Coconino Announces Program to Improve Recreational Facilities

For Immediate Release

Date: September 15, 2008

Contact: Supervisor's Office (928) 527-3600

Flagstaff, AZ —The Coconino National Forest is announcing a program that will help plan the future of existing National Forest developed recreation sites.

Using a process called Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA), Forest officials are proposing to bring 125 recreational sites across the Forest into alignment with the resources and funds available to operate and maintain them to national health, safety and accessibility standards in the next five years. Another primary goal of the RFA program is to reduce deferred maintenance by 20 percent over the next five years.

The RFA process, which began in 2006, uses visitor and recreation surveys, census reports, local community reports, social science research, and local field knowledge—centered on a “Niche” statement—to gather public recreation preferences and values.

The “Niche” statement defines the valuable assets which the Coconino offers to the public.  Specifically, the statement speaks to linking prehistoric and historic cultures in the Colorful Coconino, which includes Red Rocks, Green Forests, White Peaks and Dark Skies, heritage sites, dispersed day-use activities, contrasting scenery, hiking trails and motorized trails.

Once all of this information was gathered, a ranking system was established that shows which recreational sites are most valued and enjoyed by the majority of the public. From those rankings, a proposal was established for which sites to improve, decommission or indefinitely close.

“The value of recreation is so great and the benefits to communities, families, and individuals so vital that we must continue to do all we can to improve access and availability of quality outdoor recreation for everyone,” said Jim Beard, project leader for the Coconino National Forest. “We work hard to ensure that the special places people enjoy are well-maintained and meet health and safety standards.”

Approximately 90 potential improvement projects/services are scheduled to be spread over 50 sites (40% of the 125 sites analyzed). Improvements range from things like adding new loops for camping, increasing parking capacities, electrical hookups, water and sewer hookups, constructing new sites and increasing the season length for more use.

Not all sites will be improved, because resources and funds are not limitless. However, the Coconino is determined to use resources effectively so those resources can benefit the greatest number of public for the greatest good.

In order to mitigate increased operational costs while continuing to provide high standards of service, the RFA proposes to raise fees at 19 sites. As well, local co-sponsoring partners may be used at nine sites and concessionaires may be utilized at five additional sites in the Coconino, which will have the effect of better cost and operational efficiency.

Only five sites are proposed to be decommissioned. Those sites are: Little Elden Spring Trail Head, Peak View Parking Area and Toilet, Turkey Hills Trail Head, Mormon Lake Information Center, Stoneman Lake Road Toilet and Information Site. When sites are decommissioned, that does not mean that they are closed to public access. It simply means that facilities, such as toilets, are removed.

Recreation managers continue to evaluate the condition and use of the Forest's recreation facilities and determine what changes are necessary and how to use available improvement funds to benefit the most public.  The Forest Service hopes to magnify the benefits of the Forest to the public by focusing on evolving needs and high-use sites and also reduce investment in low-use sites.

“We want to improve the overall condition of our recreation sites,” said Beard. “Many of these facilities were built 10 to 50 years ago. We need to better understand what people value, what people expect from our facilities, and even what disappoints them.”

The public is invited to review the proposed Five-Year Program of Work, found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/projects/rfa/RFA-PPOW2-6-25-08.pdf.  Comments, questions, or feedback can be submitted in any of the following ways by October 3, 2008.

• Email to jbeard@fs.fed.us
• Fax to 928-527-3620, ATTN: RFA
• Mail to RFA, Coconino NF, 1824 S. Thompson St., Flagstaff, AZ 86001
• Phone Jim Beard at 928-527-3474