Arizona  REP Coordinator Tina Beattie, left, joins fellow REP member Andy Woodward at Capitol 
rally held February 1, 2010, to save Arizona’s state parks from closure.

The Battle to Save Arizona State Parks

Four of Arizona’s state parks have been closed and six are on reduced hours as a result of the Legislature's irresponsibility.

The Legislature’s diversion of funds specifically designated for parks slashed the parks budget. In a scramble during the spring of 2010, the state Parks Board negotiated agreements with local governments and volunteer organizations to supply enough funding to keep 23 state parks open into 2011.

The dedication of citizens and local governments to keep the parks open is heartening, but in the long run, it cannot make up for irresponsible actions by the Legislature to raid money from dedicated funds designated for conservation.

Please send a letter to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (link to contact information below). Tell her that adequate funding for state parks matters to citizens inside and outside of Arizona. Ask Governor Brewer to find a long-term solution allowing the parks to remain open for all to enjoy, including out-of-state visitors who spend billions of dollars per year in Arizona to enjoy the state’s scenic heritage.

All of us have a stake in adequate support for Arizona’s state parks.

Arizonans stand to lose access to lands for which they have paid millions of dollars per year in special fees, trusting that their elected representatives would keep their promises to spend fee income on state parks. In these challenging economic times, closing state parks would take away a low-cost, close-to-home vacation alternative for Arizona families.

Out-of-state visitors would no longer be able to visit spectacular desert and mountain parks. If Arizona sends a signal that access to public lands is not a high priority, visitors might take their tourism business elsewhere. Tourism-dependent communities would no longer enjoy the economic benefits of visitor spending for lodging, food, fuel, recreation equipment, and other supplies. Arizona’s reputation as a state that values the economic engine of tourism would be damaged, perhaps irreparably.

Public lands are not a luxury that can be tossed aside when the going gets tough. As Theodore Roosevelt knew more than a century ago, public lands are essential for keeping America a strong and prosperous democracy. Our country’s outdoor heritage, open to every citizen from every walk of life, strengthens our economy, enlivens our culture, and enriches our lives. We must protect our public lands for all to enjoy, now and in the future.

Please contact Governor Brewer today. Governor Brewer’s postal, telephone, fax, and online contact information is available here.