What’s happening to the museum in Fountain Hills is shameful
OPINION — After more than two decades, the Lower Verde Valley River of Time Museum faces an unforeseen and unprecedented challenge from the very keeper of the keys: the Town of Fountain Hills.
Housed in a shared building with the Maricopa County Library, both purposely built with taxpayer-funded bonds, the museum is threatened by a town claiming, after all this time, it violates a state gift clause. Hiding behind vague language, the powers that be want it repurposed for who knows what. Why?
The museum provides a public benefit, plain and simple. It records and displays our local history, without which it could very well be lost. It represents a vision by its founders and benefactors (voters) that otherwise may be forgotten. The town even created a commission in 2022 to provide additional input and support.
Let's not walk away from this resource based upon the whim of a few who clearly don't value the 50-plus years of town history, and the hundreds of years of indigenous and state history.
The timing is interesting, too. The International Dark Sky Discovery Center is set to open just as the town potentially forces the museum closure, (both are non-profits using adjacent town property) which otherwise could leverage a new era of tourism synergy and discovery, a basic premise of the town's Strategic and General plans.
It's shameful what a few are doing to this great local asset in our town.
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