COTTONWOOD - While Camp Verde, Sedona, Apache Junction, Flagstaff, Jerome and others are rallying around their local state parks as important contributors to local economies, there may be a plan in the Governor's Office to operate the parks with or without existing staff.
Gov. Jan Brewer, speaking to the Mingus Mountain Republican Club in Cottonwood Feb. 9, made reference to the State Park closure threat at the urging of an audience member who wanted to know how the parks could be kept open.
Brewer responded: "I've just come from my public policy meeting and we are working in that direction. I've got my land department working on it. We are trying to deal with the federal government in regards to some of the parks. There is a plan that we might be able to privatize them and get concessionaires in to operate them.
"You guys are probably getting news that we want to announce in two weeks. It's on the drawing board, for the press," she said.
What that means is not exactly clear, but Ellen Bilbrey, spokeswoman for Arizona State Parks, says a number of proposals have already been received from concessionaires from around the country. She has not heard they are being actively considered.
Bilbrey had not heard of negotiations but believed that any company that would want such a contract would want "low-hanging fruit," active recreational parks, such as Slide Rock, Dead Horse Ranch or Lake Havasu State Park, which draw hundreds of thousands of visitors. They may not be as interested in historical parks such as Fort Verde, Jerome, or Riordan Mansion.
However, Recreation Resource Management, one concessionaire that operates National Forest concessions and already offers store and marina concessions at Slide Rock and Patagonia Lake, has offered to keep open six parks of 13 on the current closure list. These are Alamo Lake, Roper Lake, Tonto Natural Bridge, Lost Dutchman, Picacho Peak and Red Rock (park but not the environmental center).
Another source points to a reported offer by one concessionaire that thought Jerome State Park would make a fabulous "bed and breakfast."
Bilbrey worries whether a concessionaire can provide the "quality" visitors expect in a state park.
Last Monday, a Senate committee recommended passage of SB 1349, sponsored by Barbara Leff. Originally this bill was a request for information on the "feasibility of operating state parks with private vendors."
However, a strike-through amendment by Sylvia Allen calls for "An emergency measure that enables the Arizona State Park Board to enter into contracts with public and private entities for the operation and maintenance of state parks, without performing statutory procurement requirements."
That bill is expected to speed agreements for local governments like Camp Verde and Yavapai County to assist with the cost of operations of Fort Verde, but it also leaves open the opportunity for private operators.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Article comment by:
bob stackhouse
Everything that you ever wanted to know about park privatization here.
http://parkprivatization.com/
Posted: Monday, February 22, 2010
Article comment by:
People's Land?
Perhaps this is what we can expect once government is 'small enough to be strangled in a bath-tub" the privatization of public assets. It is not hard to imagine "quality" parks that only the rich can afford to experience. For a local model, look no further than the 10-year waiting list to privately raft the Grand Canyon and the very short wait for those willing to pay $2000. The fact is that most of our cherished state parks are quite self-sustaining, but for the bloated crony aristocracy in Phoenix that provides negligible added value yet siphons off the resources. Now that we are bled dry - time to sell off the carcass!
Posted: Monday, February 22, 2010
Article comment by:
Jane Moore
I've known for a long time that it would eventually come to this. I think in most instances it is a terrible idea. "Bilbrey worries whether a concessionaire can provide the "quality" visitors expect in a state park." This quote says a lot, especially where history and cultural identity is so important. It is going to be very tricky to negotiate a plan that works, but I hope the state realizes just how important the "quality" of the experience is to visitors in our state.
Posted: Monday, February 22, 2010
Article comment by:
Debbie Cahorshak
I would like a little more clarification as to what is meant by privatizing the parks. Who owns them after they are privatized? Will the general public still be able to visit without booking a room?
