WILLCOX — Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona is now Chiricahua National Park after President Donald Trump signed the redesignation into law Tuesday, KNAU reported.
The bipartisan bill passed the House in March and the Senate in September. Sen. Mark Kelly has pushed for the change since 2021. “Making Chiricahua a national park has been a priority of mine since I first came to the Senate, so I’m thrilled this day has finally arrived,” Kelly said.
It is the first new U.S. national park in six years, bringing the total to 64. Arizona’s others are Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro.
President Calvin Coolidge created the 12,000-acre monument near Willcox in 1924. It’s known for its rock spires, balanced rocks, canyons and wildlife. The law protects traditional cultural and religious sites and keeps access for tribal members, and supporters expect the new status to draw more visitors to southern Arizona.
Sources: KNAU. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: SonoranDesertNPS from Tucson, Arizona / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
