Historic Preservation

Arizona State Parks Board votes to reinstate Heritage Grants, but legislature’s OK still needed

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[Source: Bonnie Bariola, Florence Reminder] — The Heritage Fund was established through voter initiative in 1990.  The approval of this initiative allows up to ten million dollars each year from the Arizona Lottery to be allocated to Arizona State Parks for the following uses.

  • State Parks Acquisition and Development (17%): Up to $1.7 million annually
  • State Parks Natural Areas Acquisition (17%): Up to $1.7 million annually
  • State Parks Natural Areas Operation and Management (4%): Up to $400,00 annually
  • Environmental Education (5%): Up to $500,000 annually
  • Trails (5%): Up to $500,000 annually
  • Local, Regional and State Parks (35%): Up to $3.5 million annually
  • Historic Preservation (17%): Up to $1.7 million annually

In January 2009 due to state budget cuts, the Arizona State Parks Board voted to suspend all existing Heritage Fund Grants.  As a result 28 Historic Preservation Grants, 10 Local, Regional and State Parks Grants, and 10 Trails Grants that were one to 90 percent complete were suspended.  These 48 grants totaled $6,049,024.  Eleven grants that were 91-99 percent complete were allowed to continue. [Note: To read the full article, click here]

Viewpoint: Cynical budget plan could close more Arizona state parks

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[Source: Doug Frerichs, Arizona State Parks Foundation] — If state legislators stick to their latest budget plans, hundreds of thousands of state parks visitors are likely to have far fewer parks to visit next year, while recession-reeling Arizona communities could suffer major losses in parks tourism and money. At issue are House and Senate Budget Bills that would strip fee-generated revenues from Arizona State Parks, forcing the cash-strapped agency to close more parks or expend funds set aside by voters specifically for parks enhancements and community grants.  In addition to parks already shut because of legislative raids on State Parks earlier this year, the bill could force closure of such scenic sites as Red Rock State Park near Sedona, Oracle State Park north of Tucson, Yuma Quartermaster Depot, Tubac Presidio, and other prized locations.  Even Kartchner Caverns, the jewel of the state system, stands at risk.

In a cynical move, Senate leaders would confiscate State Parks fee-generated income, leaving the agency to rob the Arizona Heritage Fund to sustain a skeleton parks system.  The Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 1990, sets aside $10 million annually from the State Lottery for grants to finance community parks, historic preservation, and conservation projects.  Beyond cynicism, the latest budget schemes would strip away a portion of donations made to benefit state parks by private donors acting in good faith.

To her credit, Gov. Jan Brewer has proposed a more honest, pragmatic approach that would let State Parks keep its fee monies and not subvert purposes of the Heritage Fund.  The governor also recognizes that State Parks — in addition to its superb recreational, historic and natural values — is an economic engine that regularly draws more than 2 million visitors a year and pumps $250 million in tourism spending into local economies.  The governor also has appointed a Sustainable State Parks Task Force to recommend new ways of funding and maintaining such sites as Slide Rock, Riordan Mansion, Dead Horse Ranch, Lake Havasu and Kartchner Caverns state parks — places that annually draw huge numbers for fishing, boating, birding, hiking, camping, and pure enjoyment of our state’s great places.

State Parks is not an agency to be slashed when Arizona communities need tourism dollars.  Despite this, the latest budget measures would repeat mistakes made earlier this year when lawmakers lopped the State Parks’ budget by $34.6 million, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in parks staffing, closure of three parks and reduced operations at six more.  And all this on top of the fact that State Parks has had no general fund or capital budget increases for a decade.

Our state parks were bought and built by Arizonans over the course of half a century.  They were enhanced and improved with major efforts of volunteers. They have provided two, and now three generations with experiences and memories of some of Arizona’s best places.  Raiding the agency, stripping it of its small state general fund support, and forcing the State Parks Board to cannibalize the Heritage Fund are sure fire ways for legislators to destroy what’s good in government, hurt local economies, and leave the future with less.  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Doug Frerichs is a board member and past president of the Arizona State Parks Foundation, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for and supporting Arizona’s state parks system. He lives in Scottsdale.

Budget woes highlight Arizona, California state parks’ vulnerability

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[Source: Keli Clark, Oklahoma Parks, Resorts, and Golf] — We hear news each day of economic woes affecting Wall Street, corporate giants, major manufacturers and small businesses.  Federal, state and local governments are not immune and feel pinched by the pressures of money shortages.  In a recent budget committee meeting, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested the closure of 220 state parks, along with numerous other program cuts, to help alleviate a $24 billion budget deficit his state is facing. According to news reports, citizens at this hearing pleaded passionately to find other ways to keep these resources available and keep the parks open. The protection of historic structures and natural resources, along with the recreational and educational opportunities parks offer, were foremost in their argument to keep the facilities operating.

California is just one example.  The other states also are trying to maintain a balance for taxpaying citizens who pump money into their state’s economy and expect a return on their investment.

On a recent trip to Arizona, I looked forward, as always, to visiting a state park to compare it to an Oklahoma state park experience.  I chose Jerome State Park since I would be staying in nearby Sedona.  As we made our way up the mountain, a sign pointed in the direction of the state park.  To my dismay, a sign that had been placed directly below the main sign said “Closed.”  Not wanting to believe what I saw and hoping it was just closed for lunch, we drove as far as we could on the road only to see the gate shut and padlocked.  Disappointed, we made our way to downtown Jerome and the art galleries and souvenir shops that lined the streets.

In each store, I asked about the closure of the state park and was told each time it was because of budget cuts.  Most of the stores had placed petitions on their counters asking for signatures to support reopening the park.  The citizens of Jerome are passionate about the loss of this state park, and they have good reason.  The town’s economy and residents’ livelihood are suffering because of the closing.  As one store clerk explained, this is the busiest time of the season for them. Unfortunately, the number of people coming this year is about half of what it has been in previous years.  This same clerk said she had been an employee of the park but was forced to find another way to support her family.

Of course, there are two sides to every story.  When I called Arizona park officials, the public information officer explained the park was closed for capital improvements.  A wall had collapsed in the main building, and there was no money in the remaining budget to make immediate repairs, so the park had to be closed for the season.  Besides Jerome, another Arizona park also has been closed for capital improvements, the official said.

It’s an eye-opening experience to see the immediate and ripple effects on the economy triggered by the closing of a state park.  Although the budget situations facing Oklahoma state parks are not as dire as those in California or Arizona, we are facing budget cuts, hiring freezes, and a mandate on needed repairs as our parks continue to keep gates open and operate on a daily basis. As stewards of our land, we should not take for granted what we have available to us.  By continuing to respect what we have and maintaining our parks, we can ensure our future generations have these same opportunities. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Proposal would bring Yuma’s Quartermaster Depot under local control

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[Source: Joyce Lobeck, Yuma Sun] — A new vision for Yuma Quartermaster Depot was proposed to the Yuma City Council that would return the historic attraction to local control and make it a true community park open at no charge to the public. The proposal was presented by Charles Flynn, executive director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, who oversees the city’s efforts to redevelop the riverfront.

The idea came out of the uncertainty about the future of the park under Arizona State Parks, which has faced severe budget cutbacks.  Originally slated for closure earlier this year, the Yuma landmark was spared, but the days of operation were cut back. Flynn told the council he is concerned that reprieve may well be temporary in the face of the state’s budget deficit, now projected to be close to $4 billion.

If the state decides to close the park, that would come just as the riverfront redevelopment is finally coming to fruition with the recent opening of the Hilton Garden Inn and companion Pivot Point Conference, he said. “This is a critical component of riverfront development that is outside local control,” he said. The park provides green space and a historic attraction as well as a venue for special events.  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]