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[ MUSIC ]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK.
IS THIS A GREAT PLACE TO GET UP AND COME IN THE MORNING,
START YOUR DAY?
I ALWAYS LOVE IT WHEN WE HAVE A CHANCE TO COME DOWN HERE.
MY NAME IS JIM BURKE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THE CITY OF
PHOENIX, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE THIS EVENT HERE THIS
MORNING IN OUR PARK, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE
50-YEAR HISTORY OF THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS START OUT BY INTRODUCING THE MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF PHOENIX, MAYOR GREG STANTON, WHO IS A HUGE SUPPORTER
OF THE PARK SYSTEM AND ALL THINGS PARKS AND RECREATION.
WAS TELLING US THIS MORNING HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN
THE PARK WITH HIS FAMILY, HIS YOUNG SON AND DAUGHTER, AND HE'S
A GREAT SUPPORTER -- I KNOW HE'S A SUPPORTER OF THE PARKS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD HE GREW UP IN.
MAYOR STANTON?
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JIM.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY, ED ZUERCHER, THANK YOU FOR TAKING
THE ACTING OFFICE AND TITLE AND MAKING HIM OUR PERMANENT PARKS
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION.
[ APPLAUSE ] WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE PARKS
HERE IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX, CELEBRATE PARKS ALL AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
WE ARE HONORED THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TOOK
THE TIME TO VISIT OUR INCREDIBLE PARK SYSTEM.
SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OTHER PARK SYSTEMS IN OTHER
STATES AROUND THE SOUTHWEST, AND NOW SHE FINISHED WITH THE BEST
PARK SYSTEM IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HERE IN PHOENIX,
ARIZONA.
YOU SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PARKS
ADVOCATES, PEOPLE WHO USE AND LOVE OUR PARK SYSTEM, AND I
DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT FROM TODAY'S PRESS EVENT, BUT I
THINK IT'S APROPOS, AS YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT
USE OUR PARK SYSTEM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO USE OUR PARK SYSTEM
GET IN TROUBLE AND THEY NEED TO BE RESCUED.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS, TRAGICALLY, WE LOST ONE OF OUR
GREAT RESCUERS FROM THE PHOENIX FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIREFIGHTER
JOHNSON, WHO WAS TRAINED IN MOUNTAIN RESCUES AND DIED IN AN
ACCIDENT, OFF-DUTY ACCIDENT.
SO I THINK IT'S APROPOS BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR PARKS AND WE LOVE
THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT OUR PARK SYSTEM, INCLUDING OUR MOUNTAIN
RESCUERS, THAT WE START OUT WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
RESCUERS, THAT WE START OUT WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
JUST A POLITE REMINDER, PARTICULARLY TO OUR SCOUTS WHO
ARE HERE, WHEN YOU SEE THOSE RANGERS OUT ON THE PRESERVE OR
YOU SEE THOSE FIREFIGHTERS, JUST SAY "THANK YOU."
THEY APPRECIATE IT SO, SO MUCH.
THEY NEED OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
SO IN ADDITION TO SECRETARY JEWELL, WHO WILL SAY A FEW WORDS
IN JUST A MOMENT, I WANT TO THANK HER FOR BEING HERE, I ALSO
WANT TO THANK SARAH PORTER WHO IS THE CHAIR OF OUR PARKS BOARD,
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION OVERSEEING OUR
PARKS SYSTEM, TIM SPRAGUE WHO WAS A VERY ACTIVE LEADER ON MY
SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BODY.
HE PUSHES AND POKES AND PRODS ME TO HEAD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
TO MAKE SURE THAT I AS MAYOR AND THE CITY IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE
OF SUSTAINABILITY.
AND WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF ADVANCES IN THAT REGARD, AND
MANY OF THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE CITY OF
PHOENIX IS BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.
AND THE CHAIR OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE IS
HERE, AND THAT'S COUNCILMAN BILL GATES, WHO IS A GREAT PARKS
ADVOCATE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GATES, FOR BEING HERE.
[ APPLAUSE ] THANKS AGAIN, SECRETARY JEWELL,
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME TO PHOENIX TO CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR
OUTSTANDING PARKS AND HELP PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THE IMPORTANT
50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CHAMPIONING OF THIS FUND MAKES A DIFFERENCE
FOR ALL OF US IN PHOENIX, PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE WORLD WHO COME TO THE UNITED
STATES TO SEE OUR INCREDIBLE PARKS.
YOU SAW FIRST HAND TODAY A FEW OF THE PLACES THAT THIS FUND HAS
MADE A GREAT DIFFERENCE HERE IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX AT ENCANTO
PARK AND, OF COURSE, HERE IN BEAUTIFUL SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT THE IMPACT OF THIS FUND IS SEEN ALL ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO ESTABLISHING URBAN PARKS AND
REFUGES AND HELPING TO PROTECT GREEN SPACES IN URBAN AREAS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S EVIDENT RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK.
MANY PEOPLE FORGET THIS IS THE LARGEST PARK, URBAN PARK,
MUNICIPAL PARK, IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
DON'T TELL THAT TO MAYOR DE BLASIO IN NEW YORK AND
CENTRAL PARK, BUT WE'VE GOT A GEM OF OUR OWN HERE IN PHOENIX,
ARIZONA.
BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE, ITS LOCATION RIGHT NEXT TO SO MANY
RESIDENTIAL AREAS, IT'S A PARK THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY.
THAT'S EVIDENT FROM ITS MANY USES.
AND ON ANY GIVEN DAY YOU CAN RUN INTO PICNICKERS, HIKERS, ROAD
AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS, HORSEBACK RIDERS, HANG GLIDERS,
PARAGLIDERS, SKATEBOARDERS, LONGBOARDERS WE LEARNED HERE
TODAY, DERBY TRACK USERS, SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT USE THIS
PARK FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
AND EARLIER THIS MORNING WE WERE AT ENCANTO PARK, A FAVORITE SPOT
FOR URBAN FISHING AND COOKOUTS, AND IT'S A GREAT PICNIC SPOT.
IN FACT, ON EASTER WEEKEND IT'S ONE OF THE BUSIEST SPOTS IN THE
ENTIRE VALLEY WITH VISITORS SHOWING UP BEFORE DAWN READY TO
STAKE OUT THE VERY BEST SPOTS.
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY VALUE PARKS.
EVERY TIME WE PUT SUPPORT FOR THE PARKS ON THE BALLOT IT GETS
SUPPORTED BY THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY OVERWHELMINGLY.
WE UNDERSTAND HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO HAVE SO MANY GREAT PARKS
THAT CONTINUE TO ADD TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND AS MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND IT'S MY JOB TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND IN
GOOD SHAPE AND READY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY.
SO WHEN I WAS ASKED AS MAYOR OF THIS CITY TO SIGN ON TO SUPPORT
A NATIONAL BIPARTISAN MAYORS FOR PARKS COALITION, IT WAS A
NO-BRAINER.
OF COURSE I SAID "YES" AND SIGNED RIGHT UP.
I KNOW JULIE WATERMAN IS HERE FROM MAYORS FOR PARKS, WHO IS
CORRALLING ALL US MAYORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE DOING OUR PART.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING US HERE IN PHOENIX.
AND I'M A PROUD MAYOR TO SUPPORT OUR PARK SYSTEM.
AS A PROUD MAYOR FOR THE PARKS, I FOUGHT FOR RENEWAL OF ROBUST
FUNDING FOR THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
THAT'S SOMETHING ALL MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE IN
CITIES KNOW, THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND IS CRITICAL SO
THAT WE HAVE A FULL PARTNERSHIP, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL, TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE FULL ACCESS, ALL PEOPLE HAVE FULL
ACCESS TO OUR PARK SYSTEM.
WE'RE BUILDING A LARGER COALITION AND GETTING MORE AND
MORE MAYORS TO PRESS THE NEED FOR CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE LAND
& WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
AND IN MAY, JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE UNITED STATES
CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AT THE NATIONAL MEETING, WE SECURED
UNANIMOUS PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE
REAUTHORIZATION AND FULL FUNDING OF THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION
FUND NEXT YEAR.
LOOK, IN POLITICS YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING UNANIMOUS.
THE ONE THING WE CAN AGREE ON IS WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR PARK
SYSTEMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SECRETARY, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO VISIT US HERE
IN PHOENIX AND THE GREAT TIME YOU GAVE US HERE IN ENCANTO
PARK, THE WONDERFUL TOUR AND HIKE WE JUST DID ON THE JUDY
TUNNELL ACCESSIBLE TRAIL THERE.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
PHOENIX IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH YOU, AND AS MAYOR, I'M PROUD TO
PARTNER WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TO KEEP OUR PARKS
STRONG SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO CREATE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND
HEALTHY ECONOMIES IN URBAN AREAS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HIT ALL MY TALKING POINTS.
JIM BURKE HAS CONFIRMED THAT I HAVE.
THANK YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ] ANYWAY, SO IT'S MY GREAT
HONOR -- HE WAS GIVING ME A LOOK LIKE I MISSED SOMETHING.
I'M LIKE...
SO IT IS MY GREAT HONOR NOW TO BRING TO THE PODIUM OUR
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR, SALLY JEWELL.
SHE HAS A LONG CAREER, A SUCCESSFUL CAREER -- I WAS GOING
TO GIVE YOU SOME KUDOS FIRST.
COME ON!
SHE'S RARING TO GO.
SHE WAS UP WORKING OUT IN HER HOTEL ROOM THIS MORNING AND WAS
RARING TO GO IN THIS HEAT IN THAT HIKE.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
SECRETARY JEWELL HAS A LONG CAREER, SUCCESSFUL CAREER, IN
BUSINESS.
MANY OF YOU PROBABLY KNEW THAT SHE WAS LEADER OF REI, A COMPANY
THAT MAKES ITS PROFIT IN TERMS OF PROMOTING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
AND PEOPLE UTILIZING OUR WONDERFUL PARKS SYSTEMS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND WE ARE PROUD WHEN THE PRESIDENT TAPPED HER TO
LEAD THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, AND
SHE'S BEEN A CHAMPION FOR WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, AND
THAT IS GETTING FUNDING FOR OUR LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
OUR SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, SALLY JEWELL.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.
THANKS, MAYOR STANTON, AND THANKS, JIM, FOR THE GREAT
MORNING.
I MEAN, THEY ROLLED UP TO MY HOTEL AT 7:30, AND WE'VE BEEN
DOING NOTHING BUT PARKS SINCE THEN, AND I JUST CAN'T THINK OF
A BETTER WAY TO SPEND MY MORNING!
SO, ENCANTO PARK, BEAUTIFUL URBAN PARK.
SO WELL USED.
I HEARD ALL ABOUT EASTER AT ENCANTO PARK AND HOW CROWDED
THAT IS, AND THAT IS FANTASTIC, BECAUSE SO OFTEN IT IS AN URBAN
PARK LIKE THAT THAT'S IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT GETS PEOPLE TO
RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC LANDS.
IT MAY BE THEIR FIRST PARK EXPERIENCE.
WE MET A YOUNG WOMAN, MIKALA, 8 YEARS OLD, TODAY AND SHE MADE
IT HER SUMMER EVENT TO GO TO 50 PARKS WITH HER STEPDAD TO GET TO
KNOW HER STEPDAD, AND HE SAID HE'S GETTING OUT AND WALKING AND
EXERCISING MORE, AND SHE WAS REALLY PROUD OF HOW STRONG SHE
WAS AFTER DOING THE MONKEY BARS.
WE DID A LITTLE PUSH ON THE SWING.
AND THERE WERE KIDS FISHING IN THE PARK.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
IT'S MAKING THE OUTDOORS ACCESSIBLE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,
BECAUSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GROWING UP MORE URBAN, MORE
DIVERSE, MORE DISCONNECTED FROM NATURE THAN EVER BEFORE.
SO OVERSCHEDULED THAT SO OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T HAVE TIME
TO JUST PLAY.
SO YOUR PARKS IN PHOENIX ARE A TREMENDOUS ILLUSTRATION OF WHY
PHOENIX IS A LIVABLE CITY, WHY YOU'RE GROWING AS A CITY, WHY
THERE ARE TWO REIs IN CITY.
ROBERT BACK THERE, TEMPE STORE MANAGER.
IT WAS NICE TO GIVE HIM A HUG ON THE WAY IN.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE, A LARGE VILLAGE IN
THIS CASE, THE CITY OF PHOENIX, FIFTH LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, I
THINK, TO TAKE CARE OF ITS PARKS AND OPEN SPACES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SARAH, THE CHAIR OF THE PHOENIX
PARK & REC. BOARD.
THAT IS HARD WORK.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
ROBIN SALTHOUSE IN THE BACK, WHO IS FROM THE PHOENIX MOUNTAINS
PRESERVATION COUNCIL.
THOSE VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT ADVOCATE, THAT HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL SPACES, OF MAINTAINING
THE KIND OF HABITAT THAT KEEPS THE ANIMALS THAT ARE SO
WELL-KNOWN IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY, THAT ROAM THIS PART OF
THE COUNTRY, AND THE PLANTS -- WELL, THE PLANTS DIDN'T ROAM,
THE ANIMALS ROAM -- BUT HERE FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
YEARS.
AND IT WAS SO INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT PHOENIX AND HOW THE
HOHOKAM LAID OUT THE AQUEDUCTS FOR WATER IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX
AND THEY PICKED SUCH A GREAT SPOT THAT THAT'S STILL BEING
USED AND BASICALLY RESULTED IN THE LAYOUT.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN FROM OUR ANCESTORS.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO LAND FROM PUBLIC LANDS ADD HOW WE USE
THEM.
AND YOU'RE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB OF THAT RIGHT HERE.
JULIE HAS DONE A REALLY NICE JOB PULLING MAYORS TOGETHER TO
SUPPORT THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
SO LET ME JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND WAS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS
50 YEARS AGO.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UNANIMOUS IN THE HOUSE.
ONE DISSENTING VOTE IN THE SENATE.
SOME GRUMPY GUY WAS MAD THAT HE HAD TO PAY 25 CENTS TO GET INTO
A NATIONAL PARK UNIT SOMEWHERE.
SO HE DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT.
BUT EVERYBODY ELSE VOTED FOR IT.
AND IT SAID WHEN WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW DRILLING IN THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF, THE FEDERAL WATERS THAT ARE OWNED BY
ALL AMERICAN PEOPLE, THERE IS AN IMPACT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT, AND
SO LET'S MITIGATE THAT IMPACT BY APPLYING THAT ONSHORE THROUGH
SOMETHING CALLED THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
AND LET'S BE BOLD, AND LET'S AUTHORIZE IT AT $900 MILLION,
WHICH WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT IN THAT DAY OF THE OIL AND GAS
FEES GENERATED FROM DRILLING.
UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY ONCE IN ITS 50-YEAR HISTORY HAS CONGRESS
ACTUALLY CHOSEN TO APPROPRIATE $900 MILLION.
EVERY OTHER YEAR THEY HAVE GONE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THAT.
SOME YEARS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY 1/9th OF THAT AMOUNT, ABOUT
$100 MILLION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT REAUTHORIZED, BECAUSE IT EXPIRES
NEXT YEAR, AND WE WANT TO SEE IT FUNDED AS IT WAS INTENDED AT
$900 MILLION.
WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR AN INDEX.
LET'S JUST FUND IT AT ITS $900 MILLION.
SO WHAT HAS THAT MEANT FOR ARIZONA?
$210 MILLION.
IT'S BUILT PARKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IT'S BUILT PLAYGROUNDS.
IT'S BUILT BIKING TRAILS.
ENCANTO PARK GOT A GRANT IN THE EARLY '80s THAT HELP PUT NEW
STRUCTURES OVER THOSE PLAYGROUNDS AND REBUILD THE
PLAYGROUNDS.
THIS PARK IN 1966, ONE YEAR AFTER THE MONEY WAS FIRST MADE
AVAILABLE FOR LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND, GOT A GRANT
THAT HELPED MAKE SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK POSSIBLE.
AND THE MONEY IN THOSE DAYS WOULD GO -- WOULD BE A LOT
LARGER NUMBER TODAY.
AND SOMETIMES IT IS JUST THAT CATALYST TO GET PLACES LIKE THIS
GOING, AND AS PHOENIX HAS GROWN UP AROUND SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK,
PEOPLE NEED MORE BREATHING SPACE.
AND SO THAT LITTLE INVESTMENT MADE BY OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS
REVENUES BACK IN 1966 FOR THIS PARK HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
YOU MIGHT ALSO HAVE HEARD OF A FEW OTHER PLACES IN ARIZONA LIKE
GRAND CANYON OR SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK OR LAKE MEAD NATIONAL
RECREATION AREA OR THE BUENOS AIRES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.
ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN RECIPIENTS OF THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION
FUND GRANT.
ENCANTO IN THE EARLY '80s GOT $250,000, WHICH HELPED.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE STATESIDE LAND & WATER
CONSERVATION FUND IS IT'S MATCHED.
SO THE COMMUNITY, PRIVATE DONATIONS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS
HAVE GONE TO LEVERAGE THAT MONEY FAR, FAR BEYOND WHERE IT WOULD
HAVE GONE OTHERWISE.
AND WE KNOW FROM ECONOMIC STUDIES A DOLLAR OF LAND & WATER
CONSERVATION FUND RETURNS AT LEAST $4 IN INVESTMENT IN
ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
SO I'M HERE IN PHOENIX BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PARKS AND
OPEN SPACES.
I'M HERE IN PHOENIX BECAUSE YOUR MAYOR IS ONE OF THE MAYORS FOR
PARKS.
I WAS IN FT. WORTH, TEXAS WITH REPUBLICAN MAYOR BETSY PRICE,
AND GOVERNOR PERRY'S APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND
WILDLIFE COMMISSION, WHO GAVE A SPEECH THAT WAS BETTER THAN ONE
I'VE EVER GIVEN ON THE VALUE OF FULL PERMANENT FUNDING FOR THE
LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
PEOPLE LOVE THEIR PARKS.
IT'S NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.
IT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT, AND I CAN'T THINK OF A
BETTER ILLUSTRATION OF THAT THAN HERE IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX.
ALSO I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING ELSE, AND THAT IS OUR
FRONT ROW OF BOY SCOUTS HERE.
A FEW OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AND A FEW OLDER SCOUTS IN THE BACK.
IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PARKS IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO ENGAGE
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEM.
NOAH HERE IN THE FRONT ROW FINISHED A PROJECT, AND I HOPE
IF IT'S NOT TOO HOT, YOU SHOULD WALK OUT AND LOOK AT HIS HANDY
WORK, WHICH IS REPLACING ALL OF THE INTERPRETIVE SIGNS ON THIS
TRAIL RIGHT OUTSIDE THE VISITOR CENTER, AND MAKING THEM
ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, LEVERAGING
TECHNOLOGY SO THAT YOU CAN USE YOUR SMARTPHONE TO GET THE
INFORMATION.
THAT EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT IS A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF A YOUNG
PERSON THAT WILL NEVER LOOK AT THIS PARK THE SAME WAY AS IF HE
HADN'T DONE THAT PROJECT.
AND IN THE MUSEUM I SAW ANOTHER EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT, A DISPLAY
OF ORE WHEN THIS AREA WAS MINED.
THIS WAS A CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS CAMP WAY BACK IN THE
'30s, 1937.
THE STATUE OUT THERE IS OF A CCC WORKER.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO BRING BACK THE CCC 2.0, AND THAT
IS TO ENGAGE MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS
THROUGH YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS CREWS, THROUGH EAGLE SCOUT
PROJECTS, THROUGH BOY SCOUTS VISITING, GETTING OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE TRADES PEOPLE, PEOPLE FROM THE
COMMUNITY TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK ON THESE PARKS, AND WE SEE THAT
GROWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO BACK IN THE '30s, SUPPORTED THROUGH THE NEW DEAL, PAID FOR
BY THE FEDERAL TREASURY.
THE FEDERAL TREASURY IS NOT SO INTERESTED IN PAYING FOR THAT
TODAY, BUT WE CAN BRING THE CCC BACK BY WORKING WITH YOUTH
CONSERVATION CORPS CREWS AND VOLUNTEER CREWS AND GIVE THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE A CONNECTION TO PLACE THAT WILL NEVER LEAVE THEM
SO THEY WILL CARE ABOUT PARKS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, NOAH, FOR YOUR GOOD EAGLE SCOUT WORK.
I WANT TO THANK THE REST OF THE SCOUTS FOR ALL THOSE MERIT
BADGES YOU'RE WEARING.
YOU LOOK LIKE FRENCH GENERALS, YOU'VE GOT SO MANY THINGS ON.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF THESE LANDS.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE OUT HERE, YOU ARE STEWARDS OF
THE LANDS, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.
SO THANKS FOR WELCOMING ME TO PHOENIX.
THANKS FOR THE WONDERFUL MORNING THAT I'VE HAD.
THANKS FOR THE LACK OF HUMIDITY THAT I'M NOW GETTING USED TO IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF HERE, AND I
CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE TO HELP HIGHLIGHT WHY THIS LAND &
WATER CONSERVATION FUND IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'LL TURN IT BACK TO JIM.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, SECRETARY JEWELL,
FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
IT'S A GREAT ASSIGNMENT WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING
AND GO TO A CITY PARK.
SO I DON'T MIND HAVING DONE IT.
WE DID ALSO TAKE THE CHANCE TO DRIVE THROUGH SOUTH MOUNTAIN
PARK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS HERE.
THEY'RE OVER 100 YEARS OLD -- 90 YEARS OLD, AND THEY NEED SOME
RETROFIT.
SO WE'LL BE PUTTING IN A GRANT REQUEST FOR THAT.
SO MY COLLEAGUE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM THERE, BRIAN MARTIN, I
HOPE YOU TAKE A CHANCE TO READ IT, IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH STATE
PARKS AND BE CONSIDERED TO BE SENT DOWN TO THE FEDS.
BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A FUTURE GRANT
FOR THIS PARK TO HELP IMPROVE IT.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER GREAT SUPPORTER OF THE
PARK SYSTEM.
IN HER PART-TIME JOB, SHE'S VICE CHAIR OF THE CITY PARKS AND
RECREATION BOARD.
SPENDS A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT POLICY ISSUES, TALKING ABOUT
ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF PROPERTY AND THE IMPACTS OF
THOSE USES.
AND IN HER FULL-TIME JOB, SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
AUDUBON ARIZONA, WHICH IS A GREAT PARTNER WITH US AT RIO
SALADO.
AND WITH THAT, SARAH PORTER, WOULD YOU MAKE A FEW COMMENTS?
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, JIM.
AND I HAD TO TAKE THAT MOMENT TO TELL SECRETARY JEWELL HOW WE ARE
DOING A PROGRAM AT AUDUBON TO GET URBAN KIDS FROM PHOENIX TO
GO INTO THE RIO SALADO AND DO HABITAT ASSESSMENTS FUNDED BY
THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.
SO IT'S A WONDERFUL TRIANGLE OF FEDERAL SUPPORT AND AGENCY
INVOLVEMENT.
A GREAT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AN NGO,
AUDUBON, AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX.
SO THANKS FOR LETTING ME HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE THAT PLUG, JIM.
I'M REALLY DELIGHTED TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF MY FELLOW MEMBERS
OF THE PHOENIX PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD THIS MORNING,
AND I WISH, MADAM SECRETARY, THAT YOU HAD BEEN ABLE TO SEE
MORE OF OUR PARK SYSTEM.
I KNOW YOU SAW SOME HIGHLIGHTS, BUT IT WAS JUST A TINY BIT OF
THE GREAT PARK SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX.
AND I HAVE TO ADD, WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT PARKS STAFF LED BY JIM
BURKE, AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY AS CITIZENS OF PHOENIX.
AND THANK YOU PARK STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.
WE KNOW THAT THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND HAS TOUCHED A
LARGE NUMBER OF PARKS IN PHOENIX.
IN FACT, MORE THAN 10 MILLION DOLLARS OF LAND AND WATER
CONSERVATION FUND MONIES OVER THE COURSE OF THE DECADES OF THE
FUND HAVE BEEN LEVERAGED WITH LOCAL FUNDS TO DEVELOP MORE THAN
70 TRADITIONAL PHOENIX CITY PARKS AND SEVERAL DESERT
PRESERVES.
NEARLY 40% OF PHOENIX'S PARKS HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE LAND
AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
THINK OF THAT... 40% OF OUR PARKS.
OVER THE DECADES, LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANTS HAVE
BEEN USED TO BUILD SWIMMING POOLS, BASKETBALL COURTS,
ATHLETIC FIELDS, TO LIGHT FIELDS, TO BUILD OTHER
AMENITIES, TO BUILD THOSE URBAN LAKES THAT SECRETARY JEWELL SAW
MULTI-GENERATIONS GO TO AND LEARN HOW TO FISH, AND THE LIST
GOES ON AND ON.
PATHS, AREA LIGHTING, AMENITIES LIKE RESTROOMS, PICNIC AREAS,
THE THINGS THAT WE GO TO OUR PARKS FOR.
IN MANY, MANY INSTANCES, LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANTS
HAVE BEEN USED TO KICKSTART DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PARK SITES
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VACANT LOTS OTHERWISE.
IN MY OWN CHILDHOOD, I GREW UP IN PHOENIX, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A
GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, AND I REMEMBER AS A KID WISHING, JUST
WISHING, ALL THE KIDS DID, WE WISHED WE HAD A PARK TO PLAY IN.
AROUND THE TIME I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, THAT PARK WAS DEVELOPED
WITH FUNDING FROM THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
AND IT WASN'T THAT MUCH FUNDING.
YOU KNOW, $150,000.
BUT THAT GOT THE PARK GOING.
WELL, THAT'S THE PARK MY OWN CHILDREN GREW UP PLAYING IN.
AND I PASSED THROUGH THAT PARK THIS MORNING AS A WATER STOP ON
THE END OF MY RUN, AND IT WAS FULL OF PEOPLE.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
IT WAS FULL OF TODDLERS PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
IT HAD PARENTS PRACTICING SOCCER WITH THEIR SCHOOL-AGE KIDS.
THERE WERE PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS, PEOPLE SITTING IN THE
SHADE CHATTING.
IT'S THAT KIND OF FUNDING THAT MADE IT HAPPEN, AND IT'S THAT
KIND OF PARK THAT CREATES UNITY AND KIND OF TOGETHERNESS,
COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR US AS RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF PHOENIX.
OUR MOST -- WHAT'S OUR MOST ICONIC PARK IN PHOENIX, BESIDES
ENCANTO?
WHAT'S OUR MOST ICONIC -- CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN!
THANK YOU.
EVEN CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN IS THERE FOR US TO ENJOY IN PART.
OF COURSE, THE MOUNTAIN WAS THERE.
BUT WHY DO WE GET TO ENJOY IT?
IT'S BECAUSE OF, IN PART, LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND MONIES.
THOSE GRANTS HELPED TO FUND THE ACQUISITION OF THE LAND THAT
MAKES THE ECHO CANYON RECREATION AREA.
IN PEAK SEASON, OVER 10,000 PEOPLE A WEEK ARE HIKING VIA
ECHO CANYON.
SO ONE OF THE GREATEST TOURIST AMENITIES, ONE OF THE MOST
ICONIC PLACES IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX, WAS DEVELOPED THANKS TO
THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
I GO AROUND TO OUR GREAT COUNTY PARKS, OUR STATE PARKS --
R.J. -- OUR STATE PARKS, AND OUR GREAT CITY PARKS, AND, OF
COURSE, EVERY VACATION I TAKE, I'M AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, I GO TO
OUR GREAT NATIONAL PARKS, AND I ALWAYS STOP AND GIVE THANKS.
I'M THANKFUL THAT PEOPLE HAD THE FORESIGHT TO INVEST IN PARKS.
I NEVER FORGET HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT SOMEBODY A COUPLE
DECADES AGO PUT THE MONEY INTO CREATING A PARK, SECURING A
SPACE SO THAT IT COULD BE SHARED BY THE PUBLIC.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE CITY OF PHOENIX IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
GROW, AND IF WE WANT TO BE A GREAT CITY, IF WE WANT TO BE A
CITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE HAPPY, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE PLACES TO GO
AND BE PART OF A COMMUNITY, WE KNOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE
INVESTING IN PARKS.
SO WE SIMPLY CANNOT UNDERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONTINUED
FUNDING OF THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND TO MAKE THAT
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, SARAH.
GREAT COMMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO BRING UP OUR FINAL SPEAKER, AND I WAS REALLY
THRILLED TO HEAR THE MAYOR INTRODUCE A COMMENT ABOUT TIM
THIS MORNING, THAT TIM IS OCCASIONALLY A NEEDLE IN HIS
SIDE, BECAUSE HE'S CHOSEN TO PLAY THAT ROLE WITH ME, TOO.
TIM'S A GREAT SUPPORTER OF DOWNTOWN, GREAT SUPPORTER OF
PARKS, AND HE'S PUTTING HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS.
HE'S A DEVELOPER AND A PROJECT PERSON IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO HE'S HERE TO GIVE US A LITTLE POINT OF VIEW FROM THE BUSINESS
WORLD IN ECONOMICS ON THE VALUE OF PARKS.
TIM SPRAGUE.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> YES, I CAN BE A THORN IN THE
SIDE EVERY NOW AND THEN.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF PARKS.
WHO AM I?
I'M A GUY THAT DEVELOPED REAL ESTATE, BUT I'VE ALSO GOT
ANOTHER HAT ON NOWADAYS.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE HANCE PARK CONSERVANCY.
HANCE PARK IS A 32-ACRE PARK IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX RIGHT NEXT TO
WHERE I'VE GOT SOME REAL ESTATE PROJECTS GOING ON.
AND THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF
PARKS IS TO TALK ABOUT THREE TIMES IN MY LIFE.
I GREW UP IN LUND, OKLAHOMA, A SMALL TOWN.
AND I GREW UP LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM A CITY-BLOCK
PARK THAT WAS BUILT BY THE CCC.
AND THAT WAS THE FOCAL POINT OF MY LIFE.
IMAGINE THIS... 13 BOYS LIVED AROUND THIS PARK.
I LEARNED TO RIDE A BICYCLE THERE.
WE PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, TENNIS.
THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF OUR LIVES.
BUT I REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THAT FOR MY ECONOMY
UNTIL I WENT TO GRADE SCHOOL, AND IT SEEMED THAT EVERY DAY THE
GUYS WANTED TO COME HOME TO MY HOUSE AND PLAY AFTER SCHOOL.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY GREAT PERSONALITY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I FOUND OUT?
IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY PARK ACROSS THE STREET.
WELL, IT REALLY HAD AN IMPACT IN MY LIFE AND IT DID BACK THEN.
WELL, LET'S FAST FORWARD TO 2002, 2003 IN MY LIFE.
THAT'S AT A TIME WHEN RICHARD FLORIDA WROTE HIS BOOK "THE RISE
OF THE CREATIVE CLASS," WE STARTED LEARNING ABOUT HOW
CITIES ARE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE BEST BUSINESSES, ABLE TO ATTRACT
THE KNOWLEDGE-BASE WORKERS.
REALLY THAT'S THE TIME THAT THE MILLENNIALS STARTED COMING OUT
OF SCHOOL.
MY KIDS STARTED COMING OUT OF SCHOOL.
AND DURING THAT TIME PERIOD HE SAID, YOU KNOW: YOU'VE GOT TO
HAVE A TOLERANT SOCIETY, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN URBAN CORE AND
YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE RECREATION.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THINGS THAT WILL PULL THOSE KIDS BACK TO
WHERE YOU ARE.
WELL, ABOUT THAT SAME TIME MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND I DECIDED
WE WERE GOING TO BUILD IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, OR BUILD ALONG
THE LIGHT RAIL.
WELL, A REAL CRITICAL DECISION FOR US IS THAT WE ENDED UP
ACQUIRING A PIECE OF LAND FROM THE CITY OF PHOENIX THAT WAS
NEXT DOOR TO THIS 32-ACRE PARK THAT I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.
AND AT THAT TIME WE BUILT A PROJECT THAT WAS 54 UNITS, SIX
STORIES TALL OVERLOOKING THE PARK AND THE JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP
GARDENS.
WE SOLD 52 OF THOSE THINGS BEFORE WE FINISHED CONSTRUCTION.
AND I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
IT WAS LOCATION NEXT TO A PARK.
AND EVERYBODY LOVES LIVING THERE.
WELL, THE RECESSION HAPPENED, AND IN 2009 THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC
LANDS CAME OUT WITH A STUDY, AND THEY FOUND THAT -- 30-PLUS
STUDIES HAD GONE ON, AND THEY FOUND THERE WERE SOME ITEMS
ABOUT THE INHERENT VALUE OF PARKS.
NUMBER ONE, PROPERTY VALUE THAT WE REALIZED AT OUR CONDO
PROJECT, WHICH BY THE WAY, SOLD FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20% MORE THAN
ANY OTHER PRODUCT AROUND.
THE NEXT IS THAT THE HEALTH VALUE, WHICH IS VERY OBVIOUS.
TOURISM, WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT HERE.
BUT LASTLY, IT'S COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS THAT COMES OUT OF A
PARK WHICH IS A VALUE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT
WE'RE DOING WITH HANCE PARK.
AND THAT GETS TO THE THIRD PART OF MY LIFE.
I HAVE TWO PROJECTS NEXT TO THE PARK, AND PEOPLE SAY, "WELL,
SPRAGUE, YOU'RE PROBABLY INTERESTED IN THAT PARK BECAUSE
OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THAT FROM?"
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE.
I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THAT PARK BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I HAVE
FOUR KIDS THAT ARE NOW GROWN, THEY'RE OUT, THEY HAVE GREAT
JOBS, BUT ONLY ONE LIVES HERE IN PHOENIX.
HOW AM I GOING TO BRING THEM BACK?
WELL, I THINK THE WAY I'M GOING TO BRING THEM BACK IS TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE THIS A GREAT CITY.
AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT I CAN DO IS PARTICIPATE AND
SUPPORT OUR PARKS, BECAUSE THAT'S AN ELEMENT OF MY LIFE AND
AN ELEMENT OF ALL OF US THAT WILL MAKE PHOENIX A BETTER PLACE
AND MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE TO GET THE BEST BUSINESSES, MAKE IT
ATTRACTIVE TO GET THE BEST PEOPLE TO COME.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
SELFISHLY, IT'S GOING TO BRING MY KIDS BACK HOME.
SO I CANNOT ASK YOU TO DO ANY MORE EXCEPT TO SUPPORT THE
PARKS, SUPPORT THE WAY WE LIVE.
AND WE HAVE A GREAT PLACE HERE.
AND THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND, IT JUST
BEFUDDLES ME THAT WE DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
THAT'S NO MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET.
THAT'S NOT A TAX DOLLAR.
IT'S COMING OUT.
SO LET'S REAP THE BENEFITS OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND BRING
THEM BACK HOME.
THANKS.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, TIM.
THOSE ARE GREAT COMMENTS.
THAT'S THE END OF THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE ANOTHER PARKS BOARD
MEMBER, CHARLENE TARVER WHO IS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND SUPPORTING US.
AND THEN THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR DISTRICT 8, COUNCILWOMAN GALLEGO
IS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING PHOENIX PARKS, ARIZONA STATE
PARKS, COUNTY PARKS, EVERYTHING IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
AND THANK YOU, SECRETARY JEWELL, FOR COMING HERE AND KICKING OFF
THIS EVENT.
YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU, NOW.
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