Oracle State Park 鈥 currently open only for day use 鈥 could get a $4 million makeover aimed at making it an overnight destination with rental cabins, recreational vehicle sites and tent sites under a proposal in Gov. Doug Ducey鈥檚 executive budget.
The upgrades are expected to increase annual revenue by $1.2 million at the 4,000-acre park near Oracle, which now operates at a net annual deficit of $286,000, according to budget documents.
Cabins and camping facilities also are expected to relieve some of the demand at Catalina State Park near 蜜柚直播, which routinely turns away would-be campers during peak seasons, said Patrick Ptak, a spokesman in the Governor鈥檚 Office.
Ptak said the budget proposal calls for allocating $4 million from the State Parks Revenue Fund to pay for the planned upgrades at Oracle State Park, north of 蜜柚直播.
People are also reading…
This site overlooking the San Pedro Valley could be developed into space for cabins at Oracle State Park, 3820 Wildlife Drive, on Feb. 8, 2018, in Oracle, Ariz. The 4,000-acre park features over 15 miles of trails and hosts four miles of the 蜜柚直播 Trail. Gov. Doug Ducey has proposed a multi-million dollar makeover for the park to add rental cabins and recreational vehicle parking.
鈥淭he expansion would add 30 RV sites, 20 cabins and 20 tent sites,鈥 he said.
鈥淭he cabins will be rustic and they will complement the history and nature of the park,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he pricing has not been determined.鈥
The proposed project also would add more hiking and biking trails and restore historic cabins at the park, which is known for its oak grassland landscapes and mountain views.
鈥淭his will be so special for visitors,鈥 said Sue Black, director of 蜜柚直播 State Parks and Trails. 鈥淭he cabin program really opens up the demographics for people who want to experience the outdoors. If they don鈥檛 want to stay in a tent or don鈥檛 have an RV, this opens up another opportunity.鈥
The proposed upgrades at Oracle State Park are part of a trend in reinvestment in state parks over the past several years, Black said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time for state parks in that we can use our own revenues to reinvest in these properties,鈥 she said. The State Parks Revenue Fund 鈥渋s made up of revenues generated by other parks. We don鈥檛 receive any general fund money.鈥
The centerpiece of Oracle State Park is the historic 1930s Kannally Ranch House, which was owned by the family that donated the land to the Defenders of Wildlife.
PARK PROGRESS
鈥淲hen Governor Ducey took office this park was closed鈥 because of budget cuts in 2009, Ptak said. It later was opened 鈥 first only on weekends and later daily during daylight hours.
鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 not just open, but we are making it 24 hours and adding new amenities,鈥 Ptak said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a testament to the incredible work being done by 蜜柚直播 State Parks and Trails employees to make our park system the best in the nation.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檝e had a record number of visitors and record revenues from visitors this year,鈥 he said. 鈥淎 record 2.94 million people visited an 蜜柚直播 state park. That generated nearly $18 million in revenue.鈥
There are 35 parks and natural areas in the state park system.
Trail markers at Oracle State Park, 3820 Wildlife Drive, on Feb. 8, 2018, in Oracle, Ariz. The 4,000-acre park features over 15 miles of trails and hosts four miles of the 蜜柚直播 Trail. Gov. Doug Ducey has proposed a multi-million dollar makeover for the park to add rental cabins and recreational vehicle parking.
PARK FEATURES
Oracle State Park, in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains about an hour鈥檚 drive north of 蜜柚直播, now has more than 15 miles of hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and access to the cross-state 蜜柚直播 Trail.
Once owned privately and later by the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife, the park officially opened to the public in 2001.
A centerpiece of the site is the historic 1930s Kannally Ranch House, which was owned by the family that donated the land to the Defenders of Wildlife.
The park has been awarded an International Dark Sky Park designation, which could make it an attractive overnight destination for amateur astronomers.
鈥淭his is a 4,000-acre park in a part of the state that is growing,鈥 Black said. 鈥淜nowing that we鈥檙e reinvesting in it, I鈥檓 really proud of our team and what we鈥檝e been able to accomplish.鈥
The upgrades in Gov. Doug Ducey鈥檚 proposal are expected to increase annual revenue by $1.2 million at the park near Oracle.
WHAT鈥橲 NEXT?
The proposal will go through a normal budget process in the state Legislature, Ptak said.
鈥淭here will be hearings and deliberations in both chambers,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hen the final budget will get voted on. The governor would like it to be done quickly. We鈥檙e hoping to see it sooner than mid-May this year.鈥
If funding is approved, 蜜柚直播 State Parks and Trails will begin a design process that will include significant public involvement, Ptak said.
鈥淭he design process functions within the boundaries of the conservation easement that limits the development to no more than 10 percent of the park acreage,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he design team will also be tasked with keeping the development to a minimum. The design needs to complement the history and nature of the park.鈥
If the proposal goes through, 鈥渢he whole process should be completed within 24 months,鈥 a spokesman said.
Once the process is complete, 蜜柚直播 State Parks and Trails will move into the construction phase, Ptak said.
鈥淭he whole process should be completed within 24 months,鈥 he said.
