In The News
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $25 Million from Investing in America Agenda to Protect Wetlands in Arizona
YUMA, Ariz. — The Department of the Interior today announced a $25 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to protect and maintain two areas important for resilience and drought mitigation in the Southwest — the Yuma East Wetlands and Topock Marsh in Arizona.
“Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we have historic new resources to safeguard western communities in the face of severe drought conditions, restore ecosystems and build a sustainable future,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Michael Brain. “Building on our significant milestones this year to protect the Colorado River System, we are continuing to bring every tool and resource to bear to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System and increase water efficiency across the West.”
Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton joined leadership of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the city of Yuma, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area at the Yuma East Wetlands to make the announcement.
Construction of the new East Wetlands overlook set to finish in coming months
Construction of new East Wetlands overlook set to finish in coming months
Haru Matsuri at the Colorado River State Historic Park
Contact:
Sarah Halligan
Communications Specialist
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
O – 928-373-5190
Press Release
For Immediate Release
April 1st, 2024
Colorado River Park Hosts Haru Matsuri Festival
Yuma, AZ – On Saturday, April 6th, the Colorado River State Historic Park will host Yuma’s second annual “Haru Matsuri” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gates will open at 9:30 a.m.
The Haru Matsuri, which translates into “Spring Festival” from Japanese, will be a day-long celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Culture. The festival will feature entertainment, vendors, demonstrations, crafts, and food.
“Last year was our first year, and we had a fantastic festival, but this year will be even better,” said Tammy Snook, Colorado River State Historic Park Manager. “We have more entertainment, more vendors, and more educational booths.”
East Wetlands Wins Natural Environmental Preservation Award
No less than 11 nominees populated the field for the largest category at Saturday’s Environmental Excellence Awards, hosted and sponsored by Arizona Forward, a community services organization that advocates for the sustainability of Arizona’s environment.
In its first-ever nomination, the Yuma East Wetlands emerged from the pool of finalists representing the entire state to take home the Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Award for Natural Environmental Preservation.
“We were really excited to win,” said Cathy Douglas, Executive Director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area (YCNHA), who journeyed to Scottsdale for the awards ceremony with Jesus Melendrez, the Wetlands and Facilities Manager. “We love to have that kind of recognition for Yuma and for what we’ve done to help create the Wetlands and the whole riverfront. We were nominated as a community collaborative restoration project.”
For Immediate Release: CRSHP Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
Contact:
Tammy Snook
Park Manager
Colorado River State Historic Park
O – 928-329-0471
Press Release
For Immediate Release
January 8th, 2024
Colorado River Park Hosts Free Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
Yuma, AZ – On Saturday, January 13th, at 9:30 a.m., the Colorado River State Historic Park will host their Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest.
The Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest is a free, fun, family-friendly event that invites everyone in the community to grab a box of chalk and decorate a square of the park’s sidewalk.
“The City of Yuma is hosting their annual Art in the Park at Gateway Park, right next to our historic museum, and we thought this would be a great way to support the art festivities and encourage even more folks to come and celebrate Yuma’s art community with both events,” said Tammy Snook, Park Manager of the Colorado River State Historic Park.
For Immediate Release: Yuma Crossing NHA awarded funding from the National Park Foundation
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
Sarah Halligan
928-373-5190
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Receives Grant to provide an all-expenses paid field trip to Yuma’s two state historic parks and Yuma East Wetlands.
Yuma, AZ November 13, 2023 – Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area has received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation to provide all-expenses paid field trips to Yuma County’s 3rd and 4th grade students.
Dia de los Muertos 2023
Celebrate loved ones lost with our Dia de los Muertos event at the Yuma Territorial Prison hosted in conjunction with the Chicano Art Collective.
Admission: $10; Ages 7 & under FREE
Doors OPEN @ 5:00 pm
Event Ending @ 10:00 pm
One more week to Vote
One more week of voting for Best Haunted title
Community members have one more week left to vote for the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park as the Best Haunted Destination in the nation.
As of Friday, the Territorial Prison ranked No. 2, behind Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, in the USA Today 10Best contest.
Territorial Prison vies for Best Haunted title
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park is once again vying for the title of Best Haunted Destination in the nation.
The historic prison has previously held the No. 1 and 2 spots in the USA Today 10Best contest. The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, which oversees the state park, is asking community members to help the prison regain the title.
To vote, go to www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-haunted-destination-2023. The Heritage Area invites supporters to vote multiple times a day from different devices to secure the top spot again.
Transforming Yuma’s riverfront: Heritage Area attracts tourists, boosts economy
Yuma’s riverfront is now a beautiful destination and tourist attraction, not something you might easily imagine for the desert Southwest.
The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area has been a driving force behind the transformation of the riverfront, helping to attract tourism and economic development.
Today, the organization contributes nearly $23 million annually to Yuma’s economy and leverages $5 for every $1 in federal funding received.
And now the Heritage Area has stable operational funding for the next 15 years due to the passage of the congressional National Heritage Area Act and Yuma’s 2% hospitality tax.
“This will allow us to continue to make improvements to the riverfront and increase tourism and economic development, all contributing to Yuma’s livability and helping to attract more people to want to live and work in Yuma,” said Sarah Halligan, communications specialist with the Heritage Area.
Halligan was one of the guest speakers at the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. Quarterly Investor Luncheon on Aug. 2, which centered on the theme “Innovative Community Marketing Techniques for Talent Attraction.”
Congress designed Heritage Areas to conserve nationally significant landscape and promote and protect their natural historic, cultural and recreational resources.
In a coordinated effort to reconnect with the Lower Colorado River, both environmentally, economically and recreationally, the Yuma community sought designation as a National Heritage Area, and in October 2000, Congress authorized the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.
