State Parks Board Awarded $9.7 Million

On Sept. 21st, 2006, the Arizona State Parks Board awarded $9.7 million in grants to local communities from the Arizona Heritage Fund, the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the State Lake Improvement (SLIF), & the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).

The Heritage Fund, created in Nov. 1990 by voter initiative, provides up to $10 million annually to Az State Parks from Az Lottery proceeds. 17% of the State Parks Heritage Fund revenues are available annually (up to $1.7 million) through the Historic Preservation (HP) Grant Program. 35% of the revenues (up to $3.5 million) are available through the Local, Regional & State Parks (LRSP) Grant Program, & 5% of the revenues (up to $500,000) go to the Trails Heritage Fund, of which 95% is available through the competitive grant program.

Historic Preservation (HP) Heritage Grant Fund Program
17% of the State Parks Heritage Fund revenues that are available annually (up to $1.7 million) are to support historic preservation efforts. The State Parks Board approved a total of $884,533 to the following 12 Historic Preservation Heritage Fund FY 2006 1st cycle grant applicants.

- St. David Unified School District #21 was awarded $150,000 for the rehabilitation of the 1938 St. David School Building Phase II.
- Tucson Museum of Art was awarded $51,612 for preservation & stabilization of La Casa Cordova Building.
- Prescott College was awarded $135,300 for rehabilitation of the Samuel Hill Warehouse Building.
- City of Chandler was awarded $20,000 for renovation & rehabilitation of the McCullough-Price House to be used as a Heritage & Visitor Center.
- City of Glendale was awarded $10,500 for the completion of a new building condition assessment of all the structures on the Historic Sahuaro Ranch.
- Florence Preservation Foundation was awarded $148,684 for the rehabilitation of the J.D. Denier House/White Building.
- The Archaeological Conservancy was awarded $46,284 for the acquisition & preservation of 60 acres in Navajo Co. containing the Broken K Pueblo, a large, highly significant 12th & 13th century site considered ancestral to the Hopi Tribe & Zuni Pueblo.
- The Old Adobe Mission Restoration Commission in Scottsdale was awarded $91,040 for Phase II of the Old Adobe Mission Restoration.
- St. Luke's in the Desert, Inc. was awarded $40,350 for Phase II of the St. Francis Chapel rehabilitation.
- Wickenburg Historical Preservation Society was awarded $28,481 for the restoration of the Wickenburg-Boetto property.
- City of Tucson was awarded $31,020 for ADA improvements to the Temple of Music & Art.
- Benson Historic Preservation Commission was awarded $131,262 for the acquisition & restoration work for properties within the Benson Historic Railroad District.

Local, Regional and State, Parks (LRSP) Heritage Grant Fund Program & Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
The State Parks Board approved a total of $3,912,099 to 7 applicants for the FY 2006 LRSP Heritage Fund & LWCF grants to support outdoor recreation projects such as ball fields, picnic areas, & playgrounds. (This amount represents the 35% available Heritage Fund revenue allocated to the LRSP Grant Fund Program, plus carryover funds from the prior year). In addition, eligible grant projects that are not funded through the LRSP Grant program due to lack of Heritage Funds, are funded with LWCF grant money up to the amount of available revenue from the LWCF.

- The City of Page was awarded $775,685 for a Baseball/Soccer Fields Complex.
- The City of Maricopa was awarded $775,000 for the construction of Pacana Park.
- The Town of Eagar was awarded $359,408 for the Ramsey Park Renovation & Development. (The only park in Eagar.)
- The Town of Chino Valley was awarded $575,125 for the continued development of the Community Center Park (Phase III). Phases I & II were also funded with LRSP grant funds. - Coconino County was awarded $782,420 for the development of a community park in Tuba City. This will be the 1st & only park in Tuba City.
- Bullhead City was awarded $505,955 to add Soccer Field Lighting at Rotary Park. Previous LRSP grant funding assisted in the development of Rotary Park.
- Pinetop-Lakeside was awarded $138,506 to add lighting to newly constructed multi-use play fields which will serve the residents & visitors of Pinetop-Lakeside, Wagon Wheel, Show-Low & the White Mountain Apache Tribal communities.

Trails Heritage Grant Fund
The State Parks Board approved $579,315 to 8 FY 2006 Trails Heritage Fund grant projects to support acquisition & trail improvements for Arizona's trail system. (This amount represents 5% of available Heritage Fund revenue allocated to the Trails Heritage Grant Fund Program, plus carryover funds from prior years).

- The BLM-Safford Field Office was awarded $24,008 for the Cottonwood Trail Development. This project involves the development of a 2-mile loop trail from the Flying W Group Area to the Watchable Wildlife area in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area.
- The BLM Safford Field Office was awarded a 2nd grant in the amount of $16,250 for the development of a trailhead & access point for the Gila Box River Trail.
- National Park Service-Saguaro National Park was awarded $120,000 for renovation of sections along the 8.3 miles of the Douglas Springs Trail.
- The City of Scottsdale was awarded $126,949 for to construct the Gateway Access Area to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
- National Park Service - Grand Canyon National Park was awarded $81,967 for the North Kaibab Trail Bridge Renovation.
- Yavapai College was awarded $61,849 for the Yavapai College Nature Trail Development.
- The BLM-Hassayampa Field Office was awarded $118,842 for the Black Canyon Trail Phase III Development.
- The White Mountain Apache Tribe was awarded $29,450 for the Ft. Apache Recreation Trails Phase II Development.

Recreational Trails Program (Motorized Portion) RTP
In addition to the Heritage Fund Grant Programs, the Board approved $568,332 to 4 applicants for the FY 2006 Recreational Trails Program (Motorized Portion) grants to support motorized trails projects such as trail development & renovation.

- The BLM-Kingman Field Office was awarded $104,500 for Music Mountain/Crozier inventory, signage & map.
- The BLM-Safford Field Office was awarded $56,500 for inventory of existing routes in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area.
- Prescott National Forest was awarded $178,486 for the Copper Canyon Trailhead Development.
- The Town of Eagar was awarded $228,846 for the Eagar/Apache-Sitgreaves NF Inventory & DVD/Maps.

State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF)
The Board also approved $3,765,750 to 12 applicants for the FY 2006 State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF) grants to assist state & local units of government to fund projects on waters where motorized boats are permitted.
- Bullhead City was awarded $1,232,000 for development of a boat launch facility in Community Park, including a restroom, parking lot & sewer improvement.
- Mohave County Sheriff's Office was awarded $360,000 to replace 3 obsolete watercraft used for law enforcement patrol.
- La Paz County Sheriff's Office was awarded $237,850 for the replacement of 3 obsolete patrol/rescue watercraft.
- Coconino County Sheriff's Office was awarded $28,496 to purchase 2 personal watercraft for patrol on county waterways including Lake Powell & the Colorado River.
- Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was awarded $47,325 for the replacement of lake patrol air boat & motor.
- La Paz County Buckskin Fire Dept was awarded $67,595 to replace an existing engine in water rescue watercraft & to remodel the Buckskin Water Rescue & Medical Aid Facility.
- Lake Havasu City was awarded $167,432 to provide for automatic data & notification for carbon monoxide levels in Bridgewater Channel.
- Town of Buckeye was awarded $560,000 for site preparation & design and engineering for the Buckeye lake Recreation Area, Phase I.
- Town of Show Low was awarded $250,000 for the renovation of a restroom & installation of a new fish cleaning station at Show Low Lake.
- Lake Havasu City was awarded $425,652 to extend water & sewer lines & construct sewer lift station to serve new proposed South/Mainland Launch Facility.
- La Paz County was awarded $124,400 for La Paz County Park Improvements.
- La Paz County was awarded $265,000 for Take-Off Point expansion.

For more grant information contact Arizona State Parks at (602) 542-4174 or (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit azstateparks.com.