|
December 18, 2007 Phoenix Open Space Wins 2008 APA Landmark Award WASHINGTON, DC — More than 30 years ago the City of Phoenix set a national precedent when it protected 7,100 acres of open space along the city's northern edge by adopting and implementing the "Open Space Plan for the Phoenix Mountains." The city's far-sightedness set the stage for enhanced awareness of planning and provided a model for similar efforts in other fast-urbanizing metropolitan areas in the country that continue today. In recognition of these accomplishments, the American Planning Association (APA) is giving the city and the Phoenix Mountain Preservation Commission a 2008 National Planning Landmark Award. "There are many ways that planners and planning can help create communities of lasting value," said 2008 National Planning Awards Jury Chairperson Carol Rhea, AICP. "APA is particularly proud to recognize the extraordinary vision and success of the planners involved in distinguishing and protecting open space in the Phoenix Mountains." Representatives from the City of Phoenix will receive their award at a luncheon ceremony April 30 during APA's National Planning Conference. A 30-minute video about all 11 of the 2008 National Planning Excellence, Achievement, and Leadership Awardees will be shown at the luncheon. Accomplishments of the award recipients also will be highlighted in the April 2008 issue of Planning magazine and on the APA website. In the early 1970s the concept of designating and preserving open space, particularly in the desert, was not a priority. Some citizens in Phoenix were concerned, however, and it was their efforts that eventually prompted the city to undertake a study known as "A detailed master plan for the Phoenix Mountains." The citizen effort and study culminated in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve Plan being adopted in 1971 and 9,700 acres being identified for acquisition. Because the effort was unprecedented, many challenges still had to be addressed including enactment of state legislation to allow such land acquisitions and securing funds to acquire the land. At the time no community in Arizona could use bond funds to purchase open space. The Phoenix Mountain Preservation Commission and the city worked with the state legislature to amend state law to allow bonding for open space — the mechanism that eventually paid for most of the preserved lands. Today the original 7,500 acre preserve (acquired for some $70 million) includes Shaw Butte, North Mountain, and Dreamy Draw Recreation Area. An environmental education center, opened in 2006, includes one of the most popular summit trails in the country with more than 500,000 hikers and 1.5 million visitors annually. The city is expanding the Phoenix Mountain/Desert Preserve system through the acquisition and preservation of an additional 20,000 acres within the city's borders – the Upper and Lower Sonoran Desert plant communities. The majority of the land — called the Sonoran Preserve — is Arizona state trust land and will be acquired with funds raised through sales tax approved by Phoenix residents. The land acquisition is being phased over a period of 15 and 20 years with the next phase of acquisition to take place within the next six months. For a list of all 2008 National Planning Excellence, Achievement, and Leadership Award recipients, visit www.planning.org/awards/2008winners.htm. APA's national awards program, considered to be the profession's highest honor, began more than 50 years ago to recognize outstanding community plans, and planning leaders.
|
| |
Printer-Friendly Format
