In The News
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.
A New Cemetery Sign Brought to You by Gila Ridge High School Students
A new cemetery sign – brought to Yuma by Gila Ridge welding students
YCNHA Hosts 1st Haru Matsuri Festival
On Saturday, April 1, the Colorado River State Historic Park will host Yuma’s first “Haru Matsuri” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Haru Matsuri, which means “spring festival” in Japanese, will be a daylong celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander culture. The festival will feature entertainment, vendors, demonstrations, crafts and food.
“We’ve got a really great lineup of entertainment for this brand new event, including Taiko drummers from Tucson, local martial arts demonstrations, and a husband-and-wife Hawaiian hula and fire dancer duo,” said Tammy Snook, park manager.
Congressional legislation ensures long-term stability for Yuma Crossing
Congressional legislation ensures long-term stability for Yuma Crossing
CONGRESS ENACTS LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO ENSURE LONG TERM STABILITY FOR YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
For Immediate Release:
December 27th, 2022
CONGRESS ENACTS LANDMARK LEGISLATION
TO ENSURE LONG TERM STABILITY FOR YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
Contact:
Sarah Halligan
Marketing & Communications
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
O – 928-373-5190
Press Release
On Thursday, December 22, 2022, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the National Heritage Area Act (S. 1942) on a bi-partisan vote of 326-95. This action followed the unusual vote of “unanimous consent” by the Senate requiring no objections from any of the 100 Senators.
This legislation was championed by Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Congressman David McKinley (R-WV) in the House and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate.
Yuma's Riverfront: Past, Present and Future
During the last five years, the Yuma riverfront has seen considerable progress, namely the lower bench of the West Wetlands, with more projects coming up for other parts of the riverfront, in particular the East Wetlands.
“If you haven’t been down there recently, it now has a complete trail system, riparian habitat restoration. It’s just a beautiful area and widely used by the community,” said Cathy Douglas, newly named executive director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.
The organization completed adobe restoration work in the Brinley Historic District and is working on developing a new nature park in the East Wetlands.
Tina Clark Awarded Keystone Award
On Wednesday evening this week, Tina Weller-Clark was awarded by the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office - SHPO and Foundation with the Keystone Award.
For Immediate Release: YCNHA Announces New Exec. Director
Shelley Mellon, Chair of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, and Charles Flynn, Interim Director, have announced that Cathy Douglas has been selected as the new Director.
Arizona State Historic Preservation Foundation Keystone Award
Tina Clark, Longtime Yuma Historic Preservation and Community Advocate, to Receive 2022 Elisabeth Ruffner Keystone Award for Community Leadership
YUMA, AZ – The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, Arizona Preservation Foundation, Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, and City of Yuma have announced that Tina Clark of Yuma is the recipient of the 2022 Elisabeth Ruffner Keystone Award for Community Leadership. The award will be presented to Ms. Clark during the City Council meeting at Yuma City Hall on October 19, 2022 at 5:30 pm.
Be the Y in YUMA @ Arizona Western College
Bobby Alvarado, Professor of Welding at Arizona Western College, makes the “Y” in the new “UMA” sign unveiled Monday morning on the AWC main campus.
