State Parks

Sprouts raises $100,000 for western state parks

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In honor of Earth Day, Sprouts Famers Market raised $100,000 in their “Stand Up for State Parks” program for state parks in Arizona, Texas, California, and Colorado.  The state parks are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts.

Customers donated in $1, $2 or $5 increments from April 8 through Earth Day, April 22nd.  COO Doug Sanders donated additional funds to bring the grand total to $100,000.  “Our employees and customers have taken to this campaign with such enthusiasm, the results have been more than projected.  In honor of the tremendous passion given to the project, I have made a donation on behalf of Sprouts employees to raise the amount to $100,000,” said Sanders.

The 15 stores in Arizona raised $47,689 for the Arizona State Park Foundation (average $3,179 per store), the seven stores in Texas raised $24,335 for the Park and Wildlife Foundation ($3,476 per store), California’s seven stores raised $20,937 for the State Park Foundation ($2,991 per store), and the two stores in Colorado raised $7,101 ($3,550 per store).

Sprouts Farmers Market specializes in farm-fresh produce, purchased from local growers when possible. Sprouts also offers a large selection of vitamins and supplements, all natural meats, fresh seafood, bins full of bulk foods, an extensive selection of natural and organic grocery items, rBST free milk, imported cheeses, deli meats and more.

Five Arizona Heritage Fund projects left hanging in Florence

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[Source: Bonnie Bariola, Special to the Florence Reminder] — As the result of the Legislature reducing funding for Arizona State Parks, the Arizona State Parks Board has approved the use of Heritage Grant Funds to be used for State Parks operations.   State Parks has consequently suspended 71 Heritage Fund grants; five are located in Florence and are worth a total of $617,284.  These grants would have been matched 50/50 by the owners of each of the properties, which would have provided over a $1.2 million investment in Florence.

In 1990 the Arizona Heritage Fund was approved by two-thirds of Arizona voters.  This voter initiative designated $10 million from the Arizona Lottery funds each year to be used for grants administered by Arizona State Parks.  The Arizona Heritage Alliance is a nonprofit organization created in 1992 to protect Arizona’s Heritage Fund and its objectives.  It is guided by a Board of Directors drawn from a broad base of outdoor sports, environmental, conservation, and historic preservation organizations that helped pass the 1990 statewide voter initiative creating the Heritage Fund.

Members of the Heritage Alliance released a statement, “This fund has become a nationally acclaimed quality of life and economic development tool that supports and protects our state’s parks, open space, wildlife habitat, environmental education, trails, historic and cultural sites, and public access to public land.  It was not designated as operating funds for State Parks.  Since 1990, more than $338.5 million of Heritage Funds have been invested in preserving and enhancing an incredible array of natural, cultural, and recreational resources in every Arizona county and legislative district.  The economic multiplier factor brings that number up close to $1 billion.”

A total of 71 Heritage Fund grants totaling $11.4 million had been approved and were from 0 – 91% complete when the State Parks Board unanimously voted to suspend them.  The Heritage Alliance reported, “Many are ‘on the hook’ with signed agreements they cannot keep without the funds, as well as half-restored and roofless historic properties, half-built park structures that are now an eyesore and possible safety hazard, and fragile archaeological artifacts that now are not in compliance with federal standards. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Arizona’s Homolovi Ruins State Park remains open at present

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Homolovi II is the largest of the sites at Homolovi Ruins State Park (Photo: Arizona State Parks)

[Source: Tammy Gray-Searles, AZJournal.com] — Homolovi and Lyman Lake State Parks got a reprieve last Friday as the State Parks and Recreation Board decided not to close any additional state parks until at least the next fiscal year, which begins in July.   The board met April 3 to discuss ways to balance the 2008-09 fiscal year budget, which was subject to significant cuts by the state. The board determined that, at least for now, parks on the potential closure list could remain open.  Other cuts to balance the budget have been and will continue to be made, however, including halting capital projects, a number of grant contracts and personnel reductions.  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

State budget crisis force Arizona State Parks to reduce days/hours

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[Source: KPHO Television, Phoenix] — The Arizona State Parks board meeting on Friday, April 3, resulted in operational changes for some parks in the Arizona State Parks system.  At this meeting, the seven-member volunteer Parks Board passed a motion to allow the agency to reduce the days and hours of operation for the parks.  This will ease the stress of trying to keep parks open seven days a week while dealing with a 26% reduction in ranger staff.  Some of the consequences to a $34.5 million sweep in funds from various conservation-funded accounts and agency gate fees, include: suspending community grants, reduced park hours/days of operation, reduced supply purchasing, less vehicles, layoffs, and canceling special projects and programs statewide.

“In order to keep the parks as accessible to the public as possible with this reduction in force, we will begin shortening weeks starting April 14-15 in Yuma,” said Jay Ream, Assistant Director.  “Both Yuma Territorial Prison and Yuma Quartermaster Depot will be open Thursday through Monday and closed Tuesday and Wednesdays with daily hours of 9am-5pm.”

“Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park will have the same Thursday-Monday schedule with April 21-22 being the first days closed,” Ream said.  “Fort Verde State Historic Park will switch to this schedule starting on May 5-6.  Oracle State Park will begin its Thursday-Monday schedule starting on May 9-10.  All of the daily park hours will be 9am-5pm.”

“We have already lost much of the workforce and I need to move the experienced rangers to the parks that need the help right away,” said Ream.  “The danger we are facing is losing some of our experienced and highly trained rangers who would be almost impossible to replace.  Unlike one skill other organizations would hire for, the State Parks are required to be run by people with a multitude of high level skills.  These hybrid job descriptions include trained and certified as law enforcement officers, emergency medical training, wildland firefighters, crowd control, search and rescue, interpretation, natural resources, water and wastewater treatment certification, all of the skills in construction and maintenance, trail construction, research, and artifact management.  These rangers must also have specific training for dangerous situations in wild country.  These are not easy people to replace.  They are the best of the best in these fields and highly recruited because of their multiple talents.

“Some of our “super rangers” are actually trained and skilled in every category I’ve mentioned,” said Ream.  “They are committed to State Parks despite demanding training requirements and relatively low pay.”  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

For more information about Arizona State Parks, call 602-542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free 800-285-3703 or visit their website.