Le Templar: We’re about seven hours away from a real government shutdown, but Arizona state parks already are closing in expectation that the Legislature and the governor won’t finish a budget by midnight.

Our state parks are in danger.

Grady Gammage Jr., guest commentary

State lawmakers refused Thursday to let the state Parks Board raise what it needs through fees on motorists to reopen parks already closed and keep others from shutting down.

The Arizona State Parks Board made reductions Friday that include layoffs, limits on park operations and moving forward with an entrance-fee proposal next spring in an attempt to bridge a $1.5 million budget gap.

SEDONA - Jack Edwards gives visitors to Red Rock State Park a handshake and hello along with a pamphlet on the park’s history.

The audit of the Arizona State Parks system came as no surprise to those of us who have served as board members, long time staff and hardworking foundation volunteers.

An initiative campaign is under way to ask Arizona voters to approve a ballot measure on state parks funding.

A panel appointed by Gov. Jan Brewer to study government made its first recommendations Tuesday to turn more of it over to the private sector.

Sam Jansen never knew what a treasure Arizona's state parks were, or that he'd ever have a reason to be so saddened by them.

The Arizona State Parks Board voted Wednesday to keep open five more parks slated for closure next month, leaving only four on the chopping block just months after the board voted to close nearly all state parks.

A House panel voted Thursday to require that all vehicle owners pay more to keep open state parks and rest areas.

For Tom Fisher, Lost Dutchman State Park's planned closure is the end of an era. The park manager, a ranger for nearly three decades, speaks of the park that is slated to close by summer more as a visitor might.