Friends of Oracle State Park

 

Friends of Oracle State Park, Inc.
P.O. Box 8405
Tucson, AZ 85738
(520) 818-7883

 

 

Fight for Arizona State Parks - 2010

Did you know that...

  • 21 of our 30 Arizona State Parks are/will be closed?
  • Many of the lakes, rivers, historic buildings and rich natural areas that constitute Arizona State Parks are no longer open to you, to your children, and to our state’s visitors -- that's some 2.3 million* people each year.
  • Visitors to Arizona State Parks produce $266 million* in direct and indirect economic impact to Arizona.
  • Visitors to Arizona State Parks produce $22.7 million* in state and local taxes.
  • The Arizona State Parks system receives NO operating funds from state general fund taxes.

    * The Economic Impact of Arizona State Parks 2007, by Northern Arizona University
    ** The Price of Stewardship, The Future of Arizona’s State Parks by Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy

It costs $34 million annually to operate all 30 of the AZ State Parks and Natural Areas. Where does this money come from? Why are our Parks being closed now?

How to Get the Facts

 

How to Voice YOUR Opinion

Contact Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer:
E-mail:
  Online e-mail form: www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp

Postal mail:
  The Honorable Jan Brewer
  Governor of Arizona
  1700 West Washington
  Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Telephone:
  Phone: (602) 542-4331
  Toll free: (800) 253-0883
  Fax: (602) 542-1381
 

Email or call your Arizona District Representative.
Residents of Oracle (District 23):
   Senator Rebecca Rios - rrios@azleg.gov  
   Representative Barbara McGuire - bmcguire@azleg.gov  
   Representative Frank Pratt - fpratt@azleg.gov

Other areas, find your representatives at: www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp. If you don't know your District, type your zip code in the upper right hand corner of the Legislative Map page to find it. For example: Catalina, Oro Valley, and Casas Adobes are in District 26.

 

Suggested Points:

1. Express concerns about the money being swept from the agency’s budget. Keep in mind that the agency receives NO TAX DOLLARS to operate and maintain our parks. The money that is being swept and transferred away is either money earned at the entrance gates or from special funds designed to benefit park users (State Lake Improvement Fund, Heritage Fund, etc.)

2. Let the Governor and your Legislators know that you support the Bill (HB2628) and Referral (HCR2040) that would enact into law the recommendations of Governor Brewer's Task Force on Sustainable State Parks Funding.

3. Remind them that our State Parks are not only recreational and educational but also a significant part of Arizona’s History and Heritage.

4. The economic impact of State Park closures to the state of Arizona will be devastating.

5. Add your personal thoughts about the Parks you have visited, or those you’ve wanted to visit but are now unable to because of Park closures.

 

To learn more about the Arizona State Parks system (including the current budget changes/cuts that resulted in Park closures):