Florence wins 2011 Governor’s Heritage Preservation Award

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[Source: TriValleyCentral.com] – Since 1982, the Arizona Preservation Foundation and the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office/Arizona State Parks have collaborated to present the Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards. Through a very competitive process, each year 10 projects recognizing people, organizations, and projects that represent outstanding achievements in preserving Arizona’s prehistoric and historic resources are presented at the annual Historic Preservation Conference.

Florence was one of the 2011 recipients for the Florence Townsite Historic District Preservation Design Guidelines. The awards were the highlight of the recent 9th Annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference held in Tucson on June 22-24, 2011. State Historic Preservation Officer Jim Garrison said, “The awards make the conference more than a venue to learn, debate and network, but also a celebration of outstanding historic preservation efforts and achievements.” He continued, “As we prepare to celebrate our state’s 100th birthday in 2012, it is imperative that we join together to protect those resources that reflect our diverse heritage, and create new partnerships that will nurture these resources far into the future.”

The Florence Townsite Historic District Preservation Design Guidelines were developed through a collaborative effort led by Town Planner Gilbert Olgin. With assistance from Robert Longaker with the WLB Group in Tucson, the Town’s Historic District Preservation Commission, a Technical Advisory Committee, and the State Historic Preservation Officer, many hours were spent preparing and reviewing the guidelines.
The guidelines are a critical planning tool used to encourage owners of properties in the Historic District to maintain their historic properties and to ensure any improvements and new development are compatible with the existing development.

This document is not only vital to the survival of the historic district, but has helped the passion to grow for historic preservation inFlorence. It is more than a set of guidelines, but a cornerstone effort in preserving historic downtownFlorence and enhancing economic development opportunities in the delicate core of the town.

Arizona State Parks: Big Money Problems

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[Source: Tucson Weekly, Jim Nintzel] – Here’s the good news from the State Parks Board meeting this week in Tucson: Despite more sweeps of the parks’ funds by the Arizona Legislature, all of the state parks that are now open will remain open next fiscal year. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee agreed earlier this month to allow the State Parks Department to shift some funds around so the agency would have enough funds to handle payroll and other other expenses.

Here’s the bad news: The parks are continuing to run on a shoestring and the current path is a road to disaster. “We can’t go on every year like this and try to sustain a statewide park system,” said board member William Scalzo.

The GOP-led Legislature has whittled away at the parks’ funds for years now. The parks used to get $10 million a year in lottery dollars, but that has been redirected by the Legislature. And in the upcoming budget year, lawmakers swiped a portion of the gate fees from the parks, as well as some of the money from the parks State Lake Improvement Fund.

At this point, the department has no money for any capital improvements—new campgrounds, improved sewer systems, historic renovation. The parks had $150 million in unmet capital needs in 2007; State Parks Director Renée Bahl says that number is even higher today, but the department doesn’t have enough money to even survey the needs.

Several parks are open because local governments, business leaders and non-profits have stepped up to help. The partners have been “fantastic,” says Bahl, but the arrangement “was a bridge, and there’s only so long a bridge can go.” Several board members talked about the dangers of “partnership fatigue” and the likelihood that local governments, with their own financial pressures, would not be able to keep helping out over the long term.

That, in turn, is bad news for rural economies. There’s reason that local governments and businesses want the parks to remain open: They are a big boost to tourism—and outside tax dollars—for rural communities. But board members also acknowledged the reality that lawmakers weren’t likely to either dramatically increase funding for parks or put a proposition on the ballot to create a dedicated funding stream—such as a small fee on license plates, which was floated as an idea last year.

Board members and parks staff ended the meeting yesterday talking about the possibility of a ballot initiative that would dedicate dollars for the parks system. There are several conservation-oriented ballot drives being formulated around the state and park supporters are looking into whether they can join forces with one of the efforts. “We want a sustainable, non-sweep-able revenue source,” said board member Larry Landry.

Learn bird viewing skills at migratory bird workshop

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[Source: WMIcentral.com] – The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a unique opportunity for people to learn more about the fascinating variety of birds found in the White Mountains area. On Friday evening, May 20, wildlife biologists will conduct a birding natural history program in conjunction with International Migratory Bird Day that is free and open to the public at the department’s Pinetop regional office. The two-hour classroom program begins at6 p.m., and will be followed by a hands-on, field application session the next morning starting at7 a.m.

“This is a great opportunity for people to develop an appreciation for migratory birds that are found here seasonally, as well as learn bird identification skills using your senses of sight and sound,” says Dan Groebner, nongame biologist.

International Migratory Bird Day was created by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in 1993 as a way to focus attention on one of the most important and spectacular events in the life of a migratory bird – its journey between its summer and winter homes. Participants will be able to hear recorded calls, learn about birding websites, software and field guides, and learn how to get involved in department or other local birding programs. They will also be able to view dozens of bird mounts up close and learn distinguishing characteristics.

“There will be a birding hike around the office property Saturday morning with several hands-on activities to enhance learning,” says Groebner. “It’s a good idea to bring binoculars.” Funding for this special educational program is made available through the Game and Fish Heritage Fund, which comes from lottery ticket sales and is used for conservation purposes, including educating our children about wildlife, protecting endangered species and creating more opportunities for outdoor recreation. For more information, contact Dan Groebner at the Pinetop Game and Fish office at (928) 367-4281.