Chiricahua’s towering spires now stand as Arizona’s newest national park

Key Points:

• Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona has been redesignated as Chiricahua National Park, becoming the nation’s 64th national park, following the signing of the Chiricahua National Park Act by President Donald Trump.
• The legislation, sponsored by Arizona Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, received broad bipartisan support and aims to protect the dramatic volcanic landscape and cultural heritage of the area, which covers 19 square miles and is part of the Chiricahua Apache Tribes' historical territory.
• Known as the "Wonderland of Rocks," the park features towering rock spires formed by an ancient volcanic eruption, and has been recognized since 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge designated it a national monument.
• Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly highlighted the bipartisan effort and the importance of preserving the site for future generations, marking the redesignation as a historic achievement for the state.
• The redesignation occurs amid significant National Park Service workforce cuts and shifting maintenance priorities under the Trump administration, with some projects at Chiricahua ranked as low priority compared to White House-preferred initiatives.