Rafael Carranza of Cronkite News Service reports that because of Arizona’s budget deficit, many state parks may be forced to close.
State Parks
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Arizonans worried about possible state park closures
[Source: Associated Press] — To many people living in southeastern Pinal County, the Oracle State Park is a hidden environmental gem that draws the local rural communities together. So concern over its possible closure as part of the state’s attempt to cut a $1.6 billion budget deficit has rippled like a shockwave through Oracle, an unincorporated community 45 miles northeast of Tucson, and the surrounding area. “Oracle is not incorporated; we’re not a town, we’re not a city,” said area resident Julie Szekely. “We have no legal entity to provide things like a place for people to get together and do things as a community… We use Oracle State Park as our neighborhood gathering place.”
The 4,000-acre park was among eight of Arizona’s 27 state parks that officials initially recommended for closure, for a five-month savings of $844,840, because of midyear spending cuts imposed by legislation that Gov. Jan Brewer signed last weekend. Action on the recommended closures has been tabled temporarily as Arizona Parks Board members examine other alternatives, but 47 state parks seasonal employees were put on leave without pay Friday.
The eight parks recommended for closure had relatively low visitation rates. Officially, the Oracle park only reported 9,989 visitors during 2007-08. But the front entrance gate is unmanned, with only an honor system for visitors to pay $6 per vehicle without annual passes. The count likely doesn’t reflect the true number of visitors, more repeat visits by pass-holders and the park’s 125 to 150 volunteers, said Tina Acosta, the park’s assistant manager. Padlocking its gate would trim $116,000 from the park’s budget through June 30.
Acosta said she fears that “the preservation, conservation, educational, and cultural heritage are not being taken into consideration” by bean-counters. “I think a lot of the more rural parks are very connected to the communities,” she said. “The people are more connected to the parks.” [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
Arizona’s McFarland State Historic Park closes
[Source: Arizona State Parks] — Pinal County’s first courthouse, built in 1878, has been slowly deteriorating since 2001 while Arizona State Parks has saved Heritage Fund monies to get the building repaired. Today all the buildings at the park closed in anticipation of the re-opening to the public. Structural stabilization of the historic adobe foundation had been slated for completion in 2009. “Unfortunately in recent years, the structural damage from rain has been so bad that we had to close the historic courthouse last October and staff started dismantling the exhibits in preparation of the renovations,” explained Chief of Operations, Janet Hawks. “We have been saving funds in the account so that we could finally repair the rock foundation, wide cracks in the adobe walls, crumbling wood porch, add support beams, and grade the site to prevent further destruction. The deterioration of the foundation poses a threat to the building. We sent bids for construction out last fall, but now everything is on hold until after our February 20th Board meeting,” she said.
Governor Ernest McFarland bought the Courthouse in 1974 and donated it to the State Parks department. Another facility behind the Courthouse was built later as a repository for his personal papers. In 1976 the state legislature did not allocate operating funds so the new Park’s opening date was pushed back. It wasn’t until March of 1977, during Arizona’s 20th anniversary, that McFarland State Park was opened to the public and later dedicated by Governor Bruce Babbitt.
For 32 years tourists and busloads of children have toured this State Park to experience Arizona’s history and learn how territorial justice was served. They also were taught about Florence’s World War II POW camps and about one of Arizona’s visionary’s, Governor McFarland, who created the State Parks system 52 years ago. Interpretive tours of the park feature the courtroom and judge’s chambers, the sheriff’s office, and the jail. The second story was used as a jury room and quarters for visiting lawmen. Most of the courthouses’ artifacts were moved out just recently, including McFarland’s personal papers. The papers will be transferred to the Arizona Library and Archives’ new state-of-the-art building in Phoenix where researchers will be able to more readily access them. The park staff, who have been preparing for the renovation, will be reassigned to other parks.
A new interpretive plan will be introduced once the stabilization is completed. The focus for the new exhibits in the Courthouse will feature Arizona’s Territorial history and law and order. The 1882 jail will be reproduced within the courthouse building. New updated exhibits about Governor “Mac” McFarland and the World War II Florence POW camp will be displayed in the renovated museum and archives buildings.