C Introduction It has been over 40 years since Arizona State Parks was established. In that time, the agency has seen many changes more visitors, altered expectations and recreation styles, and modifications in the equipment visitors use to recreate, to name a few. However, the upkeep on the buildings, facilities and exhibits has not kept pace. More often than not, time and overuse have deteriorated parks' infrastructure, resulting in an inability to provide a quality visitor expelience.
How can our state parks be expected to serve more visitors eve1y year with outdated facilities and obsolete equipment? How can our state parks be expected to be a base of economic support for local communities ifvisitors are no longer attracted to our services or what we have to offer? This document outlines Arizona State Parks' current situation in terms of visitation, facilities, and capital needs, and offers solutions to these problems.
Picacho Peak State Park Page 1 The Situation Who We Are and Who We Affect Background Arizona became the last ofthe 48 contiguous states to have a state park system when Governor McFarland signed the bill establishing the State Parks board in 1957. Currently, through our 30 park sites (totaling approximately 60,000 acres) and four partnership programs, we are reaching out to people across the state and affecting how residents ofA1izona work and play, in tum affecting how they view their quality of life. At Arizona State Parks, our mission is to manage and conserve A1izona's natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our parks and through our partners. More than ever, Aiizona State Parks is being discussed in local, national, and international tomism news. The opening of a world-class park and cavern system in southern Arizona, and the recent purchase of an historic ranch introduced Arizona State Parks to agencies and organizations worldwide.
There are three types of state parks in Arizona: conservation, historic, and recreation. Because of different planned park experiences and different clientele, our !state parks run the gamut in needs - equipment needs, facility needs, personnel needs, and visitor needs. With a staff of over 300, we are stiiving to meet these needs with often outdated equipment and facilities. During the past ten years, visitation haJ risen 32% and that trend is expected continue in coming years. Therefore, in order to meet our objectives, and to continue to meet the expectations of our customers, it is imperative that Aiizona State Parks has an appropriate level of funding.
Arizona State Parks Organizational Chart
GOVERNOR
ARIZONA STATE PARKS BOARD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EXTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNERSHIPS PARKS AFFAIRS SERVICES DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION DIVISON Page 2 Programs and Services In 2001, Alizona State Parks vvill provide programs and services throughout the state to nearly 2.4 million people. These services range from boat launching facilities to trail hil(es, and from museum facilities to campgrounds. Based on visitation projections, the number of visitors is expected to increase by over GS,000 people per year in the next few years. While a majority of state parks visitors (51.5%) are not A1izona residents, these visitors have a definite economic impact to the area. On average, through the purchase of services, a party of two at a state park will spend $380 on their trip, affecting the local and rnral economies within a SO-mile radius of the parks. Arizona State Parks is proud to deliver its services to the public in a veiy efficient manne1: Since 1992, while visitation has increased at our parks by 30%, we have generated 258% more revenue. The application of sound business principals has reduced the agency's net operating cost per visitor nearly 90%, to just twelve cents per visitor in fiscal year 2000. After operating Kartchner Caverns State Park® for a full fiscal year in 2001, we anticipate this cost to drop to just three cents.
Arizona State Parks Net Operating Cost Per Vistor FY 1992 - FY 2003
§ e0 so.so 1------~,-L-1.------1 <... ~"' $0.60 ,------=--=:;.====7 .,c_ ___-t ______---j
FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY0 I FY02 FY03 I Note: FYO l-FY03 are projected I I
Arizona State Parks Partnerships Division 11 In addition to our park sites, our Paitnerships Division enables communities throughout Ai·izona to provide recreational opportunities, maintain historic resources and conserve open spaces. In fiscal year 2000, neai·ly $17 million in competitive grants was distributed from the Heritage Fund, the State Lake Improvement Fund, the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Fund, and the Land Conservation Fund. These grants funded projects for park and recreational facility developments, lake access and development, improved trail access, historic resource stabilization and rehabilitation, and open space land acquisition. The Pa1tnerships Division also provides invaluable expe1tise. Our Off-Highway Vehicle and Trails staff are recognized statevvide as expe1ts, and the State Historic Presenration Office provides assistance to Arizona residents on a variety of cultural issues, including National Register listings and archaeological sites. Page3 Travel and Growth Trends - What Affects Us Aiizona State Parks visitation reached approximately 2.4 million people in 1999, an increase of 33% from the beginning of the decade. In-state and out-of-state visitation is almost equally split 1,1,rith approximately 51.5% out-of-state visitors and 48 .5% in state visitors, while G.5% are international ,risitors. Many factors can influence state parks visitation, among them are: the economic situation across the United States, international economic, social and political situations, state population changes, weather, and lifestyle.
Across the count1y, more Americans are taking vacations, resulting in a travel increase of 36%. This is partly due to a thriving economy and to people gaining more disposable income. In 1998, approximately 2G.9 million visitors came to Arizona, having an economic impact of$12.3 billion statewide. According to the A1izona Office of Tomism, the top six acti,rities visitors want to do in Aiizona is sightsee, visit national and state parks, visit historic sites, hike and bike, go camping, and visit museums.
Arizona State Parks Visitation
2,500,000
2,000,000
I'.; -~ ;; 1,500,000 '- ...0 500,000 0 FY90 FY92 FY94 FY96 FY98 FYOO Fiscal Year Note: FYOI is projected Economic Impact of Tourism in Arizona $14 $12 SID 'vi " s $8 e I'.; ::, $6 "0 Q $4 $2 so 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Year Page4 Internationally, Arizona is recognized as a major destination and Arizona State Parks has its share of international visitors. Visitors come primarily from Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Recent changes in Canada's and other countries' economic situation can make international travel more difficult or unappealing for its citizens. For instance, a country could experience changes in its health care requirements or experience slow economic growth. These types of factors can have a negative impact on state parks' visitation. Alizona's population increased approximately 25% in the 1990s, reaching 4.G million people. As the third fastest growing state in the United States, that number is expected to grow. As more people come to Arizona to live, more demand is placed on our natural resources and managing agencies. This is why approp1iate facilities and funding become even more essential to Alizona State Parks. Weather can play an impo1tant role in our state parks visitation, especially in our recreation-based parks. During the El Nino season of March 1998, Picacho Peak State Park experienced a visitation increase of over 500% dilling the spring wildflower season. Weather is not something we can control, but it is something we must be prepared for in the way of maintenance and facilities. The changing demographics of the American population continues to affect travel and trends. The Baby Boomer generation is expected to have a positive influence on RV usage in the near future. RVs have a significant operation and economic impact in our state parks with camping fees and multiple night visitations. Family travel is increasing as well, with more and more families taking vacations togethe1~ All these trends are apparent in the increasing visitation we have seen in our parks and the heightened interest in our recreational and cultural resources grant programs. I I PageS The Problem-Outdated Facilities ~ Needed Improvements The effects of overuse can now be seen on many of the facilities at Arizona State Parks. Data from our Visitor Survey indicates state park visitors require more facilities, such as shaded picnic areas, trails and trailheads, nature centers, shower facilities, and RV/trailer hook-ups. In addition, the displays and exhibits in om historic parks are badly in need of comprehensive planning and updating. -~ The Arizona legislature recently asked us to estimate what capital needs our agency faces, now that Kartchner Caverns State Park® is nea1ing completion. The Aiizona State Parks Capital Needs Continued Development (2000), was drafted to compare the extant facilities at each individual park, with those envisioned by the park's adopted Master Plan. The total cost for these projects totals $141,399,075. Selected improvements are detailed below. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, located in Flagstaff and built in 1904, is listed on the National Register ofHistmic Places and in need of major intelior restoration in its west wing. Currently, visitors are given guided tours to only half ofthe Mansion. Opening the other wing of the Mansion would allow visitors the opportunity to see original tapestries and decorations charactelistic of the Arts and Crafts Period, and allow the park to accommodate more visitors and events at this popular landmark. Red Rock State Park, located in the tomist mecca of Sedona, has on its property the House ofApache Fire, built in 1950. Massive improvements are needed to this popular park backdrop in order to make it accessible to visitors. CmTently, visitors are only allowed to hike up to the fence that surrounds the house, as conditions inside the stlucture prohibit regular tours. Possible uses of the house include guided tours, corporate retreats, and classrooms. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park Page6 Dead Horse Ranch State Park, the only state park in the Verde Valley to offer camping facilities, often fills up early with campers during the parks busy season. Of the park's two campgrounds, only one has full services, and this is the one that fills up first. If this campground fills up, newly arriving campers have the choice to either camp in the Nmth Campground where there are no restrooms or utilities, or leave the state park and camp elsewhere. New services in the nmth campground would allow more camping and increase the park's visitation. Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, located just outside of Payson, is popular for its natural trave1tine bridge, scenic beauty, hiking trails, and picnic areas. The historic Goodfellow Lodge built during the 1920's, is open to the public for limited tours and houses a gift shop on the first £1001: Many visitors have expressed interest in renting the lodge for overnight stays, weddings, and family functions. There are several factors prohibiting the use of the lodge for overnight stays, the first being lack of an adequate sewer system. Slide Rock State Park, located just north of Sedona along scenic Oal<. Creek, is in need of additional facilities to better serve its visitors, including a waste water treatment plant, new restrooms, and a visitor cente1: The waste water treatment facility and additional restrooms are needed because the current facilities must be closed during high visitor use days. A Visitor Center with exhibits would provide a focal point for visitors coming into the park, aid in park interpretation, and help alleviate current fee collection issues. Page7 Lyman Lake State Park, located benveen St. Johns and Springerville, in Northeastern Arizona, is one of the few lakes in the state that doesn't have a boat size limit. The park accommodates a waterski course, drawing in thousands of visitors during the summer months. With the park being so busy, especially during the hot summer months, many visitors have expressed an interest in ramadas. Catalina State Park, located at the base of the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, is in need of services such as a restroom shower building, campground hook-ups, and other camping site improvements. The park is well known to local residents and travelers alike, as the park is often a starting point for hikers into the Santa Catalina Mountains. It is also a popular place for equestrian use as it comprises a spacious equestrian facility and trails. Visitors enjoy birding during the spring and winter months, and the campground is regularly filled to capacity during that time. Roper Lalce State Park in Safford is a popular place for local residents. The regularly stocked lake b1ings in many day-use visitors. A new contact station would enhance visitor experience by conveying more information about the park and its amenities. Sanitary renovations and site improvements are also needed. Patagonia Lake State Park is often filled to capacity during the vvinter months with people enjoying camping, fishing, and birding at the park. The park is in need of restroom/shower b~ildings, utility extensions, docks, and fishing piers for its visitors. Picacho Peale State Park, located just off I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson, regularly fills its campgrounds during the winter months and during popular events, like the annual Civil War Re-enactment The park is in desperate need of nvo restroom/ shower buildings and utilities at their new campgrounds to accommodate visitors. Slide Rock State Park l Pages Arizona State Parks Enhancement Fund and General Fund Revenues $9,000,000 ■ General Fund $8,000,000 ■ Enhancement Fund $7 ,000,000 $6,000,000 .."' $5,000,000 ,:,: ~ Q $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 % of General Fund Appropriated for Arizona State Parks 1.0% ~------~ ASP Appropriated Less Than 1 % of 0.8% +------! the General Fund in FY 1990-2001 0.6% -+------< 0.4% +------l 0.2% 1 - ---_;==.~- ..,-...- _-_-_-,.-_-_-_-...,-r------1-t------.-_-_-_--t-..- _-_-_-_;t----_-_-.,-_-_-_--t----_-J 1 0.0% -+--~~-~--~--~-~--~--~--~-~--~--~---! FY90 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99 FYOO FYOl Note: Does not include $20 million Growing Smarter appropriation in FY 2001. The Solution - Investing in our Future Dming the past five years, the focus of our development eff01ts has had to be at Kartchner Caverns State Park®. Now that the park has been successfully opened to the public, we must address the selious backlog of development projects at our other parks. If om· current statutory fw1ding stream is left intact, we believe we have the resources to tackle these complex and costly development issues. As the visitation at our parks continues to swell, fees will continue to accumulate in the Enhancement Fund CARS 41-511), one-half of which goes to capital pn;::ijects at Arizona State Parks. That, coupled with other sources of development monies from the State Lake Improvement Fund, the A1izona Department of Transportation's park roads program, and the Alizona Helitage Fund, should enable Arizona State Parks to address all of these capital needs during the next twelve years. In order for that dream to be realized, State Parks needs to be able to depend upon a consistent level of support from the Gene1·al Fund, approximately $7million, to maintain the operations of the agency. Arizona State Parks Projected Improvements PARK ESTIMATED COST ALAMO ...... $5,676,000 BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM ...... 4,962,500 BUCKSKIN MOUNTAIN - RIVER ISLAND ...... 2,515,000 BUCKSKIN MOUNTAIN ...... 4,590,000 CATALINA ...... 2,295,000 CATTAIL COVE ...... 360,000 DEAD HORSE RANCH ...... 5,745,000 FOOL HOLLOW LAI Executive Summary Sources Arizona State Parks 1300 \YI. Washington • Arizona State Parks Visitors Survey, 1995-1996 Phoenix, AZ 85007 • Alizona State Parks Carrying Capacity Study Tel &j-' TTY 602.542.4174 • Operating Budget Recommendations, Fiscal Years 2001-2003 800.285.3703 from (520) • The Arizona State Parks Capital Needs Continued Development (2000) www.pr.state.az.us