Arizona is already home to three national parks, and soon, it may be getting another. Today, the bill to make Chiricahua National Monument a national park passed the House of Representatives, making it one step closer to becoming the first new national park since 2020.
What Happened
Any creation or expansion of a national park requires Congress to pass legislation. H.R. 6380, the Chiricahua National Park Act, comes from Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) and went before the House for a vote on March 16.
The bill was passed under the “suspension of rules,” meaning that debate was limited to 40 minutes, no floor amendments were allowed, and it had to be passed by a two-thirds majority. This is standard practice for bipartisan and non-controversial laws.
Ciscomani celebrated the victory. “The Chiricahua National Park Act honors one of southeastern Arizona’s most incredible natural treasures by giving Chiricahua National Monument a national park status,” Ciscomani said in a press release.
“This redesignation will protect our public lands while also bringing more tourism to our region boosting economic development. I’m proud to introduce legislation that highlights what’s special about our region and reflects the unique priorities of Arizona.”
Next, it will head to the Senate, where first the Energy and Natural Resources Committee will take it under consideration. The bill has the support of both of Arizona’s Democratic senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
“Protecting Chiricahua means preserving a one-of-a-kind landscape while delivering an important win for southeastern Arizona’s recreation economy,” Kelly said in a press release. “This is about keeping this place special and making sure nearby communities and small businesses benefit even more from it.”
The legislation includes provisions that the NPS must work with local Native American tribes and protect cultural and religious sites.
The Chiricahua National Park Act has support from many key stakeholders, including the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Sky Island Regional Partnership, and the Arizona Trail Association.
What Is Chiricahua National Monument?
Located about 120 miles from Tucson, Ariz., Chiricahua National Monument was created in 1924. The crowning glory of the mountainous 10,000-acre area is its striking rock towers and pinnacles.
There are 17 miles of hiking trails, and horseback riding is also popular. An 8-mile scenic drive offers sweeping vistas of Bonita Canyon. According to data from the National Park Service (NPS), over 62,000 people visited the monument in 2023; 86% of the land area is protected wilderness.
The monument is also home to diverse wildlife. There are 71 species of mammals, 46 species of reptiles, eight amphibians, and 171 species of birds.
Why Make It a National Park?
As with most efforts to elevate national monuments and memorials into national parks, the primary motivator is likely economic. In fact, in his statement on the legislation, Gallego directly referenced the possible economic impact of the change.
“Chiricahua’s unique landscape brings in visitors from around the world. I’m proud to introduce this bill to designate Chiricahua as a national park in order to bring even more tourism to the area and create new economic opportunity in Cochise County,” he said.
If the bill becomes law, Chiricahua would be the first new national park since 2020. From 2018 to 2020, Congress created four new national parks in Missouri, Indiana, West Virginia, and New Mexico, but re-designations have slowed since then.
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