Save Pinetop-Lakeside's Crown Jewel

Woodland Lake Park is a community recreational gem located in the high pine forest of Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona. Thousands of people visit our park to fish, hike, picnic, play ball, bicycle, and view wildlife. View map

Only slightly smaller than New York City's Central Park, it contains 583 acres of forest, meadows, a lake, stream, backcountry and urban trails, and enough wildlife to amaze and enthrall us all. Desert-dwellers from Phoenix and Tucson who come here to escape the summer heat and those of us lucky to live here year-round know Woodland Lake Park as the "crown jewel" of Pinetop-Lakeside.

In fact, it is a valuable asset for the people (and wildlife!) of greater southern Navajo County. Chances are that if you've been to the White Mountains of Arizona, you've probably visited Woodland Lake Park.

Special Note: See this recent Update  from the Woodland Lake Park Acquistion Committee. (PDF reader required.)

Why It Could Disappear

Woodland Lake Park is at risk. Many people don't realize that our Park is not the property of Pinetop-Lakeside. It is land owned by the U.S. Forest Service.

The Town of Pinetop-Lakeside has a short-term special-use permit to manage the Park as a community resource. The Park is disjunct from the main extent of the Apache/Sitgreaves National Forest; growth and development within the Town makes the Park difficult for the Forest Service to manage.

Recently, this parcel was placed on a list of Forest Service lands eligible for sale under a proposal initiated by President George Bush to raise funds for rural schools. While this proposal has not been passed, it made our Town realize that unless it purchases the land from the U.S. Forest Service, it may be sold for development at some point.

This unique and special resource could be lost unless we work together to SAVE OUR PARK.