The Chiricahua National Park Act has passed Congress and is making its way to President Donald Trump’s desk for a final signature that could designate the national monument as Arizona’s fourth national park.
“This evening, Mayor (Greg) Hancock received a call from Senator Mark Kelly sharing the exciting news that the legislation had passed the Senate,“ the City of Willcox said Wednesday night on social media.
If the president signs the act, Chiricahua — long known as the “Wonderland of Rocks” since its 1924 proclamation — would join Arizona's other national parks: the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro. It would also become the 64th national park in the United States.
The House passed the Chiricahua National Park Act in March, a bipartisan move that reflected years of effort: previous versions of similar legislation have been introduced dating back to 2016, and a Senate committee-approved version was reported in a prior Congress.
Supporters have framed the measure as both a conservation victory and an economic opportunity for rural southeastern Arizona. However, it is also raising questions about what national park status could mean for a place many describe as peaceful and uncrowded.
