Bipartisan Proposal Aims to Expand Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Archaeology Southwest is part of a broad coalition that has advocated the expansion of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, the nation’s first archaeological preserve:

[From the National Parks Conservation Association]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2013

Contacts:

Kevin Dahl, Arizona Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association, (o) 520-624-2014, (c) 520-603-6430

Doug Craig, President, Friends of Casa Grande Ruins National  Monument, (o) 480-894-0020, (c) 602-339-0946

Bill Doelle, Archaeology Southwest, (o) 520-882-6946

The Honorable Thomas Shope, Mayor, City of Coolidge

Broad Coalition Commends Bipartisan Proposal to Expand Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

TUCSON, AZ — An outgrowth of a National Park Service resource study conducted in 2003, the proposed boundary expansion at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is expected to benefit from the bipartisan efforts of Arizona Representatives Paul Gosar (R-4), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-1), Raúl Grijalva (D-3), and Ed Pastor (D-7). Introduced Tuesday, their bill (H.R. 2497) authorizes the National Park Service to expand its border to protect more of the original prehispanic, Hohokam village associated with the “Great House,” a segment of the south side prehistoric canal that is not currently represented within the existing Monument and a large portion of Adamsville, a second large Hohokam village area upstream of Casa Grande Ruins site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Friends of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Archaeology Southwest, and the City of Coolidge all praise the legislation.

“This legislation will help protect some of the most significant Hohokam ruins remaining in the middle Gila River area,” said Friends of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument President Doug Craig. “It reflects thoughtful evaluation of the National Park Service and reflects in part the vision of Frank Pinkley, first caretaker of Casa Grande Ruin who in 1905 identified the Adamsville site for protection.”

Coolidge Mayor Tom Shope called the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument a significant part of Coolidge’s economic future and said, “The expansion will help ensure that Casa Grande Ruins National Monument remains a premier tourist destination.  The Ruins play a key role in promoting our quality of life that helps foster economic development.”

“Though modest in acreage, these key sites will add a great deal to the Park Service’s ability to interpret to monument visitors what life was like for those who built the Great House,” said Kevin Dahl, Arizona program manager for National Parks Conservation Association. “These treasures will get the recognition and protection they need and deserve.”

Bill Doelle, President and CEO of the nonprofit Archaeology Southwest, said, “There are at least four good reasons to move forward with this expansion bill—improved public interpretation of the ancient Hohokam, improved protection of these unique places of the past, the economic benefits of heritage tourism, and the strong local community support.”

National Parks Conservation Association has for more than 90 years been America’s leading advocacy group for National Parks.

Since 1989, Archaeology Southwest works throughout Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico exploring and protecting the past.

Friends of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a non-profit, citizen-based organization formed to support Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and assist in the preservation, protection, interpretation, and enjoyment of the Monument for present and future generations. The Friends group is committed to helping organize local and distant support for the Monument, build business relationships with the local community, and raise funds for much needed projects.

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