OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/501-4633

BABBITT TO HIKE REGIONAL LANDS WITH PEORIA'S MAYOR

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will hike and tour regional park lands near Lake Pleasant during the early morning of Thursday, June 22. The purpose of his hike is to look at options for cooperative open space management in the area around Lake Pleasant Regional Park which is adjacent to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and city land. This area is also one of several currently under consideration in land exchange negotiations between the Department of the Interior and the State of Arizona. He will be accompanied by John Keegan, Mayor of Peoria, and other city and county officials.

"All over the country, innovative land management and conservation partnerships are underway involving the federal government and state and local governments," Babbitt said. "I'm interested in discussing ways to improve cooperation in the Lake Pleasant area with Mayor Keegan and other elected officials. I'm also interested in looking at open space planning in an area under severe development pressure."

Members of the media are welcome to join Secretary on the hike, that will end with a short media availability. Round-trip transportation for media will be provided from the BLM's Field Office in Phoenix to the hiking site.

WHO: Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and Peoria Mayor John Keegan

WHERE: County park lands adjacent to Lake Pleasant

*** Transportation will be provided from the BLM Field Office located at 2015 W. Deer Valley Road in Phoenix. The BLM office is one block east of I-17, on the south side of Deer Valley Road.

WHEN: Thursday, June 22. The hike will begin at about 6:45 a.m.

*** Transportation from the BLM Office will depart for the hiking site about 5:45 a.m., to avoid hot weather conditions. Media will return to Phoenix following the hike and media availability by about 9:00 a.m.

-DOI-