The Graham County Board of Supervisors asked state officials to delay closing Roper Lake State Park for 60 days beyond its March 29 closure date — hopefully enough time to implement a plan to save the park from permanent closure.

Drew John, chairman of the Graham County Board of Supervisors, announced the extension request during a March 2 “Save Roper Lake” meeting attended by 100 people who support keeping the park open. He told the audience at the Elks Club he is confident the state will grant the request.

John joined Christie Statler of the Arizona State Parks Foundation in explaining possible options for keeping Roper open. They stressed the important role state parks play in boosting tourism in Arizona.

Christy Statler of the Arizona State Parks Foundation explains how to organize a “Friends of Roper Lake” group that could help keep the park’s gates open. Photo by Diane Saunders

The Arizona State Parks Board announced Jan. 15 the closure of 13 state parks, including Roper. The board was forced to close parks because operating funds were taken by state officials to help reduce Arizona’s ongoing budget shortfall.

Statler said closing state parks will worsen Arizona’s financial problems, not improve them.

“The Legislature is biting the hand that feeds it,” Statler said. “It’s economic suicide.”

According to Statler, the state parks produce about $266 million a year in Arizona while requiring only $32 million to $34 million to operate. In addition, state park visitors pay about $22.7 million in state and local taxes.

The state would lose tax revenues and rural communities would lose jobs and income if the parks close.

For example, Roper Lake brings more than $5 million a year into Graham County — money that will be lost if the park closes. About 70 people work at Roper — these jobs will be lost if the park closes.

The situation is not hopeless. Statler said several state parks are helped by “friends” groups that serve as advocates for the parks and help raise money to keep them open.

The state’s 30 parks so far have nine friends groups. Many of these groups have affiliated with the State Parks Foundation. This affiliation allows the foundation to cover insurance costs and gives the friends groups status as nonprofit organizations, Statler said.

She suggested local Roper supporters form “Friends of Roper Lake.” As a formally organized group, Friends of Roper Lake could hold fund-raisers to collect enough money to keep the park open.

Roxanne Cheney, park volunteer and meeting organizer, said 85 of the 100 people who attended the meeting indicated they will participate in Friends of Roper Lake.

“We are working our hearts and souls out (to keep the park open),” Cheney said.

As Friends of Roper Lake works to keep the park open, there is a good possibility that voters will have a chance in November to vote on a proposal that will add $9-$12 a year to the cost of license plates.

The $9 per vehicle would raise an estimated $40 million for Arizona’s state parks. This would be voter protected — the Legislature would be prohibited from taking the money.

If the extra fee is set at $12 a year, the additional money will be used to open rest stops that the Arizona Department of Transportation was forced to close after the Legislature swept money from ADOT funds.

In return for paying the extra fee, car owners will be given free admission to any of Arizona’s state parks, Statler said.

If approved by the voters, the money will not start going to the state parks for about a year. Friends groups will play an important role in filling the financial gap until the money becomes available, Statler said.

Cheney said the next step is to formally form Friends of Roper Lake. After the formation, a president, secretary and treasurer must be elected.

Next, the group will create a plan outlining what the group will do to help the park. The plan then will be submitted to the State Parks Foundation, Cheney said. Call 775-230-2225 for more information.