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State Parks
Viewpoint: Arizona Legislature raids legacy of dead woman
[Source: Arizona Republic editorial board] — Stealing a dead woman’s legacy — that’s how far the Legislature has gone in its raid on funding for Arizona State Parks. Our parks system has taken a wildly disproportionate hit in state budget-balancing efforts. It has been years since the state itself put any money into the parks. Now, lawmakers are draining virtually every other source of revenue.
Including $250,000 bequeathed by Asta Forrest, a Danish immigrant and Fountain Hills resident. She gave the money with no strings attached (big mistake, as it turns out), just because she loved Arizona State Parks. Forrest must have seen how state parks offer the best of Arizona for entertainment and education. From Lake Havasu to Kartchner Caverns to Picacho Peak to the Tombstone Courthouse, there are places for boating, hiking, fishing, birding, swimming, sightseeing, and exploring. In a tourism-oriented state, these are economic assets as well as part of our quality of life.
Yet in December, lawmakers siphoned so much out of state-park accounts, including money from entrance fees, that the very existence of the system is at stake. That $8.6 million raid filled just a speck of this year’s $1.5 billion state budget hole. On Jan. 15, the State Parks Board will weigh what parks to close — with the risk of going into a death spiral of falling entrance fees that force more and more closures. It’s time to consider a task force’s proposal to fund parks with an optional $15 vehicle-registration surcharge.
In this crisis, every state agency must endure painful cuts. But not gutting. [Note: To read the full editorial online, visit Viewpoint: Arizona Legislature raids legacy of dead woman.]
Woman’s $250,000 donation to Arizona parks gets poached
[Source: Jay Reynolds, Channel 15 News] — There’s an Arizona budget battle brewing in an unlikely place. Eighty-two-year-old Asta Forrest loved Arizona. So, when she died in 2001, she left a legacy by donating to the Arizona State Parks. “Asta was a true lady,” said trustee and family friend Roger Essenburg.
According to her will, a 2003 donation of nearly $250,000 was given to the Arizona Department of Parks on behalf of Asta Forrest. “She wanted to give this money so that other people could enjoy the state parks and all they have to offer,” said Essenburg.
While parks officials considered what to do with her donation, Arizona’s budget deficit climbed. But last month, when the state Legislature met to cut cash from the budget, $213,000 was taken away from the Arizona State Parks donation fund. “The state Legislature came in and took this money,” said Essenburg. [Note: To view the TV news segment, visit Woman’s $250,000 donation to Arizona parks gets poached.]
Arizona parks officials preparing park closure list
[Source: KSWT/Associated Press] — Arizona State Parks officials are reacting to recent budget cuts by preparing to recommend which parks must be closed for lack of funding, the start of a process that they warn could turn into a systemwide “death spiral.”
Executive Director Rene Bahl plans to present the parks board with recommendations on park closings for consideration during a Jan. 15 meeting. The recommendations would implement an $8.6 million budget cut approved during the Legislature’s December special session to help reduce the state’s big budget shortfall. [Note: Read the full article at Arizona parks officials preparing park closure list.]
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