Kelly, Gallego Celebrate Chiricahua Officially Becoming Arizona’s Fourth National Park

Bipartisan legislation to make this happen passed the Senate last night, now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego celebrated final passage of the Chiricahua National Park Act, bipartisan legislation to designate Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County as Chiricahua National Park. Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) and Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) introduced the legislation in the House, which passed in March.

The designation will make Chiricahua Arizona's fourth national park, alongside Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro National Parks. It will protect Chiricahua's unique landscape while bringing more visitors and economic opportunities to rural southeastern Arizona.

"Chiricahua is one of Arizona's most extraordinary places. Designating it as our state's fourth national park will protect this remarkable landscape for generations and bring new visitors and economic opportunities to southeastern Arizona," said Sen. Kelly. "I'm grateful to everyone involved for working together to get this across the finish line."

"The unique landscape of Chiricahua National Park will unite people from around the world while opening economic and tourism opportunities for Arizona. The passing of this bill is a win for huge win for Arizona and honors the culture and preservation of the land," said Sen. Gallego. "Thank you to the Senate and the House for passing this bill, and I look forward to the president signing this into law."

"It's been a long hike, but we're at the summit. After years of work and persistence, Arizona is one signature away from having its fourth national park," said Rep. Ciscomani. "Chiricahua has long deserved this designation. As the second bill I ever introduced and in my first 100 days in Congress, I am proud to have worked across the aisle and across both chambers to deliver this victory for our district. This is an Arizona priority and a true team effort. I'm grateful to our local partners, including the City of Willcox, public lands advocates, and everyone who has worked alongside us to make this happen. I'm incredibly proud that we are now one signature away from making Chiricahua Arizona Sixth Congressional District's second national park during our nation's 250th birthday."

"Today's Senate passage is a huge step forward for the Chiricahua National Monument, bringing it one big step closer to becoming Arizona's fourth national park," said Rep. Stanton. "This designation will preserve one of Arizona's greatest natural treasures and draw visitors from around the world to bolster new economic opportunities across Southern Arizona. I was proud to help advance it through the House, and I'm glad to see it moving closer to the finish line."

"The balancing rocks at Chiricahua National Monument make it one of the most unique and beautiful spots on Earth, which is exactly why its designation as a National Park makes perfect sense," said Arizona House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos. "Making it Arizona's fourth National Park ensures the protection and preservation of its natural beauty, while boosting tourism from around the world and growing our economy."

"The Senate's passage of the Chiricahua National Park Act is especially meaningful as HECHO and members of our Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council are in Washington, D.C., advocating for Chiricahua and other conservation priorities important to Western communities. Our Arizona delegation, including Willcox Mayor Greg Hancock, met with Senator Kelly's staff this week and had the opportunity to meet directly with Senator Kelly Wednesday morning. We are grateful for Senator Kelly's leadership on this legislation and his work to build the bipartisan support needed to move Chiricahua one step closer to becoming a national park," said Camilla Simon, Executive Director, HECHO.

"Chiricahua is one of Arizona's most incredible natural wonders, and we are so excited it will finally be protected as a national park," said Matthew Nelson, executive director of the Arizona Trail Association. "Its rich cultural history, diverse wildlife, and awe-inspiring rock formations will convince visitors that Arizona is like nowhere else on Earth. Anyone who has ever visited knows that Chiricahua is special, but it's going to need robust funding to bring this little-known national monument up to national park standards. Especially at a time when National Park Service staff has been cut by 25%, funding for parks is being redirected to Washington, DC, and over 1,500 maintenance and infrastructure projects have just been determined to be 'low priority' by the Administration, we are concerned that Chiricahua isn't going to receive the funding necessary to preserve its natural and cultural resources. Our appreciation goes out to Senator Kelly, Representative Ciscomani, and everyone who supported this legislation. May it lead to great things for Cochise County, Arizona, and our entire National Park System."

"Chiricahua is a hidden treasure. It's a place more families deserve to experience. Protecting this landscape ensures future generations can encounter the same awe, memories, and connection to this land that my family has cherished. I am thrilled to see this long-awaited designation become a reality and proud that America's newest national park will be here in Arizona," said Orlando Cazarez, Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council member.

"For Willcox, this designation represents an incredible opportunity. Chiricahua is a breathtaking and truly special place, and national park status will help more people across the country discover it. More visitors can mean more customers for our hotels, restaurants, and small businesses and more economic growth for our community," said Greg Hancock, Mayor of Willcox, Arizona.

"It is an important moment to designate Chiricahua as a National Park. This action will celebrate our spectacular public lands and tell future generations that we value access to the outdoors, protection of our cultural history, wildlife, plants, water, quiet, dark skies, and inspiring natural vistas," said Emily Burns, Program Director for the Northern Sky Islands, Sky Island Alliance.

"The Chiricahuas are a remarkable example of the public lands that make Arizona so special. We commend Representative Ciscomani and Senators Kelly and Gallego for being champions of our public lands and for working across party lines to protect this incredible landscape for generations to come," said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation.

"Chiricahua is part of the story of Cochise County. Growing up in Douglas, it always felt like one of those treasured places right in our backyard. Our county has deep roots, and generations of families have built their lives here. When one of our communities and one of our treasured landscapes receives this kind of national recognition, it is something the entire county can take pride in. We want people to come experience Chiricahua, but we also want them to discover everything else that Cochise County has to offer. Our communities, our history, our small businesses and our landscapes are all part of what makes this county special. The next step is making sure we are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that increased visitation will bring," said Kathleen Gomez, Cochise County Board of Supervisors District 2 Supervisor.

"This has been a long road, and it is good to see it reach this point. Chiricahua is an important part of Cochise County, and people here understand what a special place it is. We also know that bringing more attention to the area can create opportunities for our communities, our businesses and our local economy. I'm proud to see Cochise County play a part in getting this across the finish line. Congressman Ciscomani and Senator Kelly deserve a lot of credit for continuing to work on this over the years. They kept pushing the legislation forward, and they worked with people here in Cochise County to understand why this designation matters. We appreciate their commitment to southeastern Arizona," said Frank Antenori, Cochise County Board of Supervisors Chairman and District 3 Supervisor.

"Chiricahua protects beautiful forests and wildlife, holds thousands of years of history, and offers trails where visitors can experience vast fields of rock pinnacles and some of the best birdwatching in the world. This is an exciting step for Chiricahua and for the interconnected Sky Islands across southern Arizona, and we look forward to working with Senator Kelly and the Arizona delegation to ensure America's newest National Park receives the funding and staffing it needs to support its visitors and resources," said Christina Hazard, Legislative Director, National Parks Conservation Association.

"The National Audubon Society applauds the passage of the Chiricahua National Park Act. Known well by birders, the Chiricahua Mountains are 'sky islands' which are part of the connected habitat birds need across the hemisphere," said Sara Brodnax, director of public and protected lands at the National Audubon Society. "Birders already travel to southeastern Arizona for a chance to see the Elegant Trogon and other birds you just don't encounter often elsewhere in the US. Birding-related travel and recreation drive an annual $107 billion contribution to the US economy. This National Park recognition will further support the local economy and rural communities in Arizona. We thank U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6) for their work."

Background:

Established in 1924, Chiricahua National Monument spans more than 12,000 acres of towering rock formations, canyons, and diverse wildlife in Cochise County. The legislation also includes protections for traditional cultural and religious sites and ensures continued access for Tribal members for traditional cultural and customary uses.

Kelly has worked for years to make Chiricahua Arizona's fourth national park, first introducing legislation to redesignate the monument in 2021 and continuing the effort in subsequent Congresses.

The Chiricahua National Park Act is supported by the City of Willcox, the City of Sierra Vista, the City of Benson, the City of Bisbee, Huachuca City, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, the National Parks Conservation Association, HECHO, the Sky Island Regional Partnership, and the Arizona Trail Association.