Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

2 more Arizona state parks closed; 8 in jeopardy

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Tonto Natural Bridge State Park: This geological formation near Payson attracted 87,930 visitors in 2008. It is one of two additional state parks that will close immediately to allow for repairs necessary for visitors' safety, officials said.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (Photo: David Wallace, Arizona Republic)

[Source: Casey Newton, Arizona Republic] — Two state parks will close indefinitely and eight more will remain on the chopping block as part of budget cuts approved Friday by the Arizona State Parks Board.  Tonto Natural Bridge State Park and Jerome State Historic Park will close immediately to allow for repairs necessary for visitors’ safety, officials said.  McFarland State Park closed earlier this month for the same reason. Combined with layoffs, the suspension of grants for capital projects and other measures, the park closures will help the parks board pay a $27 million bill to the state due next Saturday.  That figure represents the funds taken by the Legislature last month as part of a $1.6 billion budget fix for fiscal 2009.

Even after the Friday cuts, which were approved on a 3-1 vote, the parks board still must find an additional $3 million in savings by June 30.  That leaves the fate of eight more state parks up in the air: Homolovi Ruins, Oracle, Yuma Quartermaster Depot, Tubac Presidio, Fort Verde, Lyman Lake, Riordan Mansion, and Red Rock.  Whether those parks remain open depends largely on whether the Legislature makes further cuts to state parks as part of the fiscal 2010 budget.  Arizona faces an estimated $3 billion budget shortfall.

Board members were pessimistic about the prospect of keeping all or even most of the eight parks open.  “Don’t leave here today thinking we’re not going to close more parks,” board member Bill Scalzo said after more than five hours of meetings. “We probably will.”  [Note: To read the full article, click here.  Additional news coverage at Arizona Daily Sun, Cronkite News Service, KNXV Phoenix, KSWT Yuma, KTAR Radio Phoenix, Payson Roundup, Sierra Vista Herald, Tucson Citizen.]

3 Arizona state parks to be closed & more staff cuts made due to budget cuts

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Jerome State Historic Park

[Source: Casey Newton, Arizona Republic] — The State Parks Board on Friday voted to shut down three of the 11 state parks up for closure due to state budget cuts — Jerome State Historic Park, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, and McFarland State Historic Park in Florence.  The board also plans to cut grants, lay off about 20 employees, and furlough about 10 more.

The state Parks Department is grappling with nearly $35 million that was cut from the agency’s budget in fiscal 2009, including $27 million in cuts approved by legislators and Gov. Jan Brewer late last month.  The funding was taken as part of a budget deal that closed a $1.6 billion state shortfall for fiscal 2009.  Now, potentially even larger cuts loom for 2010.  The department has already laid off about 60 seasonal and other workers.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, near Payson, and Jerome State Historic Park in Jerome have lodges and other buildings in dire disrepair, and are awaiting capital renovations.  The Parks Department manages 27 state parks that account for 2.3 million annual visitors.

Viewpoint: Good ideas, responsible cuts needed at Arizona State Parks

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Red Rock State Park Sedona Arizona
Red Rock State Park, Sedona

[Source: Camp Verde Bugle] — The Arizona State Parks Board meets again today to discuss shutting down or providing limited use of several parks.  With Parks Director Ken Travous’ latest suggestions for the closure list, there is a sense of machination or at least gamesmanship.  There has been enough waving of red flags.

The formula for shifting Red Rock State Park into the top five parks listed for closure (by considering only the percentage of visitors who are Arizona residents) is highly questionable.  The Sedona area is what it is — a very popular tourist destination for people all over the world.  It naturally follows that RRSP will be pulling in a majority of out-of-state visitors.  To wave the threat of closure at Red Rock is a great way to get Sedonans riled up and protesting the stinginess of the state Legislature.  It is certainly not responsible.  There are eight other state parks on the list that are harder on the State Parks budget than Red Rock is.

The suggested closure of Jerome State Historic Park and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is only a good idea if it is temporary during repair work.  If “repair” closure is just a step toward permanent closure, that will only start a firestorm.

At its previous meeting, the State Parks Board had asked Travous to come up with more ideas other than shutting down parks.  If simply adding three more to the possible-closures list is all the director’s office came up with, the board needs to look in another direction.

Most residents of Arizona understand the current constraints on the state budget and the likelihood of more deficits and more cutting in the future.  State Parks will not avoid this.  Completely closing down some parks — especially those that are expensive to run and receive few visitors — is an understandable option if it is done responsibly.  Today, we hope the State Parks administration can look through the politicking and red flags and provide ideas of its own.

More Arizona state parks eyed for closure

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Tonto Natural Bridge State Park added to closure list.

[Source: Associated Press] — Three more state parks are being considered for closure because of state budget cuts, bringing to 11 the number that could be shuttered in coming weeks.  Parks Director Ken Travous told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he is adding the three additional parks to a list of eight others previously identified as being considered for closure.

Travous identified the three as Red Rock State Park in Sedona, Jerome State Historic Park in Jerome, and Tonto National Bridge State Park near Payson.  Jerome State Historic Park centers on the Douglas Mansion, a landmark built in the former mining community that overlooks the Verde Valley.  Red Rock State Park, originally part of a ranch, is a 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center.  Tonto Bridge is a natural geological feature located in a valley in pine country below the Mogollon Rim.

The state Parks Board will meet Friday in Peoria to consider cost-cutting measures that include park closures, seasonal closures and reduced hours of operations.  Other options include grant cancellations, shifting expenses to other accounts, and layoffs and unpaid time off for employees.  The board on Feb. 3 declined to take immediate action on park closures but voted to have Travous’ department proceed with planning possible economy moves, including alternatives to closures.

Travous said he has already effectively laid off approximately 65 seasonal employees, including some who had been slated to go on the payroll but now will not.  Parks previously identified as being considered for closure were: Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde, Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow, Lyman Lake State Park in Springerville, McFarland State Historic Park in Florence, Oracle State Park in Oracle, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park in Tubac, and Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park.  Travous said those were chosen for possible closure because of low visitation rates.  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]