KGUN 9 On Your Side, Tucson News, Weather & SportsOracle State Park To Close
Member Center:
By Reporter Linda Garrett
Oracle - Big cuts to Arizona state parks. Workers are losing their jobs and one southern Arizona park is even being shut down.
Arizona state parks face a $1.5 million budget shortfall. In order to close it the parks' board just voted to eliminate 25 to 30 jobs.
In addition, several parks will cut hours and the days they're open, including Oracle State Park North of Tucson.
"It's a wonderful resource for the community," said Karen Guss.
Guss spends her Saturday afternoons at the Acadia Ranch Museum educating families about the history of the desert southwest. The museum is one of the first stops along the scenic route to the state park and attracts hundreds of visitors each year.
"Do you think the closure will affect business here?" asked KGUN 9 news reporter Linda Garrett.
"Oh sure," answered Guss. "Since the park opened in 1985, we've seen an increase in visitors stopping by on their way up to the park or on their way back."
The park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, draws people from as far away as Germany and France. Visitors of all ages come to see it's 4,000 acre wildlife refuge, sweeping views of the Catalina Mountains and San Pedro River Valley and it's Environmental Education Center. A center that serves as a living lab for students interested in the desert habitat and the interrelationships between plants, animals and people.
"It really is a paradise for naturalists and people who want to get connected with nature," said Susan Woodroof.
It's also the only state park in Arizona scheduled to close in an effort to trim more than a million dollars from the state budget.
Woodruff owns the Cherry Valley Ranch Bed and Breakfast across the street from the park. In exchange for sending guests to the park, Woodruff takes in lecturers and authors who give presentations there free of charge. She's sad to see such an important resource go.
"That's a crime. The biosphere is happening, but the state park isn't? That's a question," she said.
"I think it's a difficult decision to make, but if the state really looked at it closely I think they could figure it out," added Guss.
The last day the park will be open to the public is September 30th, however it will be open for special events throughout the year, including one on October 3rd. That's when the park will celebrate the 10th annual Fiesta de las Calabazas. For more information on the festival log onto http://azstateparks.com.
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
