Arizona Citizens Pitching in to Keep State Parks Open
By Rocky Thompson on March 30th, 2010
The Arizona legislature has slashed funding for state parks by 80% since 2007. The state’s already closed five parks, and several more are waiting to run out of money and be shut down. But some Arizona desert lovers are coming up with cash to keep them open. One former Texan rolled into a parks meeting and wrote a check for $8000, just enough to keep the Lost Dutchman State Park open for another month. The hope is that private donations can keep the park rolling until the state finds its feet again.
Sounds like a good idea on the surface, right? Bunch of rich people pitching in to keep the parks going for all us little people. But what happens when one of those rich people who’s donated lots of money asks to host a Hall and Oates reunion concert at Lost Dutchman State Park? Then they start charging admission and making loads of money. Listen to me Arizona, taking big, private cash is a slippery slope that ends with yacht rock concerts. Be careful.
via Wend
I’m all for parks and conservation but I’m not 100% in support of unhelpful park staff. Seems like a nice job but I’m sure they deal with a fair amount of grief and ignorance. I’m not saying these people should lose their jobs, but my question in what happens to the park when they close? Is it just public land that is not maintained or unimproved upon? Is it legal to still venture into these parts? If yes is the answer to both of these questions then from a backpacker perspective it might not hurt to return a bit of park land back to wilderness. Though it would break my heart to see developers allowed access to the park land or for private groups to gain ownership and restrict public access to it.