Do Arizona State Parks Have a Future?
Arizona politicians continue the state park two-step. First, promise to do everything possible to find sustainable park funding. Second, take a firm step backward when no easy solutions appear.
But, something is better than nothing.
Governor Jan Brewer signed an executive order to re-establish the Governor’s Sustainable State Parks Task Force. Her news release mentioned they would begin work immediately.
A good thing too. Created in 2008, the task force went to work and … well, the news release puts it best: “no progress has been made.”
So, Brewer is re-constituting the group and keeping the mission the same: assess the condition of the State Parks system and its impacts on Arizona’s overall economy. The task force will recommend how to make the parks financially sustainable.
The governor chose folks from around the state for the chore:
- Rich Dozer, president of GenSpring, a Phoenix Investment Company, and former president of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He will chair the Task Force.
- William Roe, Glen Kerslake and Diana Freshwater of Tucson.
- Robert McLendon of Yuma.
- Grady Gammage, Jr. of Tempe.
- Bill Cordasco of Flagstaff.
- Walter Meek, Harry Papp and Jeffery Williamson of Phoenix.
They can add members, but the taskforce can total no more than 21. No member will be paid for their efforts.
They’ve got an October 31 deadline to put ideas on the table.
So, with the dance of politics being what it is, expect pushback on November 1 from those who believe parks should pay for themselves. Because that’s the equation the task force must manage. Should the state pump money into parks that generate no income?
Is the intrinsic value of a park — and the tourism dollars generated indirectly in the community — worth the investment of public money?
For people who love parks — and who doesn’t — it’s an easy answer. Then, someone tries to figure out the source of the money. That’s when things turn ugly.
Dozer is starting out with the right attitude, though. From the news release: “These places, such as Kartchner Caverns, Tonto National (sic) Bridge, and Tombstone, are all cultural and recreational jewels of Arizona. In this economy, it is a great challenge to find a sustainable method to fund their protection and enhancement.”
