Decrease in Visitation for December 2006

Date: January 23, 2007
Contact: Janet Fernandes, [phone] ext. 238

Decrease in Visitation for December 2006 at Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest, AZ – Park Superintendent Lee Baiza announced that visitation decreased by 25% this December from last year with 20,437  visits compared to last year’s 27,234.  The year-to-date total is 581,800 which is down by 3% from last year. Visitation was unusually high in December of 2005 due to the ideal travel weather. The Southwest is experiencing more storms and hazardous conditions this year.

Schools have the opportunity to utilize national parks as outdoor classrooms. Curriculum-based programs are designed to help teachers meet their required state standards while allowing students to participate in hands-on activities at the park. Petrified Forest National Park offers a choice of five field explorations, three in Paleontology and two in Archeology, for Grades 4-8. Other ranger-led, curriculum-based programs are available upon request. Contact the park for more information.

For more information call [phone] weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time; or write to the Superintendent, Petrified Forest National Park, P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028; or e-mail the park.