To: The Honorable Ann Day, Member

Pima County Board of Supervisors

From: C.H.

Re: Catalina Regional Park

I appreciate all of the concerns regarding Catalina Regional Park that you have expressed

during our budget preparation. Park maintenance funding is at risk due to state budget cost

transfers or the state taking Pima County funds to balance the state budget. This has

resulted in our need to suspend funding for Catalina Regional Park.

As you recall, Catalina Regional Park grew out of a flood disaster where the County spent

considerable sums, through the Regional Flood Control District, to acquire properties that had

been devastated by regional flooding, aggravated in large part by the forest fires in the

Canada del Oro watershed. Out of our acquisition of private floodprone properties grew the

concept of Catalina Regional Park. The concept remains intact and will be implemented in

the future as funds are available.

It should be noted that the riverpark system in Pima County grew out of a flood disaster. The

Rillito Riverpark exists because of the 1983 flood, which had devastating impacts on Pima

County and Southern Arizona. It took almost six years after the 1983 flood to begin to

construct and develop the Rillito Riverpark, a riverpark that is widely used by everyone in

Pima County.

The $79,000 that may be lost in Catalina Regional Park operating funds is not a significant

setback to the long-term implementation of the park. The park will remain open for public use

and access; however, maintenance and other activities will be few and far between given our

funding constraints, which means that we will continue to rely on volunteer efforts to assist

us in providing minimal levels of maintenance services for the park. If and when the state

stops taking our money we should be able to continue our long-term implementation of park

improvements for the Catalina Regional Park. I am hopeful that the park and other capital

improvements can be included in a future County bond issue.

In the meantime, I appreciate your comments and concerns. Hopefully we can continue a

measured pace to implement and create Catalina Regional Park, even during these difficult

economic times.