Local Parks

El Mirage to break ground on 1st phase of $3 mil park

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[Source: Lily Leung, Arizona Republic] — Construction of a $3 million park in El Mirage began this month and will be marked with a groundbreaking ceremony this week. Heritage Park, a two-phase city project, will sit on 13 acres south of Peoria Avenue, between El Mirage and Dysart roads.  The John F. Long Estate donated the acreage for the park, which is expected to be finished by January 2010.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, and the public is invited. “The city is committed to improving the quality of life for our residents,” El Mirage City Manager BJ Cornwall said.  “It will offer amenities for everyone in our community to enjoy.”

Half of the cost of the $1.5 million first phase will be paid for with help from the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund, for which $20 million of Arizona Lottery revenue is set aside annually to build and maintain parks, trails, natural, and historic areas and wildlife-conservation activities across the state.  The first phase of the park includes construction of a central pavilion for concerts and community events, amphitheater lawn seating, multiuse fields, a playground, and picnic areas.  The first phase is scheduled to be completed in January.  [Note: to read the full article, click here.]

June 7 is National Trails Day

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American Hiking Society’s signature trail awareness program, National Trails Day, inspires the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops, and trail work projects.  Click here to learn about events in Arizona and other parts of the U.S.

Voters overwhelmingly support Phoenix parks, open space

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Phoenix Sonoran Preserve[Source: Casey Newton, Arizona Republic] — Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a 30-year extension of Phoenix’s Parks and Preserve Initiative, ensuring hundreds of millions of dollars for the construction and operation of recreational areas in the city. Unofficial results showed that more than four in five voters supported extending the decade-old tax, which amounts to one cent for every $10 purchase. Supporters hailed the passage of the tax as a landmark step in the effort to provide high-quality parks and preserves within Phoenix.

“I thank and congratulate the voters of Phoenix who, once again, have expressed their remarkable vision,” Mayor Phil Gordon said in a statement. “Not even a troublesome national economy can discourage our citizens from embracing a good opportunity to invest in the city our children will inherit.” [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

What are Arizona’s most endangered historic places?

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Vintage photo of Adamsville Ruins, listed on 2006 Most Endangered Historic Places List. [Source: Arizona Preservation Foundation] — The Arizona Preservation Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2008 list of Arizona’s Most Endangered Historic Places.   Compiled by preservation professionals and historians, the list identifies critically endangered properties of major historical or archaeological significance to the state.

Properties selected for the Most Endangered Historic Places list will receive the Foundation’s assistance in developing support to remove the threat.

To nominate online and for complete details, click here.  The deadline is June 5, 2008.  Supporting documentation must also be received by the deadline to: Arizona Preservation Foundation, P.O. Box 13492, Phoenix, AZ 85002. Support materials include clippings, correspondence, and photographs.

The Foundation’s 2007 list is comprised of Arizona State University Historic Properties, Tempe; Buckhorn Baths, Mesa; Camp Naco, Naco; Empire Ranch, Las Cienegas National Conservation Area; Glendale Tract Community Center, Glendale; Havasu Hotel, Seligman; Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale; Kingman Multiple Resources, Kingman; Maple Ash Neighborhood, Tempe; Marist College, Tucson; Old U.S. 80 Bridge (Gillespie Dam Bridge), Arlington; Sage Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Ganado; San Ysidro Ranch Ruins, Yuma; Second Pinal County Courthouse, Florence; Valley National Bank, 44th Street & Camelback Road, Phoenix; and White Gates House, Phoenix.

The Foundation’s 2006 list is comprised of the Adamsville Ruins, Coolidge; Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, Tucson; First Baptist Church, Phoenix; Fisher Memorial Home, Casa Grande; Geronimo Station, Geronimo; Meehan/Gaar House, Casa Grande; Mesa Grande Ruins, Mesa; Mountain View Black Officers Club, Sierra Vista; Peter T. Robertson Residence, Yuma; Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, Casa Grande; and Sun Mercantile Building, Phoenix.