Phoenix budget to close Camelback and Piestewa parking areas

[chumley]

Just heard on KTAR radio in Phoenix (can't find info on their website) that the Phoenix City Council will vote today to close the parking areas at both Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain on Mondays and Tuesdays to address shortfalls in funding. (No mention of South Mountain though, which seems strange).

The city parks themselves would remain open, however access to them would have to be by foot from somewhere nearby as the parking areas would be closed.

This seems like it will backfire as people will park all over local neighborhoods and the residents will complain very loudly. (They have a history of that.)

Perhaps its the kind of PR nightmare the city is looking for in order to bring news coverage to its budget woes.

Whatever happened to the 2% food tax that was supposed to help Phoenix cover its shortfalls?

(I'll try to find some kind of online info on this later this morning).

[chumley]

I found a file online with the proposed cuts ... apparently today is the day they will be voting to approve the cuts.

Highlights from the area of Parks and Rec (pages 38-54) include:

Eliminate seven Park Ranger positions assigned to mountain parks and preserves, which represents a 15% reduction in force. This will result in closing mountain parks and preserves and gated trailheads at 7:00 p.m. daily. Facilities with gated access will not be open for summer holidays. This will result in fewer staff to respond to violations of park rules or inappropriate use of park property by the public. The public will experience closed parking lots, gates, and restrooms after 7:00p.m. and patrons entering parks after hours through neighborhood access points will need to call the Phoenix Police or Fire Department if emergency assistance is needed.

Reduce Park Rangers assigned to mountain parks and preserves. This will eliminate seven Park Ranger positions, which represents an additional 18% reduction in force. This will result in further reducing hours at mountain parks and preserves from 7 days a week 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., to 5 days a week (Wednesday – Sunday) from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. This will result in significantly fewer staff to respond to violations of park rules or inappropriate use of park property. City sponsored events like Phoenix Summit Challenge, National Trail Trek, and National Public Lands Day will no longer be held. Public and private events such as filming requests, Cancer Climb, National Parks America Tour, and Pueblo Grande Indian Market will no longer take place.

These two (above) are listed as separate cuts, but seem to be the same? Not sure exactly...

Eliminate equestrian patrol program used on trails at South Mountain Park, the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, the Sonoran Preserve, Papago Park, and flatland parks. This reduction will eliminate the use of horses for all educational programs and signature programs such as National Trail Trek.

Reduce maintenance and supervision at Papago Park, Rio Salado Restoration Area Project, and South Mountain Park. This will eliminate a Park Manager, three Groundskeepers, and a Building Maintenance Worker position. The loss of the Park Manager will reduce the monitoring of restored habitat permits and the coordination of research projects with ASU and other colleges. The loss of Groundskeeper and Building Maintenance Worker positions will reduce maintenance of park grounds and trails, equipment, and facilities. Restroom cleaning and tree trimming will be reduced from three times per week to infrequently and fewer ramada reservations will be accepted.

[big_load]

Did they vote yet?

[big_load]

I checked the City Council Agenda and Results and didn't see anything pertaining to action on this topic. Does this happen just within Parks and Rec?

[fecalface]

In case you're interested!

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/phxpreserves/

[johnlp]

Hopefully the cuts won't get approved by the city council.

[joebartels]

Hopefully the city council gets cut

Really doesn't matter IMO, I'll still hike. If they let the cop killers roam the streets and put the metro hikers in the slammer will the city be safer?

[Nighthiker]

They are looking for any excuse to close Camelback.