State parks reopen, just in time for Fourth

PHOENIX - Arizona's state parks reopened Wednesday after lawmakers passed a budget and state employees were authorized to report to work.

All of the state parks except two were closed Tuesday afternoon as a budget stalemate continued at the Capitol, and parks officials worried that they could not plan for, or accommodate, crowds over the Fourth of July weekend.

The Parks Department said Wednesday morning that, since a government shutdown had been averted, "All the park rangers will take down closed park signs at the gates to the state parks, and the public is welcome to come and enjoy the great outdoors."

Renee Bahl, executive director of the Parks Board, said, "Nobody is happier than we are to welcome guests back into the parks and to get ready for our biggest week of the year, the Fourth of July holidays. "During this difficult economic time it is critical that we continue to offer park opportunities for our residents and visitors."

Bahl added, "These rural communities rely on tourism to keep their restaurants, gas and retail businesses vibrant. Since the 30 state parks generate $266 million in economic impact for the rural communities, the parks now are one of the last big revenue generators for outlying businesses which then contribute to the state budget."

Two state parks -- Fool's Hollow Lake in Show Low and Windsor Beach at Lake Havasu City -- had remained open under city management.

On the Net:

• www.AZStateParks.com

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Arizona's state parks will be closing starting Wednesday because of the state's budget crisis.

Renee Bahl, the executive director of the Arizona State Park's board, says they are informing campers that the parks are closing.

"Without knowing what the budget is, and without having any operating authority to go into July 1, we have been telling campers they need to leave the park as we will be closing at midnight," Bahl told KTAR.

Bahl did say however that Fool's Hollow Lake in Show Low and Windsor Beach at Lake Havasu will remain open because those two parks are being handled by the cities.

For more information on the state park closures visit azstateparks.com.