Comments on: Phoenix Mountains to be closed on Mondays & Tuesdays http://rscottjones.com/2010/02/phoenix-mountains-to-be-closed-on-mondays-tuesdays/ tagline-free since 1998! Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:47:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Scott http://rscottjones.com/2010/02/phoenix-mountains-to-be-closed-on-mondays-tuesdays/comment-page-1/#comment-2710 Scott Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:34:47 +0000 http://rscottjones.com/?p=1025#comment-2710 They are keeping the parks open seven days a week, but have reduced open hours for gated trailheads. I tried to stop by the Dreamy Draw at 6:40 myself tonight only to find the main road gate locked near the entrance, twenty minutes before they were supposed to be closed. I'm sure the park rangers are doing their best, but it sucks to show up on time and find the gate closed. Try contacting the Phoenix Parks and Rec Dept or your city councilperson. They are keeping the parks open seven days a week, but have reduced open hours for gated trailheads. I tried to stop by the Dreamy Draw at 6:40 myself tonight only to find the main road gate locked near the entrance, twenty minutes before they were supposed to be closed. I’m sure the park rangers are doing their best, but it sucks to show up on time and find the gate closed. Try contacting the Phoenix Parks and Rec Dept or your city councilperson.

]]> By: Roseann Higgins http://rscottjones.com/2010/02/phoenix-mountains-to-be-closed-on-mondays-tuesdays/comment-page-1/#comment-2668 Roseann Higgins Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:27:33 +0000 http://rscottjones.com/?p=1025#comment-2668 I hike the Phoenix Mountain Preserve at Squaw Peak/Piestewa Peak in the warm months and just started again last week. The new hours mostly won't affect me because I hike in the hottest part of day. But some days, I can't get there til later, like many who work during the day. Tonight, locks were already on the restrooms before I checked two of them out before my hike at 6:40 pm. It was still daylight. The petition Nicole linked to expired with 242 signatures. Is there anything hikers and city residents who care about the use of the park can do at this point? Which politicians should we be letting know this isn't what we want? Thank you for any insights. Sincrely, Roseann Higgins www.twitter.com/roseannhiggins www.twitter.com/arizonatrail (a loyal user of the North and South Kaibab section every year) I hike the Phoenix Mountain Preserve at Squaw Peak/Piestewa Peak in the warm months and just started again last week. The new hours mostly won’t affect me because I hike in the hottest part of day. But some days, I can’t get there til later, like many who work during the day. Tonight, locks were already on the restrooms before I checked two of them out before my hike at 6:40 pm. It was still daylight.

The petition Nicole linked to expired with 242 signatures.

Is there anything hikers and city residents who care about the use of the park can do at this point?

Which politicians should we be letting know this isn’t what we want?

Thank you for any insights.

Sincrely,
Roseann Higgins
http://www.twitter.com/roseannhiggins
http://www.twitter.com/arizonatrail (a loyal user of the North and South Kaibab section every year)

]]> By: Nicole http://rscottjones.com/2010/02/phoenix-mountains-to-be-closed-on-mondays-tuesdays/comment-page-1/#comment-2417 Nicole Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:53:20 +0000 http://rscottjones.com/?p=1025#comment-2417 In case you're interested! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/phxpreserves/ In case you’re interested!

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

]]> By: Scott http://rscottjones.com/2010/02/phoenix-mountains-to-be-closed-on-mondays-tuesdays/comment-page-1/#comment-2393 Scott Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:37:24 +0000 http://rscottjones.com/?p=1025#comment-2393 You're absolutely right, David. The cuts will simply mean that gates and restrooms will not be opened. If you're lucky and wealthy enough to live near the preserve, you can still walk or bike or ride your horse down. Unfortunately, most trail users drive their cars there, and I'm guessing that conflict between local residents and ungated trail users may re-emerge very shortly. One possibility is organizing volunteers (there's already a growing Park Steward Program that enlists volunteers in regular assigned trail patrols) to accomplish some of the basic work of opening/closing the gates, ensuring the facilities aren't vandalized, and generally keeping an eye on things. I'm hoping to find out a bit more about the program next week and post additional information. You’re absolutely right, David. The cuts will simply mean that gates and restrooms will not be opened. If you’re lucky and wealthy enough to live near the preserve, you can still walk or bike or ride your horse down. Unfortunately, most trail users drive their cars there, and I’m guessing that conflict between local residents and ungated trail users may re-emerge very shortly.

One possibility is organizing volunteers (there’s already a growing Park Steward Program that enlists volunteers in regular assigned trail patrols) to accomplish some of the basic work of opening/closing the gates, ensuring the facilities aren’t vandalized, and generally keeping an eye on things. I’m hoping to find out a bit more about the program next week and post additional information.

]]> By: David Bickford http://rscottjones.com/2010/02/phoenix-mountains-to-be-closed-on-mondays-tuesdays/comment-page-1/#comment-2384 David Bickford Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:52:14 +0000 http://rscottjones.com/?p=1025#comment-2384 Reading this carefully, I don't think it's necessarily the case that the mountain preserves will be entirely closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Instead, the closures will be enforced at gated trailheads, usually those with dedicated parking lots. In other words, some of the smaller ungated trailheads will likely remain available to hikers because there's simply no way to close them. Likewise, even at gated trailheads, one should be able to walk into the park, although the parking lots will likely be closed off. The net effect may be more discovery and use of ungated trailheads, as well as more hikers parking in residential neighborhoods when parking lots are inaccessible. As someone who lives across the street from an ungated trailhead, I'll probably see the results first-hand. Regardless, the proposed cuts are highly undesirable. Reading this carefully, I don’t think it’s necessarily the case that the mountain preserves will be entirely closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Instead, the closures will be enforced at gated trailheads, usually those with dedicated parking lots. In other words, some of the smaller ungated trailheads will likely remain available to hikers because there’s simply no way to close them. Likewise, even at gated trailheads, one should be able to walk into the park, although the parking lots will likely be closed off. The net effect may be more discovery and use of ungated trailheads, as well as more hikers parking in residential neighborhoods when parking lots are inaccessible. As someone who lives across the street from an ungated trailhead, I’ll probably see the results first-hand. Regardless, the proposed cuts are highly undesirable.

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