Arizona State Parks Board Makes Changes to Some Northern Arizona Parks Due to Budget Reductions

(Phoenix, AZ – September 11, 2009) — Today the Arizona State Parks Board accepted management recommendations presented by staff to balance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 State
Parks budget. “With the loss of all state General Fund monies, and conservation funds which have been transferred over to the General Fund, the department only has $19.3 million to operate,” said Parks Board Chairman Reese Woodling.

“This budget is a 27% reduction from FY 2009 and approximately 25 – 30 employees will be laid off throughout the agency. Some parks operations will be reduced to high season
months, five-day a week, or be open only for special events and other uses.

The  Tonto Natural Bridge State Park will only be open on weekends through the month of October.   Six of the state parks will switch over to the new five day a week schedule.  The parks will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  These parks include: Fort Verde State Historic Park, Oracle State Park, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park.  These changes will become effective as of October 1, 2009.

Now all of the funds to operate the State Parks department must be earned through gate fees or come from the remaining conservation funds,” said Executive Director Renee Bahl. “In November the Board will also be voting on the park user fee proposals made by the staff. To increase revenues, we will work with the Treasurer’s office to modify our investment
strategies to maximize interest income.”

“Our goal is to keep as many parks open as possible and draw the 2.3 million visitors to the parks so they spend their vacations in Arizona and support those rural economies. The
State Parks $266 million economic impact in tourism is critical for these towns and we are meeting with local governments and private sector partners to help keep the parks open as much as possible,” said Bahl. “We are also seeking volunteers to assist with some of the day-to-day operations at the parks and welcome the public’s input on how to keep the park system operating during these dire times.”