FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - The Arizona Historical Society has pulled out of agreements to fund three historical sites, citing the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
That leaves some uncertainty about the future of Historic Fort Lowell and Downtown History Museum in Tucson, but Arizona State Parks and Trails says it will take over the expenses for Riordan Mansion Historic State Park in Flagstaff, the Arizona Daily Sun reported Thursday.
“We will assume operations of the park,” said Michelle Thompson, spokeswoman for the agency. “Our goal is to reopen the park to the public with COVID precautions in place.”
The vote by the historical society board to leave the agreements was nearly unanimous. One board member voted to stay in the Historic Fort Lowell deal.
Some community members criticized the historical society for a lack of communication and transparency, which the board denied. Some asked for the organization to keep supporting the sites, but the board did not spend much time discussing ways to stay in the agreements at a recent meeting, the newspaper reported.
Board president Linda Whitaker said the historical society had been clear, informing the state park agency of its intention to pull out of the deals.
Bob Broscheid, executive director of Arizona State Parks and Trails, said a collective of Flagstaff residents that supports the preservation of Riordan Mansion told the agency about it.
“To my knowledge, myself and staff were not aware the board was considering this action until that came up,” Broscheid said.
The board also said it reached out to the city of Flagstaff but did not hear back.
“Members of the city council and the city manager are not returning calls,” Whitaker said. “They are probably holding their breath until after an election. … It’s critical for entities to come to the table.”
City spokeswoman Jessica Drum said she couldn’t find a record of a letter or a call and that Flagstaff wasn’t “aware of the request at this point.”
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