Perhaps most indicative of the love of the outdoors here is the success of the
McDowell Sonoran Preserve. First proposed in the early 1990s, it is on track to become the country's largest urban nature preserve; most impressively, locals have supported it with their wallets. In 1995, the voters of Scottsdale approved a 30-year sales tax increase of 0.2% to fund the purchase of ecologically-sensitive land; in 2004 they approved an additional sales tax increase of 0.15% for further purchases.
The result is that the Preserve already measures more than 16,000 acres, and the goal is to eventually acquire 36,400 acres -- equal to 57 square miles, or a third of the city of Scottsdale's total land area. The area is maintained largely by a cadre of volunteers who dedicate more than 30,000 hours a year to maintain the Preserve's trails and habitat.
The dozens of miles of trails -- once complete, there will be 150 miles of paths here -- are open to hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers who can spot coyotes, desert tortoises, and javelinas amid the unique desert topography. The crown jewel is the $4-million Gateway Trailhead that opened last May. Designed to have minimal impact on its surroundings, the building and grounds recently received Platinum LEED Certification, the highest possible rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, for its solar power generation, rainwater harvesting, rammed earth wall construction, and native landscaping. The entire facility also generates more energy than it receives from the utility grid.
Last year the Preserve also opened the Bajada Nature Trail, barrier-free and suitable for people with mobility issues. Further proof that everyone is getting out to enjoy a little piece of Phoenix.
Photo Caption: A Gila Woodpecker surveys the desert, as seen while hiking in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve with Thompson Peak in the background. Photo by Al_HikesAZ/Flickr.com
