Learn About Desert Discovery Center

Saguaro Sunset by Susan Q. Byrd

Saguaro Sunset by Susan Q. Byrd

FAQ Courtesy of Desert Discovery Center Scottsdale

Please read and comment on the updated version of this article.

Learn More About Scottsdale’s  Desert Discovery Center

 

What is the Desert Discovery Center?

Scottsdale’s Desert Discovery Center (DDC) is an interpretive, educational and research Center intended to enhance the McDowell Sonoran Preserve experience. The DDC is envisioned to be the focal point for education, research and dialogue about human interaction with arid environments as exemplified in the unique Sonoran Desert. The DDC will provide authentic, authoritative exhibits, programs and activities for residents, students, visitors, researchers, environmentalists and policy makers. Experiences will be inspiring and engaging, blurring the lines between education and entertainment in an “only here” immersion in our beautiful McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert.

 

Where will the Desert Discovery Center be located?

The DOC will be located at the main Gateway entrance to the 30,200-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the largest urban preserve in the United States. The Gateway location for the DOC interpretive center use was approved by the City Council in Case 10-UP-2006 as the second phase of the Gateway Municipal Use Master Site Plan (MUMSP), as was recommended in several previous location studies by the City. The Council will have to approve an amendment to the MUMSP once the design and site plan are finalized.

 

How long has this been planned?

Scottsdale always has been a place for big ideas and special accomplishments – foremost among them the creation of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The DOC concept originated more than 30 years ago and at least six unanimous City Council actions over the years have acknowledged or accepted reports locating the DOC at the Gateway to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The concept has evolved from that of a basic information center into a global institution focused on tourism, research, education and policies regarding sustainable living in arid environments. Desert Discovery Center Scottsdale (DOCS) will be building upon the work that has emerged from multiple previous studies, reconsidering all aspects in terms of a new economy, new partners and a new vision. This includes expanding on the extensive public outreach done for the Phase ll study in 2010, as well as the more than 100 meetings held with key stakeholders over the past two years.

 

"Saguaro Bloom" by Gary Wojton, 1913

“Saguaro Bloom” by Gary Wojton, 1913

How do we ensure that the Desert Discovery Center will maintain the integrity of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and its vision?

The DOC is meant to enhance the experience of the Preserve, encourage preservation and instill a sense of harmony and respect for the desert. DOC facilities and programs will be compatible with Scottsdale’s Preserve Ordinance. As a model for sustainability, the DOC will be built “green” – desert-sensitive and low· scale. Visitors will leave with an increased understanding of the why of preservation/conservation.

 

Whatis the envisioned scalefor the Desert Discovery Center?

Although the current concept consists of 11pavilions nestled into the 10-acre site, the exact size and design has not yet been determined. That is the task of DOCS, which will be refining the prior conceptual plans, exhibits and business plan and evaluating, along with the City, the architect’s preliminary plans. The vision is for the DOC to be built on a minimalist footprint that reflects the vision for this project – “to educate and inspire people to value and thrive in desert environments through transformative experiences based on global scientific study.”

 

How will the Desert Discovery Center benefit Scottsdale residents?

Citizens already can hike, bike and ride their horses within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. With the addition of the DOC, they will also be able to learn more about how to co-exist with their Southwestern desert home. They also will have a one·of·a-kind experience to share with out-of-town visitors, further sharing the wonder of the Sonoran Desert environment.

 

Saguaro at Sunset

“Saguaro Sunset” by Tom Morris

How will the Desert Discovery Center benefit the business community and tourism industry?

The tourism industry supported the Preserve Tax with the understanding that a “tourist attraction” would be built to provide appropriate experiences and access to visitors. The DDC will be unlike any other tourist attraction – built green, on a minimalist footprint, intended to inspire stewardship of the arid environment and enable ‘eco-tourism.’ The hope is that visitors – both tourists and residents – will leave the DDC inspired to do something to make their world a better place. The DDC will benefit the business community by providing a quality oflife amenity, an additional global research initiative and a place for corporate team­ building through volunteerism.

 

How will the Desert Discovery Center befunded?

Private and public funding sources for the capital project are currently being studied and evaluated. One source is the City’s bed tax dollars, which are generated by tourism specifically for projects of this nature. This Center would be a public/not-for-profit partnership with private sector dollars supplementing the City’s investment DDCS already has raised nearly $250,000 to advance the concept

 

How will the Desert Discovery Center be sustained financially after it is built?

The DDC is planned to be self-sustaining and would include an annual development funding goal, in addition to earned revenue, memberships and corporate/individual giving. A capital campaign to include a three-year operating reserve and the beginning of an endowment is envisioned. A resilient DDC would be an important component of the City’s strategic Economic Development strategies.

 

Who will own and run the Desert Discovery Center?

The City has a template for public/private partnerships. The DDC would follow that closely with the Preserve land being owned by the City, as well as the physical assets such as buildings and hardscape. The DDCS would be under contract to be the operator of the facility, providing programs, experiential exhibits, volunteers and staff.

How do I stay informed about the Desert Discovery Center’s progress?

Visit www.scottsdaledesertcenter.com. Review our list of advocates and consider becoming one yourself! If you’d like to be added to our mailing list, send us a note via the website. You can also visit the City’s website at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/construction/desert-discovery-center.

 

Related Articles and Websites

Scottsdale Desert Discovery Center Moves Forward – Published January 2016

 

 

 

Author: Les Conklin

Les Conklin is a resident of north Scottsdale He founded Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Monte de Paz HOA and is the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. He was named to Scottsdale's History Maker Hall of Fame in 2014. Les is a past editor of A Peek at the Peak and the author of Images of America: Pinnacle Peak. He served on the Scottsdale's Pride Commission, McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the boards of several local nonprofits and was a founding organizer of the city's Adopt-A-Road Program.. Les is a volunteer guide at the Musical Instrument Museum.

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16 Comments

  1. The DDC is a giant white elephant mostly funded by your tax dollars. It will bulldoze 30 acres of your Preserve to help a private special interest group at your expense. It will not be able to pay for itself and will run at a loss every year which will be out of your General Fund tax dollars. God created the land, you preserved it. dont let a few self interested parties exploit it.

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  2. The DDC defies the intention of the meaning of the word PRESERVE by blocking the gateway with an artificial interpretation. It furthers the erosion of “change” from PRESERVE to PARK and paves the way for further blatant intrusion.

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  3. The city council members supporting putting a DDC in the Preserve should be totally ashamed of themselves. There’s more to this story I’m guessing!

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  4. Every purpose they outline for the DDC could be accomplished w/o tearing up the Bajada to place it at the Gateway Trailhead. There are at least 3 other viable locations: adjacent to the Butterfly Farm/Aquarium east of the 101, NE corner of Pima/Princess & 101 & commercial area across the street to the west of Gateway. These are properties already designated commercial. We voted $ for the Preserve & “amenities” – that means bathrooms, trash can and maybe water – not a gift shop, restaurant, auditorium, museum, classrooms & whatever else they can think of. Special interests are trying to ram this through against the will of the voters.
    We are submitting a Petition to the City Council requesting this be put on a ballot before the voters.

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  5. There are 3 other locations for the DDC that are already zoned commercial and on the edge of the Desert: adjacent to the Butterfly Farm/Aquarium; NE corner of 101 & Pima Princess & commercial area just west of Gateway Trailhead.

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  6. This project has local residents like myself very concerned about the PRESERVE. The size of the proposed project is overwhelming. The proposed activities and offerings seem feasibly available using the current facilities at Gateway, including the interpretive trail, ampitheatre, restrooms, etc. Why must 30 acres be sacrificed? And what precedent is being set with such a project in the “preserve”? I am hopeful that the people in the community pay attention and get educated on what is going on here. And that our city council does right by the people they represent and treads carefully in changing the Master Site Plan.

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  7. I have been to the meetings and only know people who are against building the DDC, not one person for it. Please explain to us exactly how this will help our community and nature. Every discussion emphasized only that the DDC will be good neighbors and attract visitors to the area. Research can be accomplished without building. Partnerships and education and tourism can be enhanced by having events during the high season (rather than a facility unused between May-Oct). My children and I attended McDowell Mtn Conservacy even last month and it was phenomenal. Do more of these events with ZERO footprint rather than what you are proposing. I am very suspicious as to who is truly benefiting behind the scenes.

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  8. Something this large of scale would ruin the landscape. Do not put the DOC on a preserve. I would support something of this nature in another area. I saw at one of the meetings that there was plenty of area near West World. The pavilions should be moved there. I would happily be an advocate for the DOC if the location was moved. The preserve is a special place and doesn’t need to be “enhanced”. Leave the preserve what it is- A Preserve!

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  9. Preserve means no mass buildings.

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  10. I am against the proposed DDC. I went to the meeting the other night and I failed to see how the stated objectives of the DDC cannot be met with the current facilities at Gateway (which are not fully utilized). The last proposal was for 15 buildings at a cost of $70million+. I do not understand how this could possibly be needed or justified.

    The stated objectives:

    1) Research: No buildings are needed for this — go out in the desert and do your work

    2) Education: we have an amphitheater and covered space at the Gateway now. To my knowledge, they are seldom used. Put a canopy over the amphitheater and begin hosting educational events. Some of those mentioned at the meeting were: have local rescue groups bring animals (great — do it now) and to partner with the Native American groups to have things like a sunset / sunrise ceremony (great — do it now). Again, no additional building is needed — make use of the space you have before building more!

    3) Access for all: We currently have a path that allows access for those who do not wish to hike, ride or horseback ride. I’ve taken an elderly family member there. It teaches about the desert and allows you to feel a part of the trails. No additional building is needed. If you feel that better access is needed, then build another trail to allow more access inside the desert. The cost would be minimal.

    The DDC stated that they also wanted to have a gift shop and cafe. Neither of these appear to be in the stated objectives, so I fail to see the need for either of these facilities within a preserve.

    What was not mentioned was the impact on the access for those of us who regularly use Gateway. The Gateway Loop is the main trail accessed by everyone and during high season, it gets pretty busy. I’ve been there when a bus of people came through. It wasn’t fun to get around them. Adding more people, more buses, will impact the enjoyment of the preserve for the PEOPLE OF SCOTTSDALE.

    In addition, the Gateway trails directly access the neighboring communities. The trail goes right behind my house. Bringing in 300,000+ tourists with direct access to the communities does not sound like a well thought out decision.

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  11. This article makes it seem like this is something that the majority has wanted for 30 years when in reality most Scottsdale residents and proponents of the Preserve have been against since it could devastate Scottsdale vibrant economy and would destroy one of the nation’s public jewels. I am sure these comments will never get posted as censorship of true feelings is a big part of the strategy to get this monstrosity built.

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  12. I am against the DDC in the preserve. The preserve is perfect the way it is. The city Council should leave it alone.

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    • Go here http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/council and e-mail, write or call Mayor Lane & all City Council members and tell them no on DDC @ Gateway or that you want them to put it on the ballot in Aug or Nov and let the voters decide.
      Also, Howard Myers sponsors the Face Book Page for us who object – Friends of Scottsdale Preserve, and you can contact him to sign a Petition that he will put before the City Council demanding that the issue of the location be put to a vote. Howard Myers

      Phone: 480-473-0109 (home)
      480-262-3502 (Cell)
      E-mail: howard.myers@cox.net

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  13. Write, call or e-mail the Scottsdale City Council with your objections and insist that, at a minimum the issue of location at Gateway Trailhead be placed before the voters. http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/council
    Second, Howard Myers is leading the effort to submit a Petition to the City Council demanding a vote. 480-473-0109 (home)
    480-262-3502 (Cell)
    E-mail: howard.myers@cox.net
    And, FB Page Friends of Scottsdale Preserve.
    I resigned as a MSC Steward b/c of the management censorship of any comments against the Gateway placement.
    At the Steward DDC Forum, it was clear that a majority of MSC Stewards object to this; however, the MSC is thwarted any attempt for us to discuss or connect. I also believe that they are handing out “pro- DDC @ Gateway” info at the Gateway Trailhead to visitors.

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  14. The DDC should not be located in the preserve.The preserve is a wonderful place Don’t destroy it

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    • I would really like to find out what the truth is about the push to locate it on the Preserve. I just cannot buy that it is the only or best location after some ‘study’. Also, the DDCS folks have lost any credibility they may have had with me with their flimsy justificaions and excuses presented at the public forums.

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