In The News

Jan

2022

What Are People Thinking?

Letters to the Editor, Jan. 1, 2022

· Jan 1, 2022

What are people thinking?

Trusting that all have been enjoying a wonderful holiday hiatus with family and friends. What a blessing it is to celebrate with our loved ones, especially the kids. Some folks had other more nefarious things on their minds though.

Christmas morning I got a text from my Yuma East Wetlands (YEW) manager, stating that some miscreants had broken into to the parking lot of the Colorado River State Historic Park (CRSHP). These individuals destroyed fencing, and then commenced to vandalizing and stripping the trucks that our crew uses to maintain the YEW, and drove off with the gator vehicle as well. Fortunately, we recovered the gator in Gateway Park, albeit not fully functional. The truck sports smashed windows, and is without batteries, just for starters.

Dec

2021

YTP OPENING 7 DAYS A WEEK

OPENING 7 Days a week on December 20th with the exception of the Christmas holiday.

CLOSED December 24th and 25th.

Nov

2021

Giving Tuesday Kick Off

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is excited to kick off our Annual Giving Tuesday Campaign where you can “Be Yuma’s Future by Investing in Its Past”. Our goal this year is to raise $50,000 to help enhance the visitor experience at the Colorado River State Historic Park, Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park and the Yuma East Wetlands.

Nov

2021

KYMA - National Heritage Area Reauthorization

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z2dKmzqAnM

Nov

2021

National Heritage Area Act Video

We are excited to share the National Heritage Area Act video with you. This video shares the importance on Heritage Area’s across the nation and highlights what they do for local and national economies.

Nov

2021

Arizona Highways Discovering the City of Yuma

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is excited to share an amazing episode of Arizona Highways Television that features Yuma, Arizona and everything within the YCNHA footprint! We are very thankful to the Arizona Highways team for creating this segment and showing everyone how unique Yuma is and how historic downtown is a great place to visit!

Aug

2021

Yuma Wetlands Are A Regional Gem Being Impacted By Climate and Drought Concerns

INCREASE THE FLOW OF WATER TO THE YUMA WETLANDS: REGIONAL GEM BEING IMPACTED BY DROUGHT

Lowell Perry, Jr., Executive Director, Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area & Fred Phillips, Fred Phillips Consulting

The effects of sustained drought are real. One need only look to the proliferation of wildfires, dying vegetation, and record temperatures across the country to realize that scientific fact. It is of special concern to those of us living in the desert southwest, where water is a premium commodity, especially in Yuma, Arizona. The Yuma area, including the nearby Imperial Valley in California, both along the lower Colorado River, produces nearly 90% of the leafy fresh vegetables grown in the United States from November through March.

Jul

2021

Graffiti and other vandalism a problem at riverfront heritage area

By JAMES GILBERT SUN STAFF WRITER

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area has been experiencing issues with vandalism throughout the riverfront area and is asking for the public’s help to report anyone seen causing damage or dumping trash.

“Although it has been an ongoing thing, it seems like it has gotten worse over the past two weeks,” said Jesus Melendrez, Natural Resource Program Manager. “It is really frustrating.”

Melendrez explained that the Heritage area only has four employees and the workers have recently been spending at least two days at the beginning of the week removing graffiti and repairing damage.

Jul

2021

Yuma Territorial Prison turns 145 years old

Exactly 145 years ago today, on July 1, 1876, the Yuma Territorial Prison welcomed its first prisoner, William Ball of Tucson. He had been sentenced to life for second-degree murder.

In honor of the anniversary, the state park now hopes to welcome 145 visitors and raise at least $145 in donations on this day. Funds are needed to restore the sally port at the historic prison, which is made of adobe and has sustained water damage. To donate online, go to www.yumaheritage.com/donate.html or www.yumaprison.org.

May

2021

Colorado River state park boasts new sculpture fabricated by Aztec High School welding students

An interactive sculpture fabricated by Aztec High School’s next generation of welders joins the scenery of Colorado River State Historic Park, providing new photo ops to those who visit the locale at 201 N. Fourth Avenue.

Unveiled Wednesday, the “Youma” selfie station is the fruition of a three-year-old vision shared by the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area (YCNHA), Greater Yuma Economic Development Council and Weld Like A Girl’s chief wellness welder Shanen Aranmor, who helped charter Aztec’s welding program last fall.