This Fall 2009 report lists the dangers threatening Arizona’s 31 state parks, particularly in light of possible state trust land reform, continuing population growth and budget cuts. It also offers possible solutions to the funding crisis, including potential revenue options to provide stable, sustainable funding for Arizona’s state parks.
Arizona, which had more national parks and monuments than any other state, was the last state to designate state parks in 1957. Regrettably, since 2003 the Arizona Legislature and the state’s governors have eroded support for state parks in reducing General Fund appropriations, “sweeping” cash from dedicated funds and forcing the agency to survive on park-produced fees and pieces of indirect user levies, set asides and federal dollars. Simply put, without a stable, sustainable funding, Arizona’s state park system will not be able to survive.
The Price of Stewardship: The Future of Arizona’s State Parks is a comprehensive look at Arizona State Parks published by the Morrison Institute of Public Policy. It looks at proven methods using creative financing mechanisms to not only keep open Arizona’s state parks, but repair and improve them.