Adopt a Park: Gilbert Riparian Preserve & Wildlife Sanctuary
AZSA recently began a new adopt a park program with the City of Gilbert Parks and Recreation to support their ongoing efforts in maintaining the riparian preserve, restoring wildlife habitat, and guiding educational programs. The purpose of the wildlife preserve is to create awareness and appreciation of Arizona’s ecology, through direct and indirect education of desert and riparian environments. This project will address the main challenges facing the overall health of the park, resulting in well maintained habitats for others to observe and learn from. Volunteers will be recruited for both larger one-time projects, as well as smaller reoccurring ones.
Piestewa Invasive Species Pilot Project
The Piestewa Invasive Species Pilot aims to raise public awareness about invasive species, such as buffelgrass, within the City of Phoenix Parks and Preserves. This project includes a citizen science effort to map the location of invasive plants, as well as pulling days at Piestewa Peak to engage and inform volunteers. Our goal is to work with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) on their ongoing Piestewa Invasive Species Pilot Project to gather data that helps the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation make informed decisions on invasive species management. We will also be emphasizing the role of community engagement and education in monitoring and managing invasive plant species within Phoenix.
Penny Howe Trail
The Penny H. Howe Barrier Free Trail is located in the North Mountain District of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The park trail loops through the North Mountain Park Picnic Area and is an easy, family friendly, paved handicapped accessible hike. Named in honor of a dedicated volunteer, who committed much time and effort to the preservation of open space within the City of Phoenix, the trail was established in November, 1993 and contains ramadas, grills, playgrounds and baby stroller and wheelchair accessible paved walkways, is close to restrooms and offers areas for local flora exhibits with interpretive signage on flora and fauna.
During the economic downturn of 2008, this trail’s local flora exhibits experienced the failure of the irrigation system and the system was not able to be replaced due to financial constraints. Subsequently the flora died off and nonnative, invasive flora moved in. The signage has fallen to disrepair and the pathway, while in very good condition, is in need of increased structural support to maintain the current condition. While the park is in usable condition, it is diminished and does not provide what was intended or is possible. The hike currently ranks 2 stars of 5 on the “Alltrails” site. There is currently no funding available to shore up the trailway or restore the flora and signage. What is likely is it will remain this way without intervention and over time, diminish further.
The Restoration Project Currently in the planning stages, the restoration project intends to:
- Shore up the walkways using current technologies in drainage friendly, naturally sustainable materials.
- Replace irrigation systems
- Remove existing invasive fauna • Install new native fauna
- Install new interpretive / informational signage
- Celebrate the restoration of the Trail with activities and a reopening The project is likely to take several years for completion, with work taking place primarily through the cooler seasons of November through March and ending March 2020.
Adopt a Park: North Mountain Preserve, Phoenix
AZSA works to complete park cleanups and conservation/trail maintenance work throughout the North Mountain Park. This is the most trafficked park in the Phoenix Metropolitan area.
At 2,104 feet, North Mountain, and 2,149 feet, Shaw Butte, are easily recognizable landmarks in the north valley skyline. The mountains offer a wide array of trail options for hikers of all abilities and bolsters two of the best summit climbs in Phoenix.
AZSA is currently assisting the City of Phoenix in a large-scale project to clean up the park along 7th Street by the the North Mountain Visitor Center to remove invasive species, clean up trash, remove low hanging branches and overgrown vegetation, and beautify the park entrance to attract more visitors.
