Arizona State Parks Board

The Arizona State Parks Board manages 30 state parks located throughout the State. The State Parks system faces risks to its financial sustainability, and experienced a decrease in annual revenues from approximately $54.7 million in fiscal year 2008 to approximately $25.7 million in fiscal year 2012 due to the State’s budget difficulties. Additional risks to the system include low and declining park visitation and park receipts that are insufficient to cover park and board operating expenditures. Recognizing that closing parks may have a negative impact, the Board has kept parks open by partnering with various governments and organizations, reducing some operating costs, and promoting visits to parks. The Board should continue these efforts as well as improve upon them, such as by creating a new marketing plan and improving its methods to track visitation. In addition, the Board needs to develop a new strategic plan to address financial sustainability.