The Dolly Steamboat
Didn’t Win Today’s Lotto? Don’t Fret! You’ve Contributed to Arizona’s State Parks!
Congratulations to the Arizona Heritage Alliance for being named the 2011 Conservation Organization of the Year!
On October 14th, the Arizona Game and Fish Commissions announced the recipients of the Annual Commission Awards. The awards recognize those organizations who show “commitment and efforts in protecting, preserving and enhancing” wildlife recovery and environmental protection (source: Arizona Heritage Alliance).
If you don’t know what the Arizona Heritage Alliance is, or if you’d like to learn how to help the organization in its efforts to support the Heritage Fund and its objectives, here’s some information and multimedia you might find helpful, courtesy of the Arizona Heritage Fund:
In 1990, the Arizona Game and Fish Heritage Fund was established with the support of Arizona voters and, most importantly, gamblers. That’s right! The organization is actually funded by the Arizona lottery revenues. So, if you’ve played in the Arizona lottery, you’ve probably contributed to the preservation of the state’s parks and recreation without even knowing it! That’s because the organization’s objective is not only to protect endangered species and educate youth but to create new opportunities for outdoor recreation as well.
How much money does the fund generate?
The fund is capable of generating up to $20 million in funding annually!
How are the funds divided?
The funds are allocated to Arizona Game and Fish as well as Arizona State Parks. The programs within these organizations include ones that support endangered species, environmental education as well as recreational and historic preservation.
Find Heritage Fund projects in YOUR community by visiting the Arizona Lottery’s “Where the Money Goes” webpage.
Next time you buy a lottery ticket and find out your lucky numbers didn’t award you the big bucks, don’t fret! A portion of your money is being contributed to our state parks and recreation, thanks to the Arizona Heritage Alliance!
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Seeks Enticing Amenities
Did you know that Arizona is home to what is believed to be the world’s largest natural travertine bridge in the world?
Standing 183 feet above a 400-foot long tunnel, the Tonto Natural Bridge is located a short distance north of Payson, just off route State Route 87.
Courtesy of Arizona State Parks, the photo below depicts a section of the natural bridge at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park:
Looking through a section of the natural bridge at the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park in Arizona.
Although offering visitors an extensive list of exciting, outdoor activities, including the Pine Creek, Waterfall and Gowan Trails, picnic and recreation spaces, and gift shops, park officials aren’t convinced its tourism is up to par.
What’s interesting is that the problem isn’t exactly in the number of tourists who visit the park but rather the length of time they spend at the park after entering! Although the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park attracts more than 60,000 tourists every year, most of those visitors don’t stay for more than a couple hours (source: Arizona State Parks). In order to increase the amount of time tourists spend during their visit, officials hope to create more recreational opportunities as well as options for food and lodging.
“Tourists come to the park to camp, hike and explore the area’s trails and waterfall. But facilities at the site are somewhat limited and include only a gift shop, some picnic-table areas and a few portable restrooms… The state, which has limited money and manpower, is hoping the private sector will give it guidance on how to structure a formal partnership agreement that might ultimately result in [a] lodge being opened to the public” (source: Arizona Republic).
The park’s lodge was built in the 1920s and is currently owned by the state; however, it is not open for public use. It includes several enticing amenities, including 10 upstairs bedrooms that could be converted into individual cabins with private baths. Officials hope this renovation would “expand the lodge’s capacity and make it more attractive for overnight guests, as well as running a small café at the main property” (source: Arizona Republic).
In fact, Arizona State Parks has conducted recent visitor surveys that concluded 57 percent of Tonto Natural Bridge tourists desire more amenities, specifically a restaurant of snack bar (source: Arizona State Parks).
What’s most inspiring is the ways in which the community recognizes the vital role of the park and wants to help fund these improvements. After all, their financial well-being is essentially dependent on the influx of tourism the park brings to the area. “A wide range of community partners including Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, the city of Payson and the town of Star Valley – raised money through bake sales and other similar means last year to give State Parks more than $10,000 in operating funds for the site” (source: Arizona Republic)
Whether there’s room for improvement or not, what we can all agree on is how incredibly important tourism is to the site and the surrounding area. According to a study by the Arizona Hospitality Research & Resource Center at Northern Arizona University, the Tonto Natural Bridge had a $3.56 million economic impact in the fiscal year of 2009 (Source: Arizona Hospitality and Research Center).
Do you believe funding for the lodge is necessary?
Do YOU want to visit the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, which is located right here in Arizona? Click here for more information on the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park and its five-day schedule.
Vandalism: A Growing Threat to Arizona Parks and Recreation
Come on, Arizona! Our state parks and recreation already have enough problems to sift through and battle. Why create even more strife?
After more than a year of struggling to maintain sufficient budgets and renegotiating spending, the state parks and recreation are being hit hard by another threat: an increasing degree of public vandalism of natural, state-owned territory. The act of defacing state park land is not only immoral and appalling.
It’s criminal.
This time, the victim isn’t Tempe’s “A Mountain,” which is infamous for being publicly trashed and vandalized during ASU’s “whitewashing of the A,” nor is it Sedona’s pristine red rock country, which often faces both intentional and unintentional desecration due to the influx of visitors. The victim, rather, is Sierra Vista, Arizona. You might refer to this small yet critical location in the Grand Canyon state as the “Hummingbird Capital of the World,” which attracts tourists, photographers and bird-watchers alike from all over the globe who visit to catch a glimpse of the city’s expansive views of the Huachuca Mountains, Dragoon Mountains and its incredible variety of bird species.
The following video, courtesy of YouTube user exlamb, exhibits some of Sierra Vista’s most breathtaking views:
According to Derek Jordan of The Sierra Vista Herald, “police are investigating a report of criminal damage at Cochise College High Desert Trail in Sierra Vista after several information plaques along the trail were found to be defaced or damaged” (source: The Sierra Vista Herald). According to the police report, the vandalized information plaques were thrown into a nearby wash, spray painted black, torn apart and marked with the letters “BK”.
Are these letters a clue to the criminal’s initials? Is there any meaning at all behind the letters?
Officer John Papatrefon, one of two officers who responded to the report of vandalism, believes “it’s gang graffiti” and that the letters stand for “Blood Killer” (source: The Sierra Vista Herald).
Is this a recent issue or is it the first of its kind?
Officers state the vandalism has been taking place for a while now and that some of the damage on the Cochise College High Desert Trail in Sierra Vista had already existed for some time before being reported.
Why is the Cochise College High Desert Trail so important?
Since June of 2003, the trail has served as an outdoor classroom, “funded with a combination of grant money from the Heritage Fund Program of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, as well as donations and matching funds and labor from the college, was opened in June 2003″ (The Sierra Vista Herald).
It’s sad to witness donation money, the hard work and energy put into the creation of the trail, and the efforts of the Heritage Fund Program go unappreciated.
To what extent do you believe these acts of vandalism are criminal? How do you suggest Arizona’s state parks and recreation make an effort to put an end to vandalism and spread awareness of the growing issue?
Prescott Chalks Up $56,000 for Trail Expansion Initiatives
Officials of Prescott, Arizona, voted unanimously to acquire 30 acres of land dedicated solely to enhancing the city’s hiking trails. This $56,000 decision will hopefully draw in more visitors, which would in turn support local businesses that depend on tourist revenue. This expansion is no small feat for the City of Prescott, for city officials and the Yavapai Trails Association have been working on conceiving and drawing the new Forest Service map since the year 1990.
I took the following photograph during my visit to Prescott’s Watson Lake in the spring of 2011:
A motor boat travels along Lake Watson in Prescott, Arizona
The trail expansion initiative has been dubbed The Mile-High Trail System. According to the City of Prescott’s official website, the newly acquired land includes the “Rails-to-Trails projects along the former Santa Fe Railroad, the Prescott Circle Trail System, and the Greenways Trails System.” The goal of the Prescott Circle Trail System is to fully encompass the city with both walking and bicycle trails, granting visitors endless vantage points from Prescott all the way to Granite Mountains and even Flagstaff.
Courtesy of the City of Prescott’s official website, the map below depicts both the completed sections of the Prescott Circle Trail System and the proposed sections:
Map of the Prescott Circle Trail System
Many of you might ask the following question:
If budget cuts continue to hamper the preservation of Arizona’s state parks, how could pouring $56,000 into the creation of a few trails engender enough incentive to increase tourism revenue?
The City of Prescott’s answer:
Officials believe the local communities will greatly benefit from these park enhancements. Most Arizona cities don’t offer accessible trails that circumscribe the entire metropolis. Therefore, the city would become a rare commodity, drawing in intrigued visitors. Also, Prescott isn’t known as “everybody’s hometown” for nothing. The trail expansion will grant access to visitors from all sides of Prescott, opening doors to those who wouldn’t otherwise have easy access to the city and its expansive lakes and scenic vistas. Not only will backpackers, hikers and bicyclists enjoy the new places for exploration, but the decision also promotes tourism for special events and recreation while attracting new businesses and families.
The City of Prescott and the Yavapai Trails Association want YOUR help in promoting, creating and supporting grants and projects on the Circle Trail. Courtesy of the City of Prescott’s official website, the photo below describes how to get involved:
Funding for Arizona Parks Gets Creative
With a plummeting budget and severe lack of long-term financial support continuing to threaten Arizona’s state parks, officials have turned to creative methods of securing funds necessary for park maintenance and survival.
Arizona’s State Parks are now reaping the benefits of The Arizona Legislature’s 2008 “Sticker Fund”. The fund awarded $396,010 on September 16th, 2011, to “eight new projects that will benefit communities through communication, mitigation and enforcement of laws in OHV areas” (source: Arizona State Parks).
The following image, courtesy of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is a sample of what the OHV stickers looks like:
This is a Sample of the "Sticker Fund's" OHV Decal.
The statute requires OHVs, or off-highway vehicles, to bear a $25 sticker on their license plate. The money awarded to those eight projects back in September doesn’t even amount to half of what the entire fund accumulates per year. According to Arizona State Parks September 29th press release, the annual OHV “Sticker Fund” collects nearly $1,000,000 per year. Furthermore, the OHV Recreation Fund has funded more than 25 projects with a staggering $1,241,725 in years past. (source: Arizona State Parks).
The following breakdown of each project the fund sponsored is provided courtesy of Arizona State Parks, quoted in their September 29th, 2011, press release, “Arizona State Parks Board Authorizes Eight Off-Highway Recreation Fun Projects”.
- $66,000 for staff and equipment to work at the Table Mesa and Boulders areas through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
- $13,000 for fencing for water areas near the BLM Vulture Mountain Trail
- $5,500 for the BLM Table Mesa Trail System access guides
- $70,600 for the BLM to manage Little Pan Road renovation and mitigation;
- $14,255 for Tonto National Forest purchase of a Polaris Ranger UTV to be used in the Cave Creek District by the Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition and AZ Trail Riders to support maintenance work, signs, and equipment;
- $95,475 for the Arizona Game and Fish Department for five UTVs and five trailers for wildlife managers and two quads for safety training;
- $104,800 for the Tonto National Forest to repair 36 miles of OHV routes north of Bartlett Lake Road;
- $26,380 for repairs and habitat protection South of Bartlett Lake Road
That’s an ingenious method of acquiring funds, if you as me!
If you’re interested, click here to check out the Arizona Republic’s article from October 1st, 2011, on some creative ways various agencies have learned to cope with budget cutbacks.
Share your ideas in the comment section below— What are some creative methods of acquiring funding you’d like to see The Arizona Legislature and/or state park agencies carry out for the remainder of the 2011-2012 year?
26,000 Acres Added to Petrified Forest National Park
In an attempt to preserve fossils from the late Triassic Period, promote scientific discovery and increase park funding and tourism, the National Park Service and The Conservation Fund secured a 26,000-acre expansion of the Petrified Forest National Park. The National Park Service announced this extraordinary feat in September of 2011.
The newly acquired land contains incredible scientific value. The forest is rich of plant and animal fossils, petrified trees and Native American artifacts— All of the entities are not only preserved but are now accessible to scientific researchers and Arizona tourists as well. At this month’s press release, the director of the National Park Service said “this is an important milestone in the National Park Service’s long effort to protect the rich natural and cultural landscape in and around Petrified Forest National Park,” adding later, “The extension of Petrified Forest’s boundaries will increase our knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Arizona’s Painted Desert environment and its archeological and fossil wonders” (Source: The Conservation Fund).
Pictured below, researches unearth fossils as well as artifacts native to the Paleo People, a group of nomads who populated America’s southwest between 13,500 and 8,000 B.C. (Source: National Park Service):
(Photo courtesy of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior)
These remnants of earth’s history and the early native tribes who inhabited Arizona are now safely preserved, thanks to the National Park Service and The Conservaiton Fund’s efforts to work with Congress in obtaining the funds necessary to protect these lands. Pictured below are petrified logs, which have slowly turned into stone over the past 255 million years (Source: National Park Service:
(Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior)
Until this point in time, the land was privately owned and utilized primarily for ranching by the Hatch Family Partnership. Pictured below is a portion of the 26,000 acres of Hatch land recently added to Arizona’s Petrified Forest (Source: National Park Service):
(Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior)
The newly acquired land carries not only scientific value but financial benefits as well. Taxpayers can revel in the fact that no tax dollar money was used in the expansion of Arizona’s Petrified Forest; rather, “Congress approved the funds needed for this significant acquisition through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a federal land protection program that receives significant revenue from the development of federally-owned offshore oil and gas rights” (source: The Conservation Fund).
Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar said, “The Petrified Forest National Park is an irreplaceable archeological and historical site that serves as an economic engine for Northeastern Arizona. In 2009, visitors to the Petrified Forest spent over $80 million in the area, sustaining hundreds of jobs in the surrounding communities” (Source: The Conservation Fund).
Although the introduction of new land to Arizona’s state parks and recreation serves as a major stepping stone in the rehabilitation of the Grand Canyon State and her role as a hub for tourism and scientific enlightenment, it goes without saying that there is still much work to be done in order to protect those parks that are still struggling to survive.
That brings me to the following question:
Do you believe the expansion of Arizona’s Petrified Forest will deter those from realizing the dire concerns and needs of the rest of our state parks? Will this positive news create a misconception that the lack of funding for Arizona’s parks and recreation is a thing of the past?
Budget Cuts Jeopardize “A” Mountain, Sun Devil Tradition
Painting the “A” from ASU News on Vimeo.
The city of Tempe has been suffering the blow of recent budget cuts. Not only has the poor economy threatened the city’s fragile environment, but it’s also beginning to exhaust the epicenter of Sun Devil pride, tradition and history.
“A Mountain,” formally known as Hayden Butte, is both literally and figuratively on the brink of disintegration. As funding for park maintenance continues to diminish, the Tempe Historical Preservation Foundation has announced the park’s vulnerable condition. According to the State Press’ Shawn Raymundo, “Historic Preservation Officer Joseph Nucci said the lack of funding has made it difficult to consistently keep the grounds clean. ‘The city spends thousands and thousands of dollars on the maintenance of the park because it’s our only preserve; it’s our natural preserve,’ Nucci said,” (source: State Press’ Historians Struggle to Keep ‘A’ Mountain Clean).
Unfortunately, “A Mountain” has taken a particularly hard punch as a result of mere neglect. As any true Sun Devil would know, it’s an ASU tradition to climb the mountain in a ceremonial procession dubbed “whitewashing the A,” an act of celebrating a new, successful academic year by painting the giant letter “A,” which covers a great portion of the land and can be seen from miles away. As a result, the mountain is covered in paint, ink, and trash, leading to signs of path erosion and rock deterioration. Although the tradition continues to reel in thousands of Sun Devils to the park, the city of Tempe can’t afford to pay for the mess students have created.
Why do YOU participate in whitewashing the “A”?
Nicole Tangway, Senior at ASU West Campus:
“Whitewashing the “A” has been a tradition here at ASU since the 1930′s when some students decided to paint the A on Tempe Buttes white at the beginning of the school year. The A stays white until our first home football game of the season. This symbolizes a new beginning for freshmen as college students and the fresh start of new school year” (Source: ASU Alumni Association).
This makes me wonder– Do you believe the core issue is the tradition itself or rather one exclusively a result of budget cuts?
My opinion:
I believe it’s a little of both—or should a say, a lot of both. Inevitably, if students were to develop a sense of respect for the land and be mindful of not leaving behind a trace, the city wouldn’t have to pour funds they don’t actually posses into the continual maintenance of the park. On the other hand, however, general public access to the park and natural erosion would still force officials to chalk up funds for maintenance; and although the problem might not be as critical as it is with the annual whitewashing of the “A,” it’s an issue that would exist with or without this traditionally acceptable form of neglect.
Arizona Communities, Non-Profits Unite to Save Fourteen State Parks
Although many of Arizona’s state parks are experiencing the threat of closure due to recent budget cuts, hopeful communities and non-profit organizations have banded together in an attempt to ease financial woes. These groups have provided “more than $820,000 to the cash-strapped Arizona State Parks agency,” thereby saving some of Arizona’s most well-thought-of outdoor spaces, including Gila Country’s Tonto Natural Bridge, Sedona’s Red Rock State Park and Santa Cruz County’s Tuban Presidio State Historic Park (Source; Megan Neighbor, The Arizona Republic). I decided to share this recent message of hope to communicate the impact and influence individuals and groups of like-minded, committed people have on solving current issues and preventing future ones. If it weren’t for the local communities and non-profit organizations who insistently push for the survival of Arizona’s state parks, the endangered public spaces mentioned throughout this post would’ve been terminated years ago.
Where is all of this money coming from and where, exactly, is it being channeled? How can YOU lend a helping hand?
Local communities joined Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, a nonprofit corporation both affiliated with the Arizona State Parks Foundation and dedicated to promoting the preservation and continuation of Arizona’s Tonto Natural Bridge, provided $35,000 to the state park. Tonto Natural Bridge is still vulnerable to closure, and local communities dependent on the park for its critical role as a source of tourism and revenue need assistance in keeping both the state parks and their livelihood intact.
Photo courtesy of Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.
Photo Courtesy of Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.
The following is a list of the many ways in which YOU can help Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge keep the state park and the surrounding communities alive:
1) Fundraising
2) Grant Writing
3) Publicity
2) Volunteering at Special Events
3) Becoming a paid, annual member (Prices listed below)
- Family: $15.00
- Patron: $25.00
- Business: $50.00
- Super Friend: $100
Click here to become a member or donate: http://www.tontobridge.com/join-us/
The Tubac Historical Society is helping save Arizona’s first European settlement, the Tubac Presidio State Historical Park, by preserving its “history, culture and unique qualities,” and in doing so, has provided the park with both financial assistance, quality service, PR, research and preservation (Source; The Tubac Historical Society).
Photo courtesy of the Tubac Historical Society.
The Tubac Historical Society wants YOUR help! This is a perfect opportunity for those interested in history, culture, journalism and public relations. Here’s how to get involved:
1) Index the taped oral histories of Tubac residents
2) Interview Tubac residents for New Oral Histories
3) Document the Back-Up Photos for “Images of American Tubad”
4) Become a member
For more information and instructions on how to apply for volunteer positions, click here.
View the virtual gallery by clicking on the following link: http://www.ths-tubac.org/exhibits/ve/index.htm
How else are Arizona’s state parks keeping their heads above the water?
A number of Arizona’s state parks have found methods of retaining a weak, yet somewhat persistent revenue while managing a fluctuating degree of tourism. Many state parks have raised entrance fees, which in effect has decreased tourism yet covered the costs of park management. Others are supported by advocacy groups, volunteer work, or local communities. “Some, such as Picacho Peak and Lyman Lake state parks, are on seasonal calendars. Others, such as Jerome State Historic Park and Fort Verde State Historic Park, are on five-day schedules. Still others switch between opening for seven days during their peak season and five days during their shoulder season” (Source: Megan Neighbor, The Arizona Republic).
Lastly, I am going to leave you all with some advice on how you can easily offer your support at no cost whatsoever just by giving a voice to the issue at hand, courtesy of Nicole Armstrong-Best, Arizona State Park’s Volunteer Coordinator:
“As some of you are aware, our attendance this fall through spring season has been lower than last year. What we continually hear from our visitors is that they do not know if the parks are open or closed. Unfortunately, all the scheduled closures that were reported on last year have caused the perception that we are closed, when most of the parks remained open through the support and generosity of volunteers, Friends groups and local municipalities. Our marketing department staff was reduced by 60%, plus the marketing budget was cut, as were all budgets. This made it extremely difficult for them to get the word out that yes, most of the parks are open. Our webmaster has done a phenomenal job of trying new approaches (social media, free billboards, photo contests, etc.), but we really need your support. Please let your friends and family know that we are open and like us on Facebook Whenever you have the opportunity, let everyone know that we are open – the person in line at the grocery store, at your doctor’s office, your children’s friend’s parents! Word-of-mouth is the best advertising anyway, so please continue to spread the word” (Source; Nicole Armstrong-Best, Arizona State Parks Volunteer Newsletter).
