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Some parks won't help satisfy that outdoors craving

Friday, June 23, 2006

Put away the charcoal and stick to the urban trail for your morning run.

County and city officials are implementing partial fire and use restrictions in all city and county parks beginning today. Law enforcement, with the help of volunteers, will be out in search of people who choose to ignore the restrictions and closures.

The restrictions will take effect in conjunction with Coconino National Forest closure of its 1.8 million acres to public access today at 8 a.m., and will remain in effect indefinitely. The decision was made in collaboration with a multi-agency group of fire, natural resource, emergency preparedness and law enforcement professionals.

Law enforcement will have discretion in enforcing the closures and restrictions with warnings, tickets and even jail if violators don't have a permanent address.

"Our goal is to get compliance," said Sgt. Tom Boughner of the Flagstaff Police Department.

Violators can be ticketed for trespassing, a class 1 misdemeanor that carries the possibility of fines and even jail time, Boughner said. And if officers come upon violators who don't have a permanent address, they will be arrested and booked into jail.

"We are using the volunteer patrols on the FUTS and access points as witnesses," Boughner said. "We'll be using our selective enforcement squads on bicycles also."

Here's a list of the restrictions and what trails and park they impact:

City of Flagstaff park and trail restrictions:

* Mars Hill Trail, from Thorpe Road to Lowell Mesa South Fork Forest Road;

* Tunnel springs, from Lowell Mesa south Fork Forest Road to Railroad Springs;

* Little America Trail, from Foxglenn Park to Little America Hotel;

* Arizona Trail/Fisher Point Trail, Babbitt Way to Fisher Point Trail;

* Sinclair Wash Trail, Babbitt Way to Lone Tree Road;

* Fort Tuthill Trail, Coconino County Fairgrounds property to Mountain Dell Road;

* All trail entrances leading into the Forest Service Pipeline Trail (Shadow Mountain, Swiss Manor and Skyline Estates subdivision and Buffalo Park);

* McPherson disc golf course.

Note: Buffalo Park is not closed, but the trails north of the park are closed.

Coconino County park and trail restrictions:

* All trails on county parks and recreation property will be closed.

* Campgrounds and picnic ramadas will remain open for "cold" use only, meaning the use of gas and propane stoves is prohibited.

* Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas of Fort Tuthill County Park during special events or inside vehicles. Smoking will only be allowed in vehicles in all other county parks.

* The FTCP archery range and horse jump course is closed.

* Public access to all undeveloped areas of park land (forest, wetlands, meadows, etc.) will be closed.

* Vehicles must remain on improved surfaces (asphalt, asphalt millings, cinders, concrete, or gravel).

* Pyrotechnics and projectiles are not allowed on county park properties at any time.

To lessen the chance of a fire at county parks, Coconino County Parks and Recreation staff will do the following:

* All county park properties and facilities subject to the terms of the closure will display informational signs at significant access points and other key areas.

* Park visitors will be provided a fire prevention instruction brochure at all events with controlled entry. FTCP lessees will be required to distribute the brochures to their participants and attendees.

* Coconino Rural Environment Corps crews will assist Parks and Recreation staff with light fuels removal at FTCP next week, prior to the horse races.

For more information on County restrictions, call Coconino County Parks and Recreation at (928) 679-8000. For more information on City restrictions, call City of Flagstaff Parks and Recreation at (928) 779-7690.

FOREST CLOSURE BEGINS

The Coconino National Forest will completely close its 1.8 million acres to public access at 8 a.m. Campfire and smoking restrictions started last month on the Coconino, but extreme fire danger and firefighting resources stretched thin have prompted forest officials to close the forest. Fines for violating the closure range from $100 to $5,000.

Flagstaff's three national monuments will also close on this morning. Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon and Wupatki will remain closed until significant precipitation is received to lower the fire danger.

Included in the Coconino closures are:

* All campgrounds, day use picnic areas and cabins on the forest.

* All trails on the Coconino National Forest.

* All lakes, including Lake Mary, Ashurst Lake, Kinnikinick Lake, Blue Ridge Reservoir, Stoneman Lake.

* Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area north of Flagstaff.

* St. Joseph's Youth Camp near Mormon Lake.

* Arizona Snowbowl Skyride.

* All National Forest System roads will be closed, but all interstates, state and county roads through the Coconino National Forest will remain open.

Navajo Nation or Alpine Ranchos residents who need to travel the paved loop road (Forest Road 545) through Wupatki and Sunset Crater will be able to obtain permits from Forest Service ranger stations or the Flagstaff Area National Monument headquarters, 6400 N. Highway 89. The road will be closed to all other travel.

KAIBAB FOREST RESTRICTIONS

Additional restrictions on the Kaibab National Forest began Wednesday.

Operating a chainsaw and or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited on the Tusayan and Williams districts. The use of generators within developed fee campgrounds will be permitted.

An area-closure for the Bill Williams Mountain Watershed is in effect. Public access into the Bill Williams Mountain Watershed is closed until further notice. All activities will be prohibited -- including camping, hiking, biking and on or off road motorized travel.

* Campfire and smoking restrictions, still in effect for the Kaibab National Forest, prohibit campfires, charcoal grills and open-flame stove fires outside of developed fee recreation sites. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.

* Smoking is only allowed within an enclosed vehicle or building.

* Other restrictions still in place for the Tusayan and Williams ranger districts include welding or operating acetylene or other torches with open flames, use of explosives and cross country travel (off designated forest roads) by motorized vehicles.

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