Historic Preservation

Arizona Forward supports parks and open space, as do most state residents

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[Source: Bonnie Bariola, Special to the Florence Reminder] – Arizona Forward was formed for the purpose of enhancing the state’s environmental quality. The initial step in this process was to develop a parks and open space primer entitled Why Parks and Open Space Matter – The Economics of Arizona’s Natural Assets. This document provides unbiased facts, background information, and answers to frequently asked questions on this topic.

With a mission to promote cooperative efforts to improve the livability, sustainability, and economic vitality of cities and towns throughout the state, Arizona Forward was recently formed by Valley Forward, a 42-year old nonprofit public interest organization. Arizona Forward’s organizing members include Freeport McMoran /Copper and Gold, National Bank of Arizona, Sundt Construction, The Nature Conservancy, Fennemore Craig, Gammage and Burnham, Arizona Public Service Co., and the Arizona Heritage Alliance.

Surveys for the parks and open space primer revealed the fact that Arizonans overwhelmingly support state parks and open spaces and believe such areas contribute to a region’s economic health, but few people understand how the state pays for its parks. This lack of knowledge could imperil a parks system already weakened by budget cuts if lawmakers don’t hear from enough voters who want open spaces protected. Voters are encouraged to tell their state legislators to stop raiding the park system’s budget and support a dedicated and secure funding source for parks and wildlife protection.

To download a copy of the parks and open space primer go to arizonaforward.org. Research to prepare the primer revealed nearly 5.5 million Arizonans participate in active outdoor recreation, generating approximately $350 million in annual state tax revenue, producing nearly $5 billion in retail services and supports 83,000 jobs. Designed to enhance awareness of and interest in solving Arizona’s park’s issues, the primer is among Arizona Forward’s first projects toward its mission to promote cooperative efforts to improve the livability, sustainability, and economic vitality of cities and towns across Arizona. The user-friendly reference guide is described as “parks and open space 101.”

The primer covers not only facts about state parks but includes information about federal parks and lands, county and municipal parks, and other forms of trails and open space.

One section in the primer summarizes the Heritage Fund which was approved by Arizona’s voters in 1990 to protect our natural and cultural heritage. This initiative allocated $10 million per year from the state lottery monies to the Arizona Game and Fish Department and another $10 million to Arizona State Parks, both of which would provide grants to protect natural and cultural resources.

In 2010 the $10 million Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund was swept by the Arizona Legislature and completely eliminated with Budget Reconciliation Bill HB 2012 that repealed distributions to the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund and redirected the money to the state General Fund.

The members of Arizona Forward believe that to move Arizona forward, everyone must find common ground rather than faulting our differences. We must also work together to protect Arizona’s natural assets and ensure our state’s long-term economic prosperity. Everyone is encouraged to contact their legislators to let them know you want them to support and fund parks, open space and the Heritage Fund.

Push to protect Arizona’s parks from budget cuts gains steam

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[Source: Shaun McKinnon, AZ Republic, Page 1] –  Arizonans overwhelmingly support state parks and open spaces and believe such areas contribute to a region’s economic health, but few people understand how the state pays for its parks, a new survey says. That lack of knowledge could imperil a parks system already weakened by budget cuts if lawmakers don’t hear from enough voters who want open spaces protected, according to Arizona Forward, a newly organized group that commissioned the survey.

“Nothing is stronger than grass roots, with people calling their elected officials saying, ‘This is important to me, I want my parks to be open,’ ” said Diane Brossart, acting director of the group. “But I think we take these things for granted, and until there’s a crisis, people are not engaged with the issues.” [to read the full article click here].

Community involvement keeps threatened Arizona parks open

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[Source: Mark Duncan, Enterprise Reporter, the Daily Courier] – A couple of years ago, the Arizona State Parks system found itself in a second-hand crisis, thanks to the general budgeting malaise that affected the whole of state government. With gargantuan deficits looming, the Legislature chose to “sweep” pretty much any and all available money from any and all “non-essential” departments, including the state parks department, which suddenly had some hard choices on its hands.

The directors there cut staffing and programs and looked for every possible way to make ends meet. In the end, though, they had to make a list they never thought they’d make – a list of parks that might have to close because they just couldn’t make ends meet on their own. On that list were Red Rocks State Park, one of four conservation parks statewide, and Fort Verde Historic State Park, one of the nine historic parks in the system.

Well, the folks of Sedona and Camp Verde weren’t going to let that happen in their towns. And it just so happened that Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis had stashed away some money from cable television franchise fees – money that was earmarked for parks and recreation activities. With the blessing of the other two supervisors, he pledged $30,000 per year to each of the two parks.

In Sedona, as the staff of state employees was cut in half, the community came alive in support of the park. In addition to the county money, the City of Sedona contributed $15,000 and the Sedona Community Foundation added $10,000, and a group called the Benefactors of Red Rock State Park came up with $145,000 in donations large and small, including $15,000 from a family foundation that paid for a part-time ranger to run the school program [to read the full article click here].

Nancy Burgess is the 2010 recipient of the Sharlot Hall Award.

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[Source: Mike Lange, Prescottenews.com] – Arizona native Nancy Burgess, whose decades-long historic preservation efforts have left an indelible mark on Prescott and the state, has been honored as the 2010 recipient of the Sharlot Hall Award for valuable contributions to the understanding and awareness of Arizona and its history. Sharlot Hall Museum Executive Director John Langellier presented the award to Burgess at the August 6th Western History Symposium dinner at the St.Michael Hotel in downtown Prescott.

Burgess, the retired Historic Preservation Specialist for the City ofPrescott, has had a life-long passion for the history of theGrand CanyonState. Since 1987 her work in historic preservation has included projects that provide protection, interpretation, education, rehabilitation and restoration of scores of significant and unique cultural resources inCentral Arizona. She played a major role in grants for several historic districts in the city, three walking tours and the creation of a handbook for owners of historic properties. Burgess also authored heritage preservation publications, produced a historic preservation ordinance, championed adaptive re-use of several properties including the magnificent Elks Opera House, worked diligently for the Citizens Cemetery, developed an impressive historic marker program, skillfully prepared numerous National Register nominations for the City of Prescott, the City of Sedona, the Federal Government, and for private property owners, and has been an important presence in statewide preservation. Her efforts paved the way forPrescottreceiving the prestigious designation of a Preserve America Community in 2005 and the following year joining the distinguished ranks of the National Trust’s Dozen Distinctive Designations. In addition, Burgess has found time to write books and articles on preservation while she and her husband have personally restored five National Register properties.

The annual Sharlot Hall Award originated in 1984 to recognize a livingArizonawoman as a counterpart to the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame, which honors women posthumously. A committee reviews nominations from aroundArizona. Museum founder Sharlot Mabridth Hall (1870-1943) achieved fame as a poet, activist, politician, andArizona’s first territorial historian. As early as 1907, she saw the need to saveArizona’s history and planned to develop a museum. She began to collect both Native American andpioneer material. In 1909, Hall was appointed Territorial Historian and became the first woman to hold territorial office. In 1927, she began restoring the first Territorial Governor’s residence and offices and moved her extensive collection of artifacts and documents opening it as a museum in 1928. For the remainder of her life, she worked to preserveArizona’s historic past. Her diligent efforts inspired others to continue contributing to the preservation of earlyArizonaand American history.