Chiricahua, a field of towering volcanic rock spires in southeastern Arizona, has officially become the 64th national park in the United States after President Donald Trump signed the Chiricahua National Park Act (H.R. 6380) on October 20, redesignating the Chiricahua National Monument, according to the National Park Service and the Associated Press.

Source: Associated Press via The American Quorum

The change is a redesignation, not a newly protected landscape: the park keeps the monument's existing footprint of 12,025 acres (about 19 square miles) in Cochise County, roughly 120 miles southeast of Tucson, and remains under the National Park Service. Chiricahua is Arizona's fourth national park, joining the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro, and the first addition to the national-park roster since New River Gorge in West Virginia.

A landscape 27 million years in the making

Chiricahua's rhyolite hoodoos and balanced rocks were formed by volcanic activity roughly 27 million years ago, in a 'sky island' where desert, grassland and forest meet. President Calvin Coolidge first protected the area as a national monument in 1924. The land lies within the historical territory of the Chiricahua Apache, and the new law preserves tribal access for traditional ceremonies, including temporary public closures to protect those practices.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Rep. Juan Ciscomani marked the redesignation at a ceremony at the park entrance on Tuesday. 'Chiricahua's towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America's most extraordinary landscapes,' Burgum said. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona called it 'a win for the communities in southeastern Arizona.'

Source: MyHeraldReview (Arizona Republic network)

Bigger spotlight, familiar pressures

Supporters expect the national-park title to bring more visitors and business to nearby communities such as Willcox. The practical test, the AP reported, is whether the Park Service — already facing staffing reductions and maintenance backlogs — can supply the staff and visitor capacity the new profile demands. For visitors, the draws remain the 8-mile scenic drive, 17 miles of hiking trails, camping and dark skies.