New Mexico State Parks Foundation Announces Launch of  Website

ALBUQUERQUE – Gerald E. Weinstein, Chairman and Consuelo T. Chavez, Executive Director of the New Mexico State Parks Foundation announced to launch of the newly created New Mexico State Parks Foundation website (www.nmstateparksfoundation.com).

“Our mission is to become a viable partner with New Mexico State Parks and the state’s communities in our efforts to protect natural resources, promote tourism, education and to provide outstanding recreational opportunities,” said Chavez. “We love New Mexico and want to help support the places we value most. State Parks are some of this state’s most precious, relevant places. They are home.”

The website will offer information on opportunities to get involved and help support the New Mexico State Park system. The site includes foundation history, board member bios, volunteer opportunities, current projects, hot issues, donation capabilities and important partnerships.

“Our state parks are a significant part of economic growth in many of our rural communities.” Weinstein added. “In a 2002 New Mexico State University survey conducted for New Mexico State Parks, we learned that visitors contributed more than $104 million to the local economies through expenses in fuel, food and lodging. The foundation wants to preserve that value help the parks system protect our precious resources.”

Currently New Mexicans’ tax dollars pay less than 40 percent of the total cost of operating the New Mexico State Park system. Each year the nearly 230 full-time park staff members put forth a miraculous effort to protect our valuable resources. It’s a burden the foundation wants the public to be aware of.

Additional board members include Karen Brown, former Rio Grande Nature Center State Park Superintendent, Orlando Sedillo, former State Parks Director, Martin Esquivel, foundation legal council, Larry Federici, former State Parks Regional Manager and Tony Olmi, commercial real estate broker.

For more information on the New Mexico State Parks Foundation, visit the new website at www.nmstateparksfoundation.com or contact Consuelo T. Chavez, Executive Director, 505-977-4076 or by email, connie@nmstateparksfoundation.com.

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