Arizona State Parks and Trails wins best in U.S.
Arizona State Parks and Trails has won the prestigious Gold Medal for being the best-managed state park system in the nation.
The award was announced Tuesday during the National Recreation and Park Association conference in New Orleans.
“This is a tremendous achievement that benefits everyone in our state, from residents to tourists,” Gov. Doug Ducey said in a statement released by State Parks. “Winning the Gold Medal is a testament to the hard work, collaboration and innovation that Arizona State Parks and Trails demonstrated to get us to this point.”
Ducey helped state Parks with a video that highlighted the beauty of Arizona’s park system. It was included as part of the state’s entry for the award.
Ducey appointed Parks Director Sue Black in February 2015, and for the sec-
ond consecutive year, the agency has experienced an increase in visitors and revenue to Arizona’s parks and trails system.
State Parks, which receives no state generalfund money, saw a record 2.78 million people visit its parks for the fiscal year that ended June 30. The agency generated nearly $17.9 million largely from park fees, another record.
Black also has moved her agency into new offices in north Phoenix, updated its website and created an app to make Parks, with 35 locations, more user and business friendly.
Arizona was selected as a Final Four candidate in May, along with Tennessee State Parks, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails.
“This Gold Medal win is not just about the staff of Arizona State Parks and Trails,” Black said. “This is about everyone in Arizona who contributes to our success or gets to enjoy our beautiful parks. It’s a huge honor to be considered the bestmanaged state park agency in the country, and we hope everyone will get out and see these amazing parks first-hand.”
The Gold Medal Award honors state park systems throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management and innovative approaches to delivering superb park and recreation services with fiscally sound business practices.