Phoenix Mountains Preserve
ThePhoenix Mountains Preserve(sometimes called thePhoenix Mountain Preserve) is a group of parks located among thePhoenix MountainsinPhoenix, Arizona,United States. The Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area (better known asPiestewa Peak;formerly Squaw Peak), the first of these parks to be preserved, has been designated as aPhoenix Point of Pride.[1]
Two of the parks rank among the world's largest city parks (along withMcDowell Sonoran PreserveinScottsdale, Arizona).[2][circular reference]
Parks
[edit]The parks include:
- Piestewa Peakrecreation area (formerly known as Squaw Peak; officially named the Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area)
- Dreamy Draw Recreation Area, the trailhead and northern part of this park
- Camelback MountainPark
- Papago Park
- Lookout Mountain Preserve
- North Mountain and Shaw Butte Preserves
- Phoenix Sonoran Preserve (under development)
Additionally,South Mountain Parkis sometimes included in this group.
These parks largely consist of smallmountainsand adjacentfoothillsthat reach about 2,000 feet (roughly 600 meters) above thedesertfloor. They also interrupt the checkerboard pattern of Phoenix'sbuilt environmentand are quite prominent, especially since most of the city is flat and gridded. Since the largest part of the Phoenix metropolitan area sits at just over 1,000 feet (around 300 meters) abovesea level,that means most of the peaks reach about 3,000 feet (under 1,000 meters) above sea level.
Originally, the park system began with Piestewa Mountain Park and North Mountain Park as county parks. However, most of the existing municipal park system was acquired in the early 1970s when Phoenix's ever-expanding development threatened to encroach on these mountainous areas. All feature extensivehikingtrails and many have public access areas with parking, ramadas (picnic tables) and restrooms. Some offer nearby horse stables where horses can be rented andriddeninto the park.
See also
[edit]
- List of historic properties in Phoenix, Arizona
- Lake Pleasant Regional Park,aMaricopa Countypark
- Spur Cross RanchConservation Area, a Maricopa County park
References
[edit]- ^"Phoenix Points of Pride".Archived fromthe originalon October 1, 2006.RetrievedOctober 18,2006.
- ^"Largest City Parks".RetrievedJanuary 1,2017.
External links
[edit]- Phoenix Mountain Parks/Preserves and Hiking Trailsat City of Phoenix
- Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council
- Maps of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve
- Lookout Mountain Park
- History of the Phoenix Mountains PreserveatArizona State University
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