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TONTO BRIDGE NEWS Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Arizona's Rural Communities Rescue State Parks from Closures. Good News! 23 Arizona State Parks will Stay Open(Phoenix, AZ - May 19, 2010) - The Arizona State Parks Board voted today to keep five more State Parks from closing on June 3 by directing Executive Director Renee Bahl to sign unique management and financial agreements with rural communities to keep each one open. "The State Parks Board, a volunteer group of seven members, has voted in the last three months to negotiate with counties, cities and parks friends groups to fund a total of 23 State Parks to be open into the next fiscal year. The real key now is that we need every Arizonan to use their State Parks as often as possible," said Bahl. "We want the public to know that the Board and staff are focusing on keeping State Parks open because the fiscal impact and loss of jobs from closed parks would be devastating to these rural towns and we believe every Arizonan deserves a robust State Park system." According to Parks Board Chairman, Reese Woodling, "We have been successful in finding solutions to keep State Parks open, but these are only short term measures. It is a miracle that these communities have raised the funds to keep these parks open so far this year. Arizonans should be proud that so many concerned individuals have stepped forward to lead the communities to cobble together these monies." "Unfortunately we have lost $10 million dollars from the Heritage Fund to support State, County and City parks and our operating budget has dropped significantly. In two years, the total amount of sweeps and diversions from twelve fund sources that benefit Arizona conservation projects has been $71 million." Here are some of the highlights of the community efforts: Bashas' Family of Stores (130) raised $20,000, Dasani Water raised $5,000 for recycling programs, Apache Junction businesses raised $26,000 (Lost Dutchman), Tubac Historical Society raised $35,000 (Tubac Presidio), Friends of Tonto raised $8,000 (Tonto Nat. Bridge), Wickenburg/Salome raised $30,000 (Alamo), Riordan Action Alliance raised $40,000 (Riordan Mansion), the City of Eloy has raised $20,000 (Picacho Peak), Benefactors of Red Rock State Park have raised $60,000, Friends of Oracle State Park have raised $50,000 and Yuma raised $70,000 (Territorial Prison). The Arizona Game and Fish Department helped Graham County rescue Roper Lake State Park and Apache County will keep Lyman Lake open this summer. Arizona Highways Magazine has already sold more than 100 magazine subscriptions to support State Parks and the increased tourism these subscriptions will generate will help increase park revenues. Please call ahead to find out the latest information about the State Parks by calling (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.
At the State Parks Board today, the Parks Board voted yes to enter into an agreement with the Town of Payson to keep the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park open until Sept. 27th, 2010. The cost will be $25,000. The Town has already pledged $17,000, and the Friends of the Tonto Natural Bridge SP are committed to raising the rest of the needed money. If you have not already, please consider becoming a member of the Friends, it’s a 501 c 3 (deductible) and none of the monies can be “swept” by the State Legislature. We have applications at the Chamber or call me and I will get you one. A membership starts at $15.00. Thank you, John Stanton
PARK ADMISSION FEES Effective March 1, 2010 the admission fees to TNBSP will change to : Ages 0-6: Free Ages 7-13: $2.00 Ages 14 & over: $5.00 These fees will remain in effect until further noticed. This fee increase has been necessitated by the reduction in the budget the legislature has allocated to ASP to run the parks. There will always be people who are dissatisfied with the park entry fees, but it is real simple: when the legislature reduced the budgets as much as they did – the operating monies have to come from somewhere else. ASP does not receive moneis from tax revenues to operate the parks. All the revenues are received from gate fees, lottery funds (the Heritage Fund), State Lake Improvement Funds and other assorted funds and contributions. You can also indicate that there will likely be a ballot issue in November for the auto license registration/”park access fee” that would open all the closed ADOT rest areas and give free ASP day use admission to all AZ licensed vehicles – most likely $12.00. It is also our understanding that – if approved by voters – it would be “unsweepable” by the legislature. It is hoped that this information will assist you in answering questions received from the visitors. VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP SHEET There is a monthly sign-up sheet on the table next to volunteer sign-in book to schedule your days & times that you plan to work. It is extremely helpful to know who is coming in any given day. It assists our planning of locations and assignments for volunteers and/or rangers. We therefore request that you fill in the days & hours that you plan to work on that schedule to the greatest extent possible. Thanks for your help with this.
The Tonto Bridge News is produced by the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, P.O. Box 1245, Payson, AZ. 85547 – Ph 928-476-2261 Tracy Hanley, Park Manager Steve Soroka, Asst Park Manager Brandon Baeuerlan, Maint. Ranger Courtney, Rogers, Program Vol. Coordinator LarryClites, Park Ranger II Pat Roth, Volunteer Office Coordinator 
psaznews file photo Tonto Natural Bridge website
I made a last walk through the Tonto Natural Bridge grounds yesterday before the 4pm closing. It would be nice if it could stay open during repairs.
Photo by Alan Holmquist
Photo by Alan Holmquist
Reader comments: We took our family at this park last November. It was a highlight of their trip and Doug and I would definitely want to see this remain open. Prior to last November, we took another member of our family who loved it. I'm not sure what specifically is needed from each of us, but please contact Doug and I and we'll see what we can do. Thanks so much for keeping us in the loop.
Judy
2-24-09
Anna Mae Deming, an Arizona Pioneer Daughter, grew up at the Tonto Natural Bridge; was married there and loved this place so dearly. My husband, Bill, has been a volunteer ambassador at the Bridge, giving talks to groups of adults and children, for six or seven years working every Sunday and has earned over 1500 hours during that time. He and the other dedicated volunteers are saddened by the news of the Bridge closing. Everyone in Rim Country should be too! Every week Bill comes home to tell me about the numbers of families who visit and picnic; the young couples who hike the trails; the visitors from all over the world who are amazed by the beauty and serenity found there. There is no place like it in the world! And it’s right here in our back yard!
We need YOUR help, YOUR voice, and YOUR reaction to the sad news about our Bridge! This closing will impact EVERYONE in Rim Country! The merchants and other business owners MUST read and take action on the attached article printed in Friday’s Payson Roundup. We need calls to Arizona State Parks, (602) 542-4174, 1300 W Washington Street, Phoenix 85007 . It is imperative that the merchants, town council, and others circulate, collect and deliver petitions stating our position against this closing to Arizona State Parks (please see my attachment at the bottom of this email).
John Stanton, Manager, Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce, www.rimcountrychamber.com <http://www.rimcountrychamber.com/>, was featured on KMOG this morning and his and the Chamber’s position are clear. We NEED this beautiful park (when was the last time YOU were there?) and we NEED your help TODAY to stop this closing. Please think about how you can help and what action you are prepared to take and please start helping today.
In closing, the last time our Bridge was in danger of closing, the “board” who made this decision visited the Bridge and the outpouring was incredible; it was standing room only at the Lodge and the “board” was impressed and impacted by the enthusiasm and interest of all who were there. In fact, some of the current very involved volunteers came from that meeting. It worked then; with everyone’s help, it can work again!
Can we count on YOU to help! I hope so!
Janice K Armbruster Top of Page
Read the article in the Payson Roundup. and also the editorial and news article. Feb 2009
What follows is a series of communications between John Stanton and Arizona State officials: Subject: Potential Closure of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Dear State Parks Board:
I am the manager of the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce. Our Chamber represents over 390 organizations in Rim Country. As that representative, we object to the closure of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. This park represents the major tourist attraction in Northern Gila County, as shown by the 87,000 visitors in 2007, and provides a major source of income (from visitors to Rim Country) to support our communities of the Town of Payson, the Town of Star Valley, Pine, Strawberry and Christopher Creek. The figures in your 2007 Economic Impact report show that impact as $3,621,346. The loss of income to our communities from the closing of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park would be devastating. Our end of Gila County does not have natural resources, such as copper to provide income for residents of our area. We rely on tourism to survive. Without our biggest asset to draw tourists to Rim Country, many of our businesses would go out of business. In a very hard hit local financial environment (due to past fears of fires and water capabilities), we are faced with the economic impact of current state and national economic hardships as well. The additional loss of the Park would serve to “break the camel’s back”, and potentially destroy one or more of our communities.
I am available, on your timetable, to discuss these ramifications and both the short term and long term effects of the closing of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.
John Stanton Chamber Manager Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce
Subject: Tonto Natural Bridge
John, We met at the recent Parks Board meeting and I wanted to make a connection with you regarding Tonto Natural Bridge and its closure dates. I also know you contacted the Parks Board Chair and asked when and why questions regarding the park. So I will tell you what I know and we can work on your questions as they arise. 1. Tonto and Jerome will both close on February 26 at 5pm. 2. Staff will be around a few days to make ready as best they can for the closure and construction. 3. All but one staff member will be temporarily reassigned to another park during the closure time. 4. The Tonto Project will bid on March 31, the Jerome Project is more complicated and may take 2 months or more. 5. Upon completion of the stabilization, the park will be evaluated by the Parks Board for reopening. The big question is "Do we need to close Tonto Bridge during the stabilization of the lodge?" The short answer is yes, to explain, many of our parks are short of staff including Tonto, it is in the best interest of the agency to keep as many parks as possible 100% open as we rely on or fees. Using the staff from Tonto we can keep Slide Rock and Lost Dutchman from closing due to lack of available staff. Keeping other parks fully open is our plan. Hopefully the stabilization will be quick and we can return the park full operation as soon as possible.
Assistant Director, Parks Division www.azstateparks.com Response by John Stanton Jay, I appreciate your sending this information. When I talked to Ken Travous, it appeared that the closure would be immediate, so that the repairs would be immediate. With this time frame, it appears that the Park will not open prior to the Board’s visit in July. Also, it is my understanding that there is a debt service due monthly on the Park property- would it not be best to re-open as soon as possible to cover those costs? As we discussed, the impact of this closing on the economy of the Rim Country communities will be devastating. As you will also appreciate, I will do everything in my power to re-open the Park on as timely a basis as possible. In that vein, I wonder about the March 31 date- can it be moved up? Who do we direct our local roofing companies to to bid for the job? As to any other aspects of the closure, we would like to discuss alternatives and optional involvement for staffing or working with you on getting the job done, so a reopening can be achieved. Again, thank you for your candor, I hope to see you at more Board meetings
John Stanton Chamber Manager Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce Top of Page
2-24-2009
Jan Brewer, Governor Sylvia Allen, State Senator Jack K. Brown, State Representative Bill Konopnicki, State Represenative
RE: Closure of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
The closure of Tonto Natural Bridge either on a temporary or semi-permanent basis would be an economic disaster for the Rim Country communities you represent of Payson, Pine, Strawberry and Star Valley.
Tourism is the Rim Country’s economic engine and the loss of the nearly100,000 visitors which spend some $3.6 million in our communities would create an even greater economic hardship that already exists in this area.
The operation of Tonto Natural Bridge State park costs the state little or nothing. A presentation to the Arizona State Parks Board on Feb. 20 by its own staff members said the park was self-supporting and the cost to the state was zero. So why close the park? Not only do fees charged cover the cost of operations, they provide money to make payments on the loan through which the state bought the park.
The Arizona State Parks Board says it decided to close the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, on a “temporary” basis, for repairs. Close the entire park to repair a leaking roof is ridiculous. Also, it has come to our attention that this “temporary” closure may be permanent or for such a period that it will drastically affect the economy of our five communities. Please see attached e-mail from Mr. Jay Ream, assistant director, Parks Division. In response to our concerns, the state parks board has urged all potential closed park communities to go to you, our legislators, and ask that HB 2088 be passed quickly to allow for the funding of the 11 potentially closing state parks. So it would seem, our communities are being held ransom for political reasons. We know the state has budget problems, but don’t allow those problems to adversely affect the economic well-being of our communities. Don’t take away one of our most important assets.
The Rim Country Regional Chamber Board and its 390 members are deeply concerned about the closure of Tonto Bridge, even on a temporary basis. Our economy has been blasted by water and fire problems, and now housing. These problems, combined with the current economic downturn, if combined with the closure of the major tourist attraction in Rim Country would potentially destroy one or more of our rural communities.
In order to further understand the ramifications of these closures, the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce requests an immediate “Town Hall Meeting” with all of you as we consider this an emergency situation. We know you are busy at the legislature, but the closing of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park could cost Rim Country communities dearly and the community needs to have a meeting with you on this matter within the next two weeks. This meeting needs to be open to all concerned citizens, and would serve to assist our community in supporting our greatest natural attraction and a major economic engine of our area.
Please understand that the loss of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park will significantly impact businesses, business taxes and our existence in Rim Country. I ask that you respond in a timely manner, in order that adequate meeting space may be acquired.
Thank you for your time and your assistance. We look forward to your response.
John Stanton Chamber Manager Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce .
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