AZ parks board recommends closure of 13 state parks by June due to budget cuts (Yuma: low income, real estate)

[tablemtn]

Hmmm... probably not the outcome people were hoping for.

Ariz. officials propose closing 13 state parks

If approved by the parks board, the state would close Fort Verde, Homolovi Ruins, Lyman Lake and Riordan Mansion state parks on Feb. 22.

Roper Lake, Tombstone Courthouse, Tubac Presidio and Yuma Territorial Prison would follow on March 29.

The closures would conclude on June 3 with the shuttering of Alamo Lake, Lost Dutchman, Picacho Peak, Red Rock and Tonto Natural Bridge state parks.

[shiphead]

I enjoyed the comment from TheProgressiveOne.

"I think it might be time to raise the fee's that are charged for using State Parks, while at the same time using Prison Inmates to maintain these State Parks. This would increase the money coming in and rduce the money spent on maintaining them. Inmate labor should be looked at for a number of things. Like picking up trash on Freeways, vacant lots in blighted parts of the valley etc..............."

Makes sense to me.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

Hmmm... probably not the outcome people were hoping for.

Ariz. officials propose closing 13 state parks

They could easily be turned over to local municipalities, or private entities, and therefore wouldn't have to close. If these places are completely shut down, there goes the tourism sector of capital for the state! It makes no sense how the so called leaders have this "all or nothing" approach to the budget crisis. Yes, these services should be cut from the STATE budget ... but they should in turn be handed over to cities or towns, or investors who could keep the parks open, but charge user fees as a source of revenue.

We can only hope Arizona has learned its lesson that it needs to be reliant on more of a diverse economy ... not just growth, construction, cheap real estate, and the sunny climate. Whenever the national economy is in a boom period, Arizona usually does well ... but when the economy is in a down period, we often end up in worse shape than many other states, and that's when drastic cuts to services have to be considered (which most everyone hates). I doubt if much will change, though. Once this downturn subsides, Arizona will keep plodding along and rely on the same old economic factors without much thought ... and most everybody will have long forgotten about the current state budget mess.

[miamiman]

What local municipality has the funds to maintain any of these parks? Where is the money going to come from to pay the rangers? Last time I checked, most municipalities in this state were way in the red. Taking on state parks as an additional burden is an absolutely horrible idea.

Why would we turn a STATE park over to a private entity? They could technically do whatever they want to the land, let whoever they want in, and charge whatever rate they want. These are state parks, not country clubs. Should the wealthy only have access to these recreation areas?

It's baffling that people STILL don't understand what terrible, terrible shape this state is in right now. We're kicking 300,000 low income people off health insurance, closing down the ENTIRE juvenile corrections department, releasing non-violent illegal immigrants from jail, and letting mentally ill people go unchecked by the state and folks are only talking about diversifying the economy.

Why didn't this state diversify the economy when we weren't in a recession from 1912-1929 or 1940-2007? Why all of the sudden is diversifying the economy on everyone's radar? Diversifying the economy can wait like it always has.

Our top priority is finding ways to balance the budget. Cutting excessive government spending should be first on our list. State park closures shows just how desperate of a situation we're in.

[Ponderosa]

Sell the parks and put up golf courses and condos. Some of these, and certainly other parks not on the list, would be highly prized as second homes by wealthy people.

[Foreverking]

Yeeesh, all this bragging Ive been doing on these boards about AZ, and one of the main reason I love the place is disapearing. What a freaking dagger. I left Wa state for AZ a little nervous about not being able to see nature, and I kept thinking, thats OK I have great places like Lost Dutchman State park, and Red Rock State park. DAMN. Any Danger of South Mountain Municipal Park Closing?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Foreverking

Yeeesh, all this bragging Ive been doing on these boards about AZ, and one of the main reason I love the place is disapearing. What a freaking dagger. I left Wa state for AZ a little nervous about not being able to see nature, and I kept thinking, thats OK I have great places like Lost Dutchman State park, and Red Rock State park. DAMN. Any Danger of South Mountain Municipal Park Closing?

Many of these areas were free until they made parks out of them and soaked people exorbitant entrance fees on top of the taxes they already paid, to fund overpaid rangers and flush toilets. The parks they are closing are all second tier/seasonal there are alternative locations to get to the same experience. The good parks that are staying open are so run over with blue hairs from Washington that the people who pay for them, Arizonans, can't even get in. No loss as far as I am concerned. Sell them all!

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Many of these areas were free until they made parks out of them and soaked people exorbitant entrance fees on top of the taxes they already paid, to fund overpaid rangers and flush toilets. The parks they are closing are all second tier/seasonal there are alternative locations to get to the same experience. The good parks that are staying open are so run over with blue hairs from Washington that the people who pay for them, Arizonans, can't even get in. No loss as far as I am concerned. Sell them all!

Not quite sure about that. It must cost money to keep the trails manucured, the roads paved nicely, and the trash and vandalism out. I don't think I am in the kind of shape to just hike thru brush and jagged rock. I bought a pass a year ago a (its almost expired) for 50 bucks and I have had unlimited access to all the state parks in az for the past year.

[acrylic]

Originally Posted by Foreverking

Not quite sure about that. It must cost money to keep the trails manucured, the roads paved nicely, and the trash and vandalism out. I don't think I am in the kind of shape to just hike thru brush and jagged rock. I bought a pass a year ago a (its almost expired) for 50 bucks and I have had unlimited access to all the state parks in az for the past year.

That is really not a bad deal!

Thing that confuses me - I went to South Mountain twice the last time I was there, and though there was a little kiosk to the entrance (around 48th st.) there was no one inside. I'm guessing South Mountain is a free park?

[observer53]

South Mountain is a city park, there are no fees to get into any city park. And to answer the other question, no, I don't think there's any chance of it closing.

Lost Dutchman State Park is only a small part of the Superstition Mountain area. There are other places to go to hike into and enjoy the scenery there.

SELL the parks? Uh, no.