Press Room
Your source for official Arizona State Parks information. Arizona State Parks announces news on a variety of topics including the 30 State Parks, the State Trails system, outdoor-related funding grants, State Historic Preservation Office programs, archaeology, history, off-highway vehicle issues, and Open Space issues in Arizona to name just a few.
Additional Parks Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays: Read About Five Day Schedules 
Watch Video of ASP Director Renée Bahl, State Parks Board member Bill Scalzo, and Grady Gammage, Jr. of the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at ASU discuss state parks: Watch Video
2009 Media Calendar of Events (
113 KB PDF)
On Deadline?
Call Ellen Bilbrey (Chief Public Information Officer) at (602) 542-1996 or Monica Enriquez (602) 542-6997. or email pio(at)azstateparks.gov. Additional contact: External Affairs call (602) 542-4174.
Publishing (or Linking to) our Domain Name:
Please always publish (or link to) our current domain AZStateParks.com and not one of our depreciated domain names. Thank you.
Follow Us on Social Networking Sites
Media and the public can stay connected with the ASP Public Information Office by following us on Twitter 
. Our Twitter ID is AZStateParks. We're also on MySpace and Facebook .
2009 Press Releases
- Red Rock State Park Offers Educational and Outdoor Activities
- Visitor Center at Sonoita Creek State Natural Area Is Now Open
- Veteran's Day Flag Retirement Ceremony Fort Verde State Historic Park on November 14
- Aldo Leopold Celebration at Sonoita Creek State Natural Area on November 28
- Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Transitions to Five-Day Per Week Schedule Beginning November 19
- Education Programs at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in November
- Kartchner Caverns State Park Cave Break-In Reveals Minor Damage to Cave Formations
- Antique Engines and Model As at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park October 17-18
- Head for Southeastern Arizona for Kartchner Caverns State Park 10 Year Anniversary Celebration
- "¡Vayan subiendo!" (Everyone mount up!) Celebrate Anza Day on October 17 at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
- Fort Verde State Historic Park Celebrates "Fort Verde Days" October 10-11
- Boyce Thompson Arboretum Fall Plant Sale October 10 - 25
- Riordan Mansion State Historic Park Offers Tours, Educational Programs in October
- Arizona State Parks Restores Funding to Heritage Fund Grant Projects
- Plein Air Artist "Paint Out" at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park on October 3
- October 3rd is the 10th Annual Fiesta de las Calabazas at Oracle State Park
- Become a Hummingbird Program Citizen Scientist Volunteer on September 26 at Verde River Greenway State Natural Area
- Arizona State Parks Board Makes Changes in Management of Parks Due to Budget Reductions
- Arizona State Parks Board Meeting Friday, September, 11, 2009
- Hummingbird Program in Arizona State Parks Needs Citizen Scientist Volunteers to Watch Birds
- Local Residents Win Outdoor Photo Contest
- Hikes and Naturalist Programs at Oracle State Park in September
- Educational Programs at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in September
- Hikes and Walks Featured at Red Rock State Park in September
- Aldo Leopold Celebration at Red Rock State Park September 20
- Protect the River's Riparian Habitat at Verde River Days September 26-27 Dead Horse Ranch State Park
- Tom Sawyer Day at Fort Verde State Historic Park on Saturday, September 12
- Plein Air Artist "Paint Out" at Slide Rock State Park on September 19
- Bug Fest 2009 at Oracle State Park August 21-22
- Dutch Oven Cook-Off in Honor of Aldo Leopold at Lyman Lake State Park August 15
- Arizona State Parks Department Adopts a Reduced Operating Budget for 2010
- Arizona State Parks Welcomes New Board Member
- Plein Air Artist "Paint Out" at Roper Lake State Park on August 8
- Rough Riders Living History Presentation and More at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
- Arizona State Parks Board Meeting, Monday, August 3, 2009
- Moonlight and Sunset Hikes at Red Rock State Park in August
- Harvesting Workshop and Bug Fest at Oracle State Park in August
- Mesquite Pod Harvesting Workshop August 1 at Oracle State Park
- Plein Air Artist "Paint Out" at Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area on July 18
- Help Promote Parks; Volunteer Training Meeting July 23rd in Phoenix
- "Suvoyuki Day" on August 1 at Homolovi Ruins State Park
- Red Rock State Park Offers Nature Activities in July
- Scottsdale Artist Teaches Botanical Drawing Class at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Arizona's State Parks Back Open Today; State Parks Available For 4th of July Holiday Weekend
- Three State Parks Will Be Open, 27 Other Parks Close at Midnight Due to Budget Impasse
- Celebrate America's Birthday at State Parks: Head out today and Declare Your Independence!
- State Parks is Accepting Applications for Advisory Committee Members, Deadline is September 25
- Deadline is August 10 to Volunteer for Off-Highway Vehicle Program
- Antique Tractors and Engines on Display at Kartchner Caverns State Park July 3-6
- Walks, Workshops and Tours at Oracle State Park
- Off-Highway Vehicle Site Maintenance Day on June 13
- Camp and Celebrate 4th of July in the Cool Air of Lyman Lake State Park
- Help Keep Parks Open by Volunteering
- Kartchner Caverns State Park Limits Cave Tours for Summer
- Go Outdoors during June with Hikes and Walks at Red Rock State Park
- State Parks Campsites are Open for Memorial Day Weekend
- Mesa Artist Opens Solo Watercolor Exhibition at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Arizona Trails 2010 Draft Plan Available for Public Comment
- Take a Hike for National Trails Day
- Events at Oracle State Park in May and June
- Newly Enhanced Australian Interpretive Pavilion Now Open at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- City of Payson Provides Solution to Opening Tonto Natural Bridge State Park For Critical Weekends this Summer
- Seven Member Arizona State Parks Board Announces New Executive Director
- Summer Hours Coming in May at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Get Out and Enjoy Nature with Hikes and Walks at Red Rock State Park
- Some State Parks Will Transition to Five Day Schedules
- 5th Annual "Music in the Park" Spring Music Concert Series at Oracle State Park
- Discover America's Early Environmentalist, Aldo Leopold Come Celebrate Land & Wildlife Ethics in Arizona's State Parks
- Take a "Walkabout" through Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Parks' Australian Exhibit
- Arizona State Parks Board Meeting April 3, 2009, Change of Venue: Carnegie Center
- Summer Savings on the Rotunda/Throne Room Tour at Kartchner Caverns State Park
- Schedule Set for "Aldo Leopold Comes Alive" Event at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Celebrate Earth Day with the Solar Power Exhibition at Catalina State Park on April 25
- Arizona State Parks Conducts the 2009 Growing Smarter Workshop
- Aldo Leopold "Comes Alive" April 4 at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Arizona's Trails Website Wins National Design Award
- "History of the Soldier" at Fort Verde State Historic Park April 4-5
- Nature Events at Oracle State Park in March and April
- Wildflower Walks Highlight Activities in March at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Arizona's State Parks brace for influx of students for Spring break festivities along the Colorado River
- Annual Spring Plant Sale Coming in March to Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Print Journalism Celebrated Since 1859 at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park March 7
- Celebrate Archaeology Month at Red Rock State Park in March
- Arizona State Parks Board Temporarily Closes Two State Parks to Stabilize Historic Buildings
- Photography Class, Petroglyph Walk Highlight Archaeology Month at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Registration Now Open for April's Birding Festival at Dead Horse Ranch State Park
- Arizona State Parks Board Meeting Friday, February 20, 2009
- Event Schedule for Arizona's 2009 Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month Celebration
- 'Arizona Cardinals' Special Bird Walk To Be Held at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Volunteers Needed at Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park
- Schedule of Events for Buffalo Soldiers Event at Fort Verde State Historic Park February 14-15
- Civil War in the Southwest at Picacho Peak State Park CANCELLED for March 14-15
- Pinal County's First Courthouse, McFarland State Park, Readies for Structural Rescue Plan to Begin
- Arizona Artist Showcases Desert Paintings at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- State Parks Board Votes to Review All Agency Budget Options
- Yuma Crossing Day at Yuma Quartermaster Depot and Yuma Territorial Prison on Saturday, February 14
- 2009 Plein Air Artist "Paint Outs" at Arizona State Parks
- Enjoy a Variety of Historic Activities on Valentine's Day in Florence
- Geo-cache Bash at Cattail Cove State Park on February 21
- Spend Valentine's Day Weekend in Camp Verde
- Language of Flowers Exhibit Highlights Valentine's Weekend at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Victorian Dress Workshop at Dead Horse Ranch State Park January 31
- Bible Scripture Expert Guides Popular Tour at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Upcoming Nature Events at Oracle State Park
- Relive Civil War Battles at Picacho Peak State Park on March 14 & 15
- German Author Karl May Exhibit at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
- Storytelling, Concert Highlight Australia Day at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Volunteers Make Photography Classes Popular at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
- Nature Events in Sedona at Red Rock State Park in January
- “Celebrate Arizona's Past: Museums, Places, People” Arizona's 2009 Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month Celebration
Need Pictures?
We have a library of pictures to go with stories about the State Parks, trails, historic places in Arizona, deserts, flowers and much more. Just email us about the story you are writing and we will be able to email small pictures back or use yousendit.com to send larger digital pictures for print use. We will provide photos for stories or other editorial for news only. Commercial rates will apply to purchase pictures for consumer use.
Report: Economic Impact of Arizona State Parks
Report published Feb. 17, 2009 covers visitation and the economic impact of Arizona State Parks (FY07) broken down by counties with an overall state analysis. Download report and read executive summary in the Publications area
Arizona State Parks Foundation Newsroom
You may also be interested in the Arizona State Parks Foundation Newsroom. Founded in June 2004, the Arizona State Parks Foundation (ASPF) is a force and focus for raising funds and friends to benefit the 30 parks, historic sites and scenic natural areas that comprise Arizona State Parks. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, ASPF stands as the partner to assist Arizona State Parks in fulfilling its mission through education, community participation and financial support. ASPF does this by promoting the acquisition, preservation and maintenance of natural, scenic, recreation and historic structures of exceptional value to the citizens of Arizona. It also serves as the foremost advocate for state parks in government forums, at local community levels and through the media.
RSS Feed: Stay Informed
You can now subscribe to our Press Releases through RSS. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and it is! An RSS feed keeps you connected.
To use RSS you can use Firefox and Live Bookmarks. When you check your bookmarks you'll see any new releases in our folder. Or, you can use a Feed Reader like Google Reader and customize a Google homepage to include our latest releases. It's a perfect solution for getting Arizona State Parks news quickly. To Subscribe, click the orange icon in your browser's address bar.
Distribution List
If you would like to be included on our Press Release distribution list, send an e-mail to pio(at)azstateparks.gov with your contact information.
Press Release Archive
2008 Press Releases
[Skip] Home Find a Park Arizona Map
