State Parks

Heritage Fund was great benefit to Florence; several projects were dropped when it was cut

by

[Source: Bonnie Bariola, Florence Blade Reminder] – If the Arizona Natural Resources Protection Act is eventually approved by the voters of Arizona, the plan is for it to replace the Heritage Grant Fund managed by Arizona State Parks that the Legislature deleted from the Arizona Statutes in 2011.

From 1991 through 2006, Heritage Fund Grants added $2,887,181 to Pinal County’s economy. This breaks down to: Casa Grande $673,116, Coolidge $340,841, Superior $81,991, and Florence $1,791,233.

Projects made possible in Florence as a direct result of the Heritage Fund were:

• the William Clarke House which is now home to the Florence Reminder and Blade Tribune;

• Florence/Silver King Marketplace which provides space for four businesses in the downtown;

• The Historic Chapel of the Gila;

• Old Main at Florence High School;

Without the Heritage Funds having been available, the above structures would not have been saved for future generations.

Additional projects that utilized Heritage Funds were:

• Harvey/Niemeyer House now home to Options, A Crisis Pregnancy Center;

• Church of the Assumption;

• 2nd Pinal County Courthouse:

• Brunenkant Bakery Store Building;

• Popular/Mandell’s Department Store now True Value Hardware;

• Five homes in the Historic District.

In some instances, multiple grants were received over time for some of the above projects.

The following approved grants with signed contracts were canceled after the Legislature “swept” the funds to pay other bills: sponsored by the Florence Main Street Program — W.C. Smith & Co. Building rehab (the former Florence Market). Sponsored by The Florence Preservation Foundation — Cuen House & Butcher Shop located on N. Main Street; Denier/ White Apartment Building located across the street from the 2nd Pinal County Courthouse; and the Celaya/Long Sweeney Residence located on Ruggles across the street from the Police Department. If the Arizona Natural Resources Protection Act becomes law, it is possible funds can be secured through the grant program to again begin rehabilitation of these buildings.

State Parks petitions hit the street

by

[Source: Steve Ayers, Camp Verde Bugle] – The move to put an initiative on the November ballot that supporters hope will stabilize and sustain Arizona’s 27 state parks, is underway. It is known as the Arizona Natural Resources Protection Act. With five state parks located in the Verde Valley, along with the Verde River Greenway, the initiative is getting plenty of support locally.

“This has everything to do with the value of state parks to the Verde Valley and to Yavapai County,” says Chip Norton, president of the Friends of the Verde River Greenway. “It means a lot to our communities and the opportunities it provides for school kids as well as the residents. The tourism component is really big. The amount of money it brings into the valley is pretty phenomenal. They have been hanging on the edge for too long, forcing local communities to keep them going.” Norton and the friends group launched the petition drive at a meeting last Thursday, at a meeting in Cottonwood.

If the initiative makes the ballot and it passes, it would fund the operations of Arizona State Parks as well as the Heritage Fund, which was also raided by the Legislature, with a $14 donation attached to annual vehicle registration. The charge would be automatically added to the registration cost, but vehicle owners could opt out. Supporters hope it will raise $30 million a year. The initiative protects all money donated to the fund from legislative sweeps and re-establishes the Arizona State Parks grant program, which pays for municipal and nonprofit recreation projects across the state. It also provides for free admission to state parks for school-age children when on school sanctioned field trips and sets aside at least one day every year in which anyone could come to a state park for free.

The initiative was launched by the Arizona State Parks Foundation after House Bill 2362, which overwhelmingly passed both the house and Senate, was vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer. “We have been watching for some time and realized there was growing support for long-term support and a long term funding mechanism of some sort. So we began forming a coalition,” says ASPF Director Christy Statler. “The straw that broke the camel’s back was the governor’s veto. And no legislator wanted to stick their neck out for a referral to the voters, so we mobilized and are moving forward with the Arizona Natural Resources Act.”

Volunteers will be circulating petitions around the valley over the next few weeks. To get on the ballot, 175,000 signatures will need to be collected statewide by the July 5 deadline.

Firefighters save historic ranch house from wildfire in San Rafael Valley

by

[Source: JB Miller, NogalesInternational.com] – A wildfire that authorities say was likely started by a lightning strike scorched approximately 189 acres at and around the San Rafael State Natural Area on Friday night, threatening a historic ranch house and burning down an outbuilding. There were no injuries.

Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue, which initially took command of the fire, was dispatched at approximately 8 p.m. along with firefighters from the Sonoita-Elgin Fire District and the Coronado National Forest. By Saturday morning, command of the fire had been turned over to the Arizona State Forestry Division.

Captain Ike Isakson of Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue said the so-called “San Rafael Fire” burned down a pump house, but firefighters were able to protect the main ranch house.

The territorial-style ranch house, which is now managed by Arizona State Parks, was built in 1900 and is more than 9,000 square feet in size. The landscape and house have been featured in many movies, according to the state parks website.

“Arizona residents should be thanking the Patagonia Fire Department for reacting so quickly,” said Ellen Bilbrey, spokesperson for Arizona State Parks. “They actually saved one of the most important buildings in the state.”

Clarkdale moves ahead with river access project Town and State Parks Board form agreement

by

[Source: Philip Wright, Verde Independent] – The town and the State Parks Board will work together to expand access to the Verde River. The Town Council voted unanimously during a special meeting March 15 to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the state to develop the Tuzigoot River Access. “The IGA is a huge benefit to the Verde River at Clarkdale plan,” said Mayor Doug Von Gausig. “It gives us an anchor location that will be where most people park to be transported up-river with their kayaks, and a place for picnics and community gatherings.” Von Gausig said this access point at Tuzigoot Bridge will once again give Clarkdale an outdoor recreation site like Peck’s Lake was years ago.

In a staff report to the council, Jodie Filardo, community/ economic development director, stated that for the town to move forward with a Heritage Fund Public Access project to expand access to the Verde River for mobility challenged individuals, site control of three parcels owned by Arizona State Parks is required. The town is currently seeking a grant from the Heritage Fund for $40,500. Filardo explained that the purpose of the IGA is to cooperatively manage and operate the site in question to develop enhanced public river access. Under the IGA the town and State Parks Board will work together to accomplish the enhanced river access. Clarkdale will provide for staffing, operation and routine maintenance of improvements made by town.

Von Gausig said that after looking at all possible locations, the town approached Deputy Parks Director Jay Ream with the idea several months ago. “We decided the best and most practical solution for Clarkdale and for State Parks would be a cooperative agreement that allows Clarkdale to manage the 70-acre Tuzigoot Bridge property,” Von Gausig said. He explained that the agreement would provide for Clarkdale to make some improvements and anchor the town’s project at the site.

“He liked it,” Von Gausig said. “We worked with Jay and others to finalize the terms of the IGA. It’s finally done.” Von Gausig said this will be the first in what the town hopes is a string of facilities along the Verde River as it flows through the Verde Valley. He said the facilities would support recreational boaters, hikers, birding enthusiasts and people who just want to get a little peace and quiet in their lives.

“This is a huge step forward for the Verde River at Clarkdale and for the Verde River,” Von Gausig said. He explained that the grant will be used for master planning the area near the Tuzigoot Bridge, to include architectural plans, roadway improvements and some fundamental improvements to the area that will enable better, more accessible recreational opportunities.