Arizona Closes More State Parks
As the budget crisis in Arizona worsens, a special oversight board has determined that there is not enough money available to maintain the State’s parks system. The state legislature has cut the park’s funding by 61% and already nearly half of the state’s parks are closed. With the additional 13 that are expected to close there will be about two thirds of the parks closed to any type of recreational activity. That means no hiking, no camping, and no picnics on the state grounds.
There are efforts being made by local groups to keep parks open in their immediate vicinities. While this may help in some instances, smaller government agencies are suffering financially too and it may be just a matter of time before even these efforts will lack financial backing. Of course there is no way of knowing when or if the parks might open for business again.
- So now we know that a lot of the parks will be closing
- There wont be any camping in the parks
- There wont be any hiking in the parks
- There wont be any day use in most of the parks
The state of Arizona maybe able to save money as they eliminate jobs and cut back on expenses but can you imagine telling your family that there isn’t anyplace to go camping or that there aren’t hiking trails open. Your going to have to watch closely sites such as this one to keep up with what is open and what is not. Closings will include the following:
- Tonto Natural Bridge
- Red Rock State Park near Sedona
- The Lost Dutchman State Park near Apache Junction
- Tombstone Courthouse in Tombstone will also close.
We will report on closings as soon as we hear of them and try to inform you about the alternatives that are available.
1 Comment to “Arizona Closes More State Parks”
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By Jackie Dishner, February 10, 2010 @ 6:31 pm
It was a very sad day, the day they agreed to shut down state parks. Not only do we lose our hiking, picnicking and state recreational sites, but the state is also closing down its history. The Yuma Territorial Prison is closing. The Presidio in Tubac is closing–and that is Arizona’s very FIRST state park. The Douglas Mansion in Jerome was already closed for repairs, but it’s not likely to open now. It’s really hard to understand why our state legislators don’t see value in their own state’s natural environment and history. And when you write to them to try to explain, they don’t even respond. They won’t cut out big business tax loopholes, but they will cut out the state parks. It doesn’t make sense. Who’s going to want to visit or relocate here now? What will be left the see? The Grand Canyon. But what about our rural neighbors who rely on the state parks to help sustain them?! Grrrr. It just makes me mad.