I couldn’t imagine life without the state parks in Florida and would do all that I could if they were in jeopardy of closing, so I wanted to share this with as many people possible.

Cindy Spencer  🙂

 

The Arizona State Legislature has acted on House Bill 2001.  It eliminates the ability of the Arizona State Parks system to operate.  All parks will ultimately close as a result of this action.  If you or your children wish to ever visit such extraordinary places like Kartchner Caverns State Park, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park or Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, you must act today.

Call, email or write (click here for a sample letter) Governor Jan Brewer and urge her to veto the parks cuts listed in the article below.

Phone:  602-542-4331 or 800-253-0883
Email via Governor’s Contact page at:
Mail:  The Honorable Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona,
1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

 

ARIZONA STATE PARKS: A SYSTEM ON ITS DEATHBED

Friday, December 18, 2009
Proposed budget adjustments that are on the table at the special session of the State Legislature will cut more than $9 million of Parks funds, leaving the agency with only about $10 million in its 2010 budget.

That’s less than 30 percent of the agency’s normal funding and not enough to continue park operations beyond this fiscal year.

Governor Brewer and the Legislature are seeking $205 million in cuts to mitigate a deficit estimated to be $1.5 billion.  The proposed cuts to State Parks would provide just 4 percent of their goal, while shutting down the Park’s annual contribution to the Arizona economy of more than $266 million.

This result also negates 10 months of work by the Governor’s Task Force on Sustainable State Parks, which recommended in October that State Parks be funded with a fee on Arizona license plate renewals in exchange for free entry to the parks.

The cuts will force major reductions in Parks staff and closure of more than half of the State’s 30 parks this fiscal year.  The resulting loss of Park revenue is projected to leave the Parks System with no money to start the next fiscal year, July 1, 2010.  The next step will be to shut down the entire system and dispose of Parks properties, returning most of them to their original owners.

If Legislatures could keep parks open to Arizonans through 50 years of prior downturns, wars, gas crises and political turmoil, surely current lawmakers can find the revenues to do so–especially given the great economic value, popularity and intrinsic worth of our state parks.

The full Senate must consider this bill,  then it moves to the House (HB2001).

URGE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE TO KEEP YOUR STATE PARKS FUNDED & OPEN! 


In the face of Arizona’s sprawling growth and development, 30 exceptional places have been set aside over the past half century for the recreational, environmental and cultural enjoyment of Arizonans and all who visit the state.

The places are the lakes, rivers, historic buildings and rich natural areas that constitute Arizona State Parks – a collection of wonder-provoking sites that the Arizona State Parks Foundation (ASPF) seeks to preserve, promote and enhance.

As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, ASPF offers the foremost way for parks patrons, visitors and friends to support and strengthen Arizona State Parks through:

  • Advocacy;
  • Volunteer work;
  • Parks friends groups and partnerships;
  • Contributions made towards parks improvements and the acquisition of yet-unprotected, invaluable examples of Arizona’s beauty, recreational riches, environmental wonders and historic depth.

Check out the pages of this website to learn more about what they do, about the exceptional nature of the parks, and how you can become involved in efforts to better the state parks system for the sake of present and future generations.

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