FOOL HOLLOW LAKE
BACKGROUND
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area is an 800 acre recreation area with a 150 acre lake just outside of the town of Show Low in the Arizona White Mountains in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. This recreation area opened to the public in 1994 as the result of a successful public/private partnership
RELEVANCE
Similarities exist between Fool Hollow and the Woodland Lake Park Tract. The USFS and AZ Game and Fish have stake in what happens at Woodland Lake. Efforts were made in the 1990’s by the USFS to form a public/private partnership for Woodland Lake Park but at the time AZ State Parks was not interested nor the companies holding surface water rights to the lake and springs. The philosophy of AZ State Parks has changed over this time with a focus to locate parks closer to urban areas. The town of Pinetop-Lakeside may find taking the lead and trying to form a public/private partnership at this time.
FOOL HOLLOW RECREATION AREA
The Fools Hollow Lake Recreation Area located in the Apache - Sitgreaves National Forest, opened in 1994 as a result of an innovative partnership between Arizona State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, Arizona Game and Fish, the City of Show Low, and corporate sponsors Arizona Public Service and McCarty Construction Company. The partnership was formed in 1988, with construction beginning in the fall of 1991. At 6,300 feet in elevation this 850-acre recreation area surrounding a 149 acre lake and includes 92 recreational vehicle/camper hook ups, 31 developed tent sites, five shower buildings with restroom facilities, two handicapped fishing piers and a contact station. In addition, a fully functional sanitary dump station, a fish cleaning station and several tot lots are available to visitors within the project. Plans in progress include group campgrounds, nature center, amphitheater, two large grassy playing fields, picnic ramadas, hiking trails and playgrounds.
Adjacent to the Fools Hollow Lake Recreation Area, in its planning stages, is the Show Low Creek Trail, which will provide short and eventually long-distance recreational opportunities for the hiker, equestrian, mountain bicyclist, bird watcher, backpacker, jogger and sightseer. The trail will connect centrally located employment areas, neighborhoods, Show Low Primary School and Show Low High School to Fools Hollow Lake Recreation and Pintail Lake Wildlife Area. A riparian environmental area and the Pintail Lake Wildlife Viewing Area provide outdoor classroom opportunities for students from nearby schools.
The stakeholders in this partnership got involved for various reasons. The city of Show Low was looking for a recreation destination instead of being bypassed for Big Lake of Lyman Lake. The USFS, Show Low police and Navajo County Police were having safety and security issues with people partying and getting hurt. AZ State Parks was looking for a ‘tall trees’ recreation destination. USFS was also looking for funding help to improve the campgrounds. AZ Game and Fish became involved because the surface water rights and their interests in the fishing at the lake. AZ Public Service provided electrical needs and gained good publicity. McCarty Construction became involved as the owner held real estate interests around the lake and town and felt this draw would enhance property values in the area, as well as provide great publicity for the company.
DESIGN IMPLICATIONS
- The town of Pinetop-Lakeside will need to approach those holding surface water rights in the tract.
- AZ State Parks, AZ Game and Fish will need to be approached to discuss their interests in the project.
- The town would benefit by approaching individuals or companies with a large stake in the town and area to form a partnership that will be interested in making Woodland Lake Park a recreation destination.
