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TheFoothillsFocus.com
INSIDE
This Week
GRADS .............13
BUSINESS .........19
Daisy Mountain Veterinary Hospital: ‘Your other family doctor
YOUTH .............23
Three Boulder Creek lacrosse players commit to colleges
OPINION ......................8 BUSINESS ................. 18 FEATURES ................ 22 YOUTH ...................... 23 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 25 Zone I
Congratulations Class of 2021!
Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix
Anthem Area Edition
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21
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
State Forestry implements statewide �ire ban BY TARA ALATORRE Foothills Focus Contributing Writer
T
he recent fire activity and dry conditions across the state have prompted fire officials to implement Stage I Fire Restrictions across most of central and western Arizona. Some jurisdictions have also implemented firearm restrictions as well. According to Tonto National Forest Fire Management Officer, Taiga Rohrer, the Maverick Fire that started May 8 in the Mesa Ranger District was one of six human-caused wildfire starts in the forest this month.
“With extreme drought, ‘very high’ to ‘extreme fire danger,’ no rain forecasted in the near future and rising temperatures, we’re anticipating an active wildfire season,” Rohrer said. “These fire restrictions will protect human life, property and our natural resources.” On May 14, the Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix and Colorado River districts, Prescott National Forest, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Tonto National Forest and Tonto National Monument implemented fire restrictions that prohibit campfires and smoking. The restrictions specifically forbid “building, maintaining, attending or using a
fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove fire, except within a developed recreation site, or improved site.” It also bans smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building. Developed recreation sites are defined by the Tonto National Forest as campgrounds and picnic areas that are maintained and administered by the Forest Service shown on current visitor maps and are equipped with permanent fire structures such as metal or concrete. The BLM Fire District, BLM Colorado River District, Prescott National Forest and
ment partnered with the ASU School of Community Resources and Development Watts College of Public Service and Community on an economic impact study. “The county conducts visitor surveys to better understand how we are performing, and what our visitors do with their time and money in our community,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers, District 1. “This partnership with ASU enabled us to take a deeper look inside the data and quantify the value of this precious asset.” The team from ASU analyzed data from the 2018-2019 Maricopa County Park Vis-
itor Survey. They calculated the overall economic impact of the parks, facilities and services. “I was excited to learn how much benefit nearby cities and towns receive from the presence of our large county parks. We are talking about millions of dollars in economic impact,” said Supervisor Clint Hickman, District 4. “And not surprisingly, that impact didn’t stop at the county line. Yavapai and Pinal counties benefit as well.” The following parks were included
�ee FORESTRY page 5
The economic impact of Maricopa County’s open space park system
BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF
T
hanks to the pandemic, communities are relying on their local parks and recreation departments for outdoor recreation, health and wellness, and safe open spaces. Well-run parks systems support the local economy. Maricopa County oversees more than 120,000 acres of open spaces and 11 regional parks that see visitors from around the world seeking outdoor opportunities. To gain a better understanding of the economic impact of our parks, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Depart-
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�ee SPACE PARK page 4
