Arizona State Park Passes Have Priced Out Residents

Recent signers:
Hailey Wingert and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

In Yavapai County, Arizona, so many of us have lost the ability to enjoy the natural beauty of the Dead Horse Ranch State Park due to the drastic increase in annual pass fees. For countless residents, visiting the park is not just a pastime but a cherished tradition: walking our dogs, fishing, camping, enjoying a picnic under the trees. The fee hike from $75 to a staggering $200 per year has put these simple pleasures out of reach for many. This increase disproportionately affects seniors and individuals with disabilities, who are already operating on limited budgets.

We urge the Arizona state government and our local legislators to take this matter seriously. We propose the introduction of discounted year-round passes for Arizona residents and specific year-round discounts for our seniors and disabled residents. Such measures are not only fair but necessary to ensure that the open spaces remain accessible to all Arizonans.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a treasured local resource, and it is heart-wrenching for our community to be excluded from it. This is an urgent appeal to our representatives.

I ask our community to come together and sign this petition to show our government that the current pricing is not sustainable for average people. Tell them that it’s not just about a fee on a pass, but about the freedom to enjoy our natural resources. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition and lend your voice to preserving the accessibility of our parks for everyone.

avatar of the starter
Stacey DexterPetition Starter
Media inquiries

474

Recent signers:
Hailey Wingert and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

In Yavapai County, Arizona, so many of us have lost the ability to enjoy the natural beauty of the Dead Horse Ranch State Park due to the drastic increase in annual pass fees. For countless residents, visiting the park is not just a pastime but a cherished tradition: walking our dogs, fishing, camping, enjoying a picnic under the trees. The fee hike from $75 to a staggering $200 per year has put these simple pleasures out of reach for many. This increase disproportionately affects seniors and individuals with disabilities, who are already operating on limited budgets.

We urge the Arizona state government and our local legislators to take this matter seriously. We propose the introduction of discounted year-round passes for Arizona residents and specific year-round discounts for our seniors and disabled residents. Such measures are not only fair but necessary to ensure that the open spaces remain accessible to all Arizonans.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a treasured local resource, and it is heart-wrenching for our community to be excluded from it. This is an urgent appeal to our representatives.

I ask our community to come together and sign this petition to show our government that the current pricing is not sustainable for average people. Tell them that it’s not just about a fee on a pass, but about the freedom to enjoy our natural resources. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition and lend your voice to preserving the accessibility of our parks for everyone.

avatar of the starter
Stacey DexterPetition Starter
Media inquiries
Support now

474

The Decision Makers

Arizona State Parks & Trails
Arizona State Parks & Trails
Responded
“Arizona State Parks and Trails is a self-sustaining agency, not reliant on general funding (taxpayer dollars) to operate the 33 parks. This is different from the way other state park systems and the National Park Service operate. Staffing at the parks, maintenance, and general operational expenses are all paid for with revenue raised through entrance, camping and tour fees. Additional parks opening, amenities added, and park visitation increasing – along with inflation – means that the agency has not been able to increase the number of rangers in parks or tackle deferred maintenance projects – non-emergency work that maintains the infrastructure in the parks. The agency had not raised prices across all parks since 2012. Revenue earned from the increased fees will help keep parks open and operating and may be used to enhance the visitor experience with options like increased hours of operation, additional programming like guided hikes and interpretive walks, and infrastructure improvements like restroom/shower buildings, ramadas, and campground improvements. In order to continue to provide great customer service, clean restrooms, amenities that campers love, and staff to keep visitors safe, the agency needs to increase the amount of revenue it receives. Previously, Arizona State Parks and Trails offered two annual passes - one at $75 with restrictions on parks and holidays, and another at $200 with no restrictions. The agency now only offers the $200 pass. The pass is a convenience for people who visit the parks often. For a single person visiting every weekend, the $200 pass is still only $3.85 per visit, compared to the $10 single entrance fee. For a group of four adults visiting weekly, it is only $.96 per visit! For people who are unable to afford the new pass price, there is still single entrance pricing. Again, all revenue generated from the pass goes directly back to the parks - for things like trail maintenance, clean restrooms, and staffing. The pass pricing supports that. Arizona State Parks and Trails owns more than 1,100 buildings and structures, including historic buildings like those at Fort Verde, Tombstone Courthouse, Tubac Presidio, Riordan Mansion, Yuma Territorial Prison, Colorado River, McFarland, and Jerome state historic parks. Along with infrastructure for plumbing, campground electrical wiring, and roads or parking lots, the list of deferred and proposed projects reaches more than $135 million. Additionally, the agency also maintains prehistoric archaeological sites such as those at Homolovi and Lyman Lake state parks. The total number of agency staff, including rangers, park managers, administrative and those within the State Historic Preservation Office, is only 260. Michelle Thompson Deputy Assistant Director Arizona State Parks & Trails”
Nikki Check
Nikki Check
Yavapai County Supervisor Board - District 3
Responded
“From the Office of Nikki Check, Supervisor District 3 — Yavapai County Board of Supervisors: Thank you for reaching out to District 3 Supervisor Check, she has signed the petition using the provided link and appreciates you sharing this email with her.”
Katie Hobbs
Katie Hobbs
Arizona Governor
Kimberly Yee
Kimberly Yee
Arizona Treasurer

Supporter Voices

Petition updates
Share this petition
Petition created on October 30, 2025