Comments on: The Economic Benefits of Parks http://dirt.asla.org/2009/08/28/the-economic-benefits-of-parks/ Connecting the Built & Natural Environments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:37:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Mary Alice Daenzer http://dirt.asla.org/2009/08/28/the-economic-benefits-of-parks/#comment-558 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:23:31 +0000 http://dirt.asla.org/?p=2770#comment-558 Thank you for this timely and powerful message, regarding the economic impact of parks! In Arizona, we are two months into the new fiscal year, however, our legislature has not settled the new budget. This is devastating to Arizona State Parks – we are in “uncharted waters” while trying to make our parks sustainable and open to the public. However, in anticipation of the budget cuts, 60 of our seasonal experienced lay offs in the spring. This week, 15 rangers in the field and 15 staff members in the Phoenix office are being scheduled for a RIF. We will be left with a skeleton staff. We will be losing people who have a purpose and passion for their jobs and the parks. Parks have been closed, reduced hours, programs and services cut. In the future when their is sustainable funding, how will we get these staff members who have the parks in their hearts back?

At present, our office and staff are devastated by the cuts, small rural communities that depend on tourism to the park in their community have been economically hard hit.

Where are the priorities, regarding our great national treasures: parks, public lands, and open spaces – So important to quality of life!

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