PHOENIX - s4story -- The Arizona Heritage Alliance commended the Arizona State Parks Board for approving Fiscal Year 2026 Heritage Fund grants totaling $848,847 across three funding categories: Historic Preservation, Environmental Education, and Local, Regional, and State Parks (LRSP). The grants, reviewed and approved at the Board's March 19 meeting in Phoenix, represent a broad and meaningful investment in protecting Arizona's historic places, connecting residents – especially young people – with the natural world, and improving park infrastructure in communities across the state.

The Arizona Heritage Alliance, a bipartisan, non-profit organization founded in 1992 to protect, preserve, and enhance Arizona's historic, cultural, and natural heritage, closely monitors the stewardship of the Heritage Fund and advocates for its full restoration as intended by Arizona voters. With the Heritage Fund still not fully restored following its exclusion from the FY25 state budget, the Alliance views these grant awards as a vital lifeline for Arizona's preservation and parks community – and a powerful reminder of what is at stake if the Fund continues to be underfunded.

FY26 Heritage Fund Historic Preservation Grant Awards — $453,130

• Naco Heritage Alliance: $60,000 for preservation and structural stabilization of Barracks A4 at Camp Naco, one of the best-preserved remaining Buffalo Soldier border posts in the country, constructed in 1919.
• Arizona State Parks: $60,000 for repair of the historic fireplace, chimney, windows, doors, and adobe structure of the Kannally Ranch House at Oracle State Historic Park, preserving interior wall paintings and supporting continued public programming.
• Arizona Historical Society: $60,000 for Phase 1 planning to preserve two surviving World War II prisoner-of-war structures from Camp Papago – a 1943 POW camp in Phoenix – with a long-term vision to create a museum exhibit at the Arizona Heritage Center in Tempe.
• Friends of San Rafael State Natural Area: $43,640 for structural repairs to the historic San Rafael Ranch House, including the wrap-around veranda, dormer windows, and double-hung windows, with plaster repairs to address past water damage.
• City of Tucson Planning & Development Services: $58,180 for Phase 1 of a historic resource survey of parks and recreation facilities across Tucson, establishing the historical context and analytical framework to guide future evaluation and designation efforts.
• St. Philips Preservation and Endowment Foundation: $60,000 for Phase 2 stabilization of the mud adobe south facade wall of Saint Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, which has separated from its framework and poses a structural risk.
• Patronato San Xavier: $60,000 for rehabilitation of the decorative retablo facade at the Mission San Xavier del Bac, including replacement of the central wooden balcony – a defining architectural feature last replaced in 1953 – at this active parish church serving the Wa:k O'odham community.
• St. Michael's School: $51,310 for rehabilitation of character-defining historic wood features on the west wing of the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church and School campus in Tucson, supporting continued use as active classroom space.

FY26 Heritage Fund Environmental Education Grant Awards — $99,517

• Beyond Foundation: $20,000 to support Beyond Summer Mountain Bike Camps, connecting youth with Arizona's outdoor environments through trail-based education and recreation.
• EmpoweRanch: $20,000 for accessible and inclusive outdoor camps for youth with disabilities, based on the H.O.R.S.E.E. (Horsemanship, Outdoor Recreation, Service, Education, and Empowerment) format.
• Advocates for Snake Preservation: $19,517 to develop a Snake Advocate Toolkit, expanding public education and appreciation for Arizona's native snake species.
• Grand Canyon Youth: $20,000 for an education and adventure program connecting Arizona youth with Arizona waterways, combining river-based learning with environmental stewardship.
• Wheel Fun: $20,000 for the Empowering Tomorrow program, using cycling and outdoor recreation to engage youth in environmental education and community connection.

FY26 Heritage Fund Local, Regional, and State Parks (LRSP) Grant Awards — $296,200

• City of Willcox: $100,000 for construction of pickleball courts at Keiller Park, expanding recreational amenities for residents of Willcox and surrounding communities.
• La Paz County: $96,200 for water system development at Hippie Hole, a popular recreational destination along the Colorado River, improving infrastructure and visitor access.
• Dishchii'bikoh Community School: $100,000 for construction of a community baseball field, providing critical outdoor recreational space for the students and families of the White Mountain Apache community.

"These grants touch every corner of Arizona – from a frontier military post near the border to a community baseball field on the White Mountain Apache homeland to a working mission church in Tucson that has served its community for more than two centuries," said Jim McPherson, Board Chair of the Arizona Heritage Alliance. "This is exactly what the Heritage Fund was designed to do: invest in the places, programs, and people that make Arizona extraordinary. The Arizona Heritage Alliance is deeply grateful to Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona State Legislature for approving the funding that makes this grant cycle possible. Their commitment to Arizona's historic, cultural, and natural resources is felt today in every community represented in these awards. We renew our call on the Legislature to go further and fully restore the Heritage Fund so that every worthy project has a fighting chance. The voters who created this Fund deserve nothing less."

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"Arizona State Parks and Trails is proud to administer these Heritage Fund grants on behalf of Arizona's communities," said Bob Broscheid, Executive Director of Arizona State Parks and Trails. "Today's awards span historic preservation, youth environmental education, and local park improvements – reflecting the full scope of what the Heritage Fund was built to accomplish. From stabilizing a 100-year-old adobe barracks to funding summer camps that inspire the next generation of outdoor stewards, these investments will be felt in Arizona communities for decades to come. We thank Governor Hobbs and the Legislature for their support of this funding, and we look forward to seeing these projects come to life across the state."

"What strikes me most about this grant cycle is the breadth of communities we are able to serve," said John Sefton, Board Chair of the Arizona State Parks Board. "Whether it is a small town in Cochise County, a tribal community school in the White Mountains, or a nationally significant mission church in Tucson, the Heritage Fund has the reach to make a difference everywhere in Arizona. I am proud of the work this Board does to ensure these dollars are directed to the projects that need them most, and I am grateful to the many organizations and communities who put their faith in this process."

About the Arizona Heritage Alliance: Formed in 1992, the Arizona Heritage Alliance is a bipartisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded solely through private donations, grants, and memberships. The Alliance's mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Arizona's historic, cultural, and natural heritage. The Alliance actively monitors legislative and agency activity, advocates for sustainable and dedicated funding for Arizona's historic and cultural initiatives, and educates Arizonans about the benefits of the state's wildlife, open spaces, parks, and historic resources.