State Parks

No changes at Patagonia Lake State Park after alcohol-related death

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[Source: Nogales International]

An Arizona State Park official said there would be no change in rules regarding alcohol consumption at Patagonia Lake State Park following the drowning death of a 28-year old man who investigators said was intoxicated when he dove into the lake on Aug. 8.

Image source: Arizona State Parks

The drowning of Sergio Rene Chavez of Nogales was the latest in a string of ugly incidents since march 2009 at the park – known as a popular drinking spot – that include a stabbing and sexual assault.

A different scenario

At Parker Canyon Lake, a U.S. Forest Service recreation area southeast of Sonoita in Cochise County, locals say unruly behavior is uncommon.

Scott Kerr, owner of Parker Canyon Lake Mercantile and Marina, said he could not recall any notable incidents. He said a big reason is that drinking is not tolerated when it becomes excessive. In fact, his store doesn’t even sell alcoholic beverages.

“If they are slobbering drunk, we don’t want them here,” Kerr said. “We call law enforcement immediately.”

Kerr said the U.S. Border Patrol, which is usually the first responder, can usually make it to Parker Canyon Lake in less than 10 minutes after a call.

However, Kerr said it hasn’t always been this way.

“They say it used to be pretty crazy here because it was a dirt road and no law enforcement would come out,” he said. “The hoodlums would just party, party, party.”

Kerr said he remembered a case some years ago of a person who drank too much and drowned

’We have nobody’

Bilbrey said Patagonia Lake State Park, due to a declining number of rangers on duty, has to rely on other law enforcement agencies if a situation begins to get out of hand. Usually that means sheriff’s deputies, who at times can be up to 20 minutes away.

“We have nobody. Budget cuts have barely allowed us to keep one law enforcement person there,” Bilbrey said.

“There is nothing really we can do. People have to manage themselves.”

Hot spot for law enforcement

Patagonia Lake State Park has been a regular site of unruly, dangerous and even deadly behavior. Here are some of the incidents reported to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office:

  • Aug. 8, 2010 – 28-year-old Sergio Rene Chavez of Nogales drowned in Patagonia Lake. Investigators said excessive alcohol was a factor.
  • June 16, 2010 – Rangers from Patagonia Lake State Park requested back-up dealing with a disorderly man with a mental condition.
  • March 27, 2010 – A man reported that his wife was at Patagonia Lake State Park, where three people, who were under the influence of alcohol, were attempting to open her car.
  • March 20, 2010 – A wreck involving four juveniles left a 17-year-old boy critically injured after the pick-up he was driving rolled near Patagonia Lake.
  • March 14, 2010 – Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a stabbing at the Patagonia Lake State Park marina.
  • Oct. 24, 2009 – A caller from Patagonia Lake State Park said that a man had assaulted a woman by the bathrooms near the marina.
  • July 24, 2009 – Rangers at Patagonia Lake State Park requested assistance in transporting a man to the Santa Cruz County Detention Center after finding he had a warrant out of the Nogales Police Department.
  • June 20, 2009 – A vehicle was reported stolen at Patagonia Lake State Park, only to be later found in a canyon near Debra Court.
  • March 21, 2009 – A caller said his girlfriend had just been sexually assaulted at a campground located by the Patagonia Lake marina.

But Ellen Bilbrey, spokeswoman for Arizona State Parks, said the incidents are simply a function of the park’s high visitation.

[You may also want to read the Sierra Vista Herald’s coverage: Alcohol rules won’t change at lake]

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Superstition Mountains, gold draw tourists to Apache Junction

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[Source: Rachael Myer, OpportunityGreaterPhoenix.com Aug. 10, 2010]

Photographers travel hundreds of miles to take pictures of wildflowers blooming at the base of the Superstition Mountains.

Miners still disappear in the ridges looking for the fabled lost gold.

Lost Dutchman State Park’s saguaro cactus, ocotillo plants, and wild javelina draw tourists from all over the world.

With a challenging economy, Apache Junction is launching a tourism effort fused around the park’s beauty and mystique.

The timing seems just right to center a tourism push on the park. This spring the community rallied in droves to save Lost Dutchman from possible closure and the park recently received $1 million in grants for capital improvements.

Now city officials are distributing brochures, creating online videos, and planning downtown revitalization efforts to boost the East Valley city’s economy.

Lost Dutchman’s support, capital improvements

Public support for Lost Dutchman State Park appears to never have been more abundant.

Residents from nearby communities raised $26,000 this spring to keep the park open after a lack of state funding threatened to close it.

Donations came rolling in.

Taylor H. Sanford Jr., a Texas resident who winters in Mesa, donated $8,000. Haley Anderson, 12, led the fundraising effort at Mesa’s Smith Junior High School and collected $1,431. Superstition Harley-Davidson sponsored a motorcycle ride that generated $10,000.

The Friends of the Lost Dutchman State Park formed after the closure threat. The organization continues advocacy efforts even though the State Parks Board voted in May to keep the park open.

Capital improvements to the park over the summer will help to attract more visitors and enable them to stay longer, officials said.

Installing electricity at 38 campsites and constructing an additional restroom and shower will allow campers to enjoy air conditioning in their recreational vehicles, and encourage longer stays in the campgrounds.

The $1 million project, funded through federal and state grants, is expected to be completed in the fall.

Officials hope campers will spend more money at the local grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants. About 100,000 visitors – almost half from outside of Arizona – come to the park each year.

The park generates a significant economic boost of $4 million. More than 45 jobs are indirectly tied to the park, according to the state park system.

Mitzi Rinehart has led hikes and educated visitors at the park for nine years. She has met people who have traveled from Scotland, Germany, and Italy.

“They’ve all heard about the Superstition mines and the gold,” the 75-year-old park volunteer said. “They say have you found the gold yet? I’ll say if I had, do you think I’d be standing here?”

Rinehart enjoys the park most of all for the Superstition Mountains’ beauty.

“There’s more quality to a life if you get nature in it and you understand it,” she said. “You take time out for reflection.”

Read the entire post HERE.

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Limiting Park Access Threatens Body and Soul

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[Source: Doug Ramsey, Public News Service-AZ]

Arizona Foothills Magazine

State and local parks in Arizona are cutting hours of operation or even closing because of budget shortfalls. In some cases, new parks are being delayed for years.

Carol Stambaugh, Arizona director for the National Association of Social Workers, says in tough economic times, it’s easy to forget the role of parks in meeting the needs of the whole person.

“The whole person includes not just the health and the wellness, but also the spiritual and emotional wellness of a person. And whenever people are unable to have recreation to unwind, it makes the stress in our life that much harder.”

People always need the recreational opportunities provided by parks, says Stambaugh — and in a down economy, they also need an affordable leisure option. This makes parks important to the lives and health of all Arizonans, she says.

“We’re seeing epidemics of childhood obesity as well as an increase in adult obesity. And parks and activities are the type of things that we need to be investing in now, not cutting.”

Most Arizona state parks are either closed or operating on limited days or hours. Some cities are adding park user fees, while others are postponing the establishment of parks in newer neighborhoods. Several state parks slated for closure have been kept open because of private fund-raising efforts and partnerships with local communities. Stambaugh hopes the support continues until the state’s economy recovers.

“The fact that local communities have contributed and partnered to keep these parks open illustrates that everyone recognizes the importance that parks play in our life as a whole human being.”

Such efforts have kept state parks like Tonto Natural Bridge, Riordan Mansion and Yuma Territorial Prison open on a Thursday through Monday schedule.

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Tonto Natural Bridge State Park rescued by Rim Country again

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[Source: Payson Roundup]

Source: Arizona State Parks

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park will not close in September as planned due to the financial support from the Towns of Star Valley and Payson as well as the Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge.

These partners have come together to help fund the operations of the park through September of 2011 and the park will stay open on the five-day-per week schedule, said Arizona State Parks Executive Director Renée Bahl.

“Star Valley is one of Arizona’s newest towns with 36-square-miles of incorporated land in its boundaries,” said Star Valley Mayor Bill Rappaport. “Our town leaders have voted to join the effort to keep the park open. We feel it is crucial because Star Valley’s planning area is 100-square-miles and we are all dependent on tourism. Those thousands of visitors are extremely important for businesses so we have set aside $5,000 in our budget this year to support the State Park.”

Payson Mayor Kenny Evans said,

“For more than a year now we have been subsidizing the park to be sure it stays open. This State Park attracts 90,000 visitors to the area and generates $3.6 million per year in spending for all the surrounding communities.”

“It is clear that our $20,000 investment will return millions to the economy and can’t afford to lose a tourism attraction of this magnitude.”

Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge President Bill Ensign said their group has committed $10,000, which is earned by volunteers through fund-raising activities.

“We are thrilled to be part of the solution to help the businesses in the surrounding towns and encourage everyone to come and enjoy the world’s largest travertine bridge, ” said Ensign. “We also welcome any new financial support that can help us keep the Park open into the future.”

Go to www.AZStateParks.com for more information about these partnerships and to get information about the September Board meeting.

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