Vote Yes on 403, Yes on 404!

Click here to read the WLP Acquisition Summary

August Mail-In Election, Town of Pinetop-Lakeside

Statement of Save Our Park Inc. on 403:
The restaurant and bar tax was implemented in 2003 as a fair and equitable means of allowing visitors to our Town to share in the cost of the Town’s recreational facilities. Since then, revenue from this tax has been applied toward retirement of the bonds issued to fund development of the Mountain Meadow Recreation Complex. But these bonds are not yet retired.

A “yes” vote would merely continue the tax paid by restaurant and bar patrons at the current level, thereby allowing the Town to meet its debt obligations. Upon retirement of the bond debt for the Mountain Meadow Recreation Complex, two-thirds of this revenue would be available to fund Parks and Recreation operations and maintenance expenses. One-third of the revenue would go toward acquisition of Woodland Lake Park, open space preservation, urban trail development and parks capital improvements. Read more...

Statement of Save Our Park Inc. on 404:
Woodland Lake Park is essential to our quality lifestyle in the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside. But the Park is Forest Service land and has been repeatedly listed as excess Federal property.

If action by the Town is not taken soon, the Forest Service and Congress will assume that the Town is not committed to acquiring the Park and will otherwise dispose of the property. The loss of the Park would mean the loss of $4 million in park facilities and handicap-accessible improvements already made by the Town. Value of the required environmental study now underway (much of which was funded by citizens and businesses) would be lost. The Town and local businesses would also lose the revenue now being generated from many events at the Park and from tourists in town to attend these events. Read more...

Letters to the Editor Regarding the Future of Woodland Lake Park

Citizens of Pinetop-Lakeside:

August 25, 2016 is the 100th Birthday of the National Park Service, which was created by an Act of Congress and signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916.

Why do I mention this? I mention this because we have the opportunity to establish a legacy for our beloved Town similar to the legacy established by Congress and the President for our beloved Nation.

In August 2011, we have the opportunity to begin preserving Woodland Lake Park for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. If we fail to grasp this opportunity, the consequences may be dire.  

Imagine how Grand Canyon National Park might look today had our forefathers not possessed the wisdom and foresight to act as they did.

Let us establish our legacy.  Let us affirm the wise and courageous action taken by our Town Council on February 3, 2011, when Ordinances 11-349 and 11-350 were enacted.

Let us now do our part by voting YES on Propositions 403 and 404 when our mail-in ballots arrive in early August.

Roger P. Balzer

Read more letters to the editor

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.