation Fund

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[Source: Arizona State Parks Press Room]

In 2008 the Arizona Legislature authorized a new Off-Highway Vehicle “Sticker Fund” which started producing revenues in January of 2009. A $25 fee is charged for off-highway vehicles each year and that sticker is then attached to the license plates of these vehicles.

Photo credit: Arizona State Parks

Revenue from sticker sales amounts to almost $1 million per year and recently the Arizona State Parks Board awarded $534,725 from the OHV Recreation Fund to 14 OHV projects. Those funds went to areas near the following towns: Globe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Phoenix, Show Low, Kingman, Black Canyon City, Prescott, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde. These projects will improve OHV routes, trails, and facilities and help manage recreational activity on Arizona’s public lands by motorized vehicles.

The Arizona State Parks – OHV Recreation Fund (gas taxes) has been in existence since 1991 and has been used for mitigation and enforcement on trails as well as an OHV map guide, provide riding facilities, OHV education, trail signage, and other rural OHV maps.

Motorized trail project applications are accepted at any time and reviewed periodically by the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Group for funding by the State Parks Board. In addition to trail and facility improvements, the funds can be used for mitigation of damage caused by OHV activities, cultural and environmental compliances, and education projects/programs and law enforcement.

State Parks develops the OHV recreation plan every five years with input from land managing agency staff, OHV user organizations, individual OHV users, and the general public. The 2010 State Trails Plan can be found on the State Parks website.

Projects selected for funding will encompass all of the following recommendations:

  • HIGH-USE AREA – the project will be located on a route, trail, or area that is currently experience heavy OHV traffic.
  • USER SUPPORTED – the project will be endorsed by at least one user organization that can be identified with the specific project area.
  • PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION – the project will include: maintenance and/or renovation of existing routes, trails, or areas; mitigation of damage in proximity to approved use areas; and installation of trail route signs.
  • DIVERSITY – the selected projects will represent a cross section of use types and geographic areas.
  • SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY – the applicant must have control of and management responsibility for the area of the project and have a current agreement with State Parks in effect to allow transfer of funds for OHV project purposes.

For more information call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on Twitter.

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Parks board still dreams of the future

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[Source: Payson Roundup, Peter Aleshire, 7-20-2010] – Get through the beating. But don’t stop dreaming.

That could serve as the motto of the Arizona State Parks system, reflected recently at a rare retreat and strategy session that brought the board to one of its most endangered treasures: Tonto Natural Bridge. The state parks board finds itself in the position of a scrawny kid getting punched out by a bully after his lunch money. The system is bruised, bloody and curled into the fetal position — but still making plans for college.

The world’s largest natural travertine arch formed an apt setting for the discussion, since the park system’s partnership with Payson to keep the Rim Country’s best known tourist attraction open served as a model to save other parks. As a result of the last-minute rescues by Payson and other counties and towns, the state parks board approved agreements to keep most of the sites in the 28-park system open — despite drastic reductions in its budget. [to read the full article click here].

Wickenburg-Boetto House receives award

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Before and after shot of the Wickenburg-Boetto House.

[Source: The Wickenburg Sun, 3-23-2010] — The Wickenburg-Boetto House was recently selected to receive the Heritage Fund Historic Preservation Project of the year award.  The selection was based on many aspects, such as outstanding project performance and end use.  The Arizona State Parks board and the Arizona Lottery made the Project of the Year program possible.

The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee has chosen Wednesday, March 31 as the day to recognize the project and to award a bronze plaque to be placed at the Wickenburg-Boetto House.  Other projects being recognized include Old Adobe Mission in Scottsdale, New State Motor Building in Jerome, Children’s Museum at Monroe School in Phoenix, and Peeples Valley Schoolhouse.

The awards presentation is scheduled to take place in Phoenix and is set to begin at 1 p.m.  For more information, contact Cindy Thrasher at 684-5129.

Viewpoint: State park closures threaten who we are

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[Source: April Stolarz, College Times, 3-18-2010] — I’m just gonna throw it out there: Because of the economy, a lot of things suck.  Yes, that’s a general statement and pretty blunt, but many people have been affected by the economy’s low blows and harsh punches.  The latest in the economic whirlwind of crappiness comes full force with the closing of Arizona state parks.  Closings have occurred in increments and the last big sweep is set for June 3.  After that, nine parks will remain open.

Some of you may be reading this thinking, “why should I care about a state park closing?”  Now that’s up to you and your feelings.  I’m not going to tell you how to feel about this issue, but I’ll throw in some of my ideas about these jewels of nature.  By definition, parks are: an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public.  What will happen to the parks once the public can’t enjoy them anymore?  Will the landmarks not be preserved?

Sure, there are tons of places in Arizona to go hiking, observe wildlife, camp and explore, but no land is preserved like the land in a state park.  State parks are preserved for a reason.  Aside from the hiking and exploring, state parks are places where you can truly learn about Arizona and truly understand what makes the state so special.  Yes, I know you can appreciate Arizona by simply looking outside at the towering mountains and the colorful sunsets, but state parks provide a deeper meaning of understanding, a further look into the state’s history, a glimpse into the past.

Nature, flourishing and thriving as it is, provides us with a deeper sense of what our country is, of who we are.  It provides a serene realism to the hectic lives we lead.  It’s both a comfort and refreshment that we too often take for granted.  If the state takes that away from us, who know what’ll possibly come next.