Visit Yuma honors Charles Flynn

For the past twenty years, Charles Flynn, executive director of Yuma crossing national heritage area, has been leaving his mark on destinations around Yuma.

Today, at the Visit Yuma member event meeting, Flynn was honored for his service and projects he completed during his time.

From the riverfront to the east and west wetlands, to even parks and trails, Flynn has kept his vision for the restoration and upkeep of Yuma.

Upkeep of local spots such as the river is important because of how tourism affects Yuma economy. Linda Morgan, executive director of Visit Yuma said, “tourism brings in a lot of tax dollars, a lot of money, a lot of jobs and that’s all great for our economy.”

Flynn began his position as executive director in 1999 and began to create a plan for public and private investment along seven miles of riverfront .

This process involved multiple partners including the Quechan Indian tribe, the city of Yuma and other federal and state agencies.

Gateway P ark and the east and west wetlands have become the bulk of what Flynn has worked to change and upkeep. “All of it is beautiful and you see people enjoying the river in a way that they did not 20 years ago,” Flynn said.

Back in 2000, Flynn was told that restoring the wetlands in the desert was impossible because of soil solidity and low river flows.

Flynn proved that if you can restore the river at one of the most challenging spots, the Colorado R iver should be able to be restored anywhere.

Flynn plans to visit National Parks throughout the country in order to enjoy the nature and history he previously would have been going in to work to conserve.

Though Flynn will take time to relax for a while, he plans to return to work soon. “I’m still gonna be on a consulting agreement with the heritage area particularly as they relate to issues in Washington DC,” Flynn said.