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Arizona's Rural Communities Rescue State Parks from Closures. Good News! 23 Arizona State Parks will Stay Open

(Phoenix, AZ - May 19, 2010) - The Arizona State Parks Board voted today to keep five more State Parks from closing on June 3 by directing Executive Director Renee Bahl to sign unique management and financial agreements with rural communities to keep each one open. Learn More

State Parks Board Approves Entering Into Agreements With Rural Towns To Operate Parks

(Phoenix, AZ - March 18, 2010) - "After an unprecedented series of meetings with rural communities, the Arizona State Parks Board today voted to allow staff to enter into agreements to keep four State Parks open into the future although three would be managed by other entities. Two more agreements will extend the closure dates for Tonto Natural Bridge State Park and Roper Lake State Park," said Executive Director Renee Bahl. Learn More

February 22, 2010: Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow, and Lyman Lake State Park in St. Johns Close

(Phoenix, AZ - February 22, 2010) - The Arizona State Parks Board on January 15 voted to keep nine parks open and close the remaining thirteen State Parks in a phased series of closures starting February 22, 2010 due to six different State Parks funds being swept of $8.6 million. Parks will be closed in a phased sequence starting on February 22, 2010 and include Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow, and Lyman Lake State Park in St. Johns.

Learn more about Homolovi Ruins State Park
Learn more about Lyman Lake State Park

Update: Tonto Natural Bridge Begins 5 Day Schedule November 19th

(Phoenix, AZ - October 21, 2009) Starting November 19th, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park will convert to a 5 Day Schedule. The park will be open 5 days per week from Thursday to Monday from 9 am – 5 pm. The park will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Oracle State Park Changes Operations

(Phoenix, AZ - October 1, 2009) - Oracle State Park is CLOSED to the public for day-use due to budget reductions; open only by reservation for school programs, and for special events. Read More

Additional State Parks Transition to 5 Day Schedules

(Phoenix, AZ - September 23, 2009) - Starting in October and November 2009, additional Arizona State Parks will switch to a 5 Day Schedule. These parks will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The following parks will transition to a 5 Day Schedule: Homolovi Ruins State Park (starting Oct 1), Riordan Mansion State Historic Park (starting Oct. 6), Red Rock State Park, Slide Rock State Park (both starting Nov. 3). These parks will be closed to all public entry on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They will be open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, & Mondays.

Red Rock State Park will resume daily operations from January 29 to October 28, 2010. Slide Rock State Park will resume daily operations from January 28 to November 2, 2010. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park will resume daily operations April 1 to Sept. 29, 2010.

Other Operational Changes

Additional operational changes starting October 1 include Oracle State Park which will be closed. The park will be open only by reservation for school programs, and for special events.

The campground at Homolovi Ruins State Park will be closed starting October 1; the park will remain open for day use only, on a 5 Day Schedule.

Starting October 1, 2009, the Visitor Center at Sonoita Creek State Natural Area will be only be open weekends and holidays.

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park will resumes daily operations Nov. 3, 2009 to May 4, 2010.

Some State Parks Will Transition to Five Day Schedules

(Phoenix, AZ - April 11, 2009) - The Arizona State Parks board meeting on Friday, April 3rd, resulted in operational changes for some parks in the Arizona State Parks system.

At this meeting, the seven-member volunteer Parks Board passed a motion to allow the agency to reduce the days and hours of operation for the parks. This will ease the stress of trying to keep parks open seven days a week while dealing with a 26% reduction in ranger staff. Some of the consequences to a $34.5M sweep in funds from various conservation-funded accounts and agency gate fees, include: suspending community grants, reduced park hours/days of operation, reduced supply purchasing, less vehicles, layoffs and canceling special projects and programs statewide.

"In order to keep the parks as accessible to the public as possible with this reduction in force, we will begin shortening weeks starting April 14-15 in Yuma," said Jay Ream, Assistant Director. "Both Yuma Territorial Prison and Yuma Quartermaster Depot will be open Thursday through Monday and closed Tuesday and Wednesdays with daily hours of 9 am - 5 pm."

"Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park will have the same Thursday-Monday schedule with April 21-22 being the first days closed. Fort Verde State Historic Park will switch to this schedule starting on May 5-6. Oracle State Park will begin its Thursday-Monday schedule starting on May 19-20. All of the daily park hours will be 9 am - 5 pm, except Oracle State Park which will be open from 7 am to 3 pm."

"We have already lost much of the workforce and I need to move the experienced rangers to the parks that need the help right away," said Ream. "The danger we are facing is losing some of our experienced and highly trained rangers who would be almost impossible to replace. Unlike one skill other organizations would hire for, the State Parks are required to be run by people with a multitude of high level skills. These hybrid job descriptions include trained and certified as law enforcement officers, emergency medical training, wildland firefighters, crowd control, search and rescue, interpretation, natural resources, water & wastewater treatment certification, all of the skills in construction and maintenance, trail construction, research, and artifact management. These rangers must also have specific training for dangerous situations in wild country. These are not easy people to replace. They are the best of the best in these fields and highly recruited because of their multiple talents. Some of our "super rangers" are actually trained and skilled in every category I've mentioned," said Ream. "They are committed to State Parks despite demanding training requirements and relatively low pay."

For more information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free 800-285-3703) or visit azstateparks.com.

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