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Open Space Preserves Prescott’s Natural Charm

August 9, 2022
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Photo by Nancy Nesbit

by Michelle Stacy-Schroeder, Recreation Services Administrative Supervisor, City of Prescott

Open space has long been a vital part of the small-town character and unique natural environment of Prescott, and for just as long, has been recognized as a key issue for maintaining a high quality of life for residents and visitors.

Since the 1980s, the Recreation Services Department has found opportunities to manage these open spaces, which are defined as appropriate for preservation, having outstanding or significant characteristics: biological, geological, scenic, riparian, recreational, cultural and/or historical.

Tourism (and its more responsible sister, ecotourism) can provide significant economic value to a community that protects open space, has an attractive and accessible trails system, encourages wildlife populations, and the like. Once open space is acquired, it costs very little to maintain it relative to the potential economic benefits.

The City can use open space as an enticement for visitation and as a destination virtue, which, together with historical and cultural amenities, can encourage longer stays.

Since the early 2000s, the City has increased the amount of open space to approximately 2,200 acres.

A main focal point in open space preservation has been the Granite Dells region. Through joint ventures with community partners, private sale acquisitions and bed-tax revenue here is a timeline of open space in the last decade.

In 2010, trail building began to expand through the Granite Dells area with additional trails throughout the Watson and Willow lakes areas. This continued for several years, along with improvements on the Peavine Trail, and connected trails to create loops around Watson and Willow.

By mid-2011 a total of 11 miles of trail were built through the Granite Dells. In 2019, the City purchased 160 acres of the Storm Ranch, which allowed for an additional 6 miles of trail. That same year, the City partnered with ECOSA, a program at Prescott College that studies the importance of design in shaping both natural and human environments, to build a ½-mile trail connection from Granite Dells to Willow Lake.

Fast forward to 2021; after nearly five years of negotiations, the City of Prescott and Arizona Eco Development reached an annexation agreement resulting in the City acquiring 474-acres of open space including No Name Creek and historic Point of Rocks. This acquisition is significant to the connectivity of the Peavine National Recreation Trail to the Chino Valley portion.

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Prescott Living Magazine

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Prescott Living Magazine
OUT & ABOUT — Thank you to Karen Shaw for sending in these shots of Jerome and the San Francisco Peaks on a beautiful winter day! We publish reader photos in every issue of Prescott LIVING. Send in your best shots by email to photos@roxco.com. Photos should be taken by you, anywhere in the Greater Prescott area. Selected photos will appear in print and on our social media channels.#jeromeaz #prescott #northernaz #sanfranciscopeaks ... See MoreSee Less

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Prescott Living Magazine

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Arizona State Senator Ken Bennett will read a proclamation in memory of Dr. Billie Orr on Wednesday, Feb. 1st at 1:15 p.m. on the Senate floor. The session will be livestreamed at www.azleg.gov/liveproceedings. Here is the text of the proclamation. . . . Recognition In Memory of Dr. Billie OrrWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served the citizens of Prescott on the City Council from 2015 until 2021 and during that time as mayor Pro Tempore from 2017 until 2020; andWHEREAS, she was a member and past President of the Republican Women of Prescott; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr Founded the Mayor’s Commission on Well-Being for the City of Prescott; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served as City Council Liaison for several City Boards and Commissions during her tenure as Councilmember; and WHEREAS, she served as a Board Member of Arizona Town Hall, Prescott Western Heritage Foundation and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr was an active Rotarian, serving on Rotary Clubs in the Phoenix area and in Prescott; and WHEREAS, she was a big fan of pickleball and helped Prescott Build outdoor courts for its citizens; andWHEREAS, prior to her service in Prescott, Dr. Billie Orr was active in Arizona education for more than twenty-five years; and WHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served the citizens of Arizona as Arizona’s Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction; andWHEREAS, under her leadership, Arizona created state academic standards that were ranked among the best in the nation; andWHEREAS, in earlier years she taught in the Madison District in Phoenix and was the Principal of Kiva School in Scottsdale; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr was a dedicated and longtime public servant to the citizens of Arizona who brought a positive and caring aspect to her service, inspiring many who worked with her; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr will be greatly missed by her many friends in Prescott and throughout Arizona; andNOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to her husband Bob, their children and grandchildren and all family members.. . . ... See MoreSee Less

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