Scenic Drive: Geography, Climate, Life Zones
Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive is located in an area referred to a the Desert Foothills. It’s is a special place where the desert gradually rises to the mountains, creating slightly cooler temperatures and a lush landscape dotted by saguaro, palo verde, mesquite and cholla. A landscape where the fertile floor covers the forgotten footprints of Apaches, prospectors and pioneers.” “Discovering the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive”,...
Former Campo Bello Student Restored Scenic Drive in 1975
The article, “Rising from the Ashes,” published in the November-Decelember issue of A Peek at the Peak (The Peak) magazine, tells the story of Tracy Armstrong’s quest to become an Eagle Scout. His report, which he submitted upon completing the project, describes the work done and includes some 1975 photographs. In 1975, Armstrong and his family were living in Maricopa County (today’s, northeast Phoenix). Tracy...
2001 Records Reveal Scottsdale Road Trailhead Planned for Preserve
By Les Conklin Do you know the names of Scottsdale’s Scenic Corridors and where they are located? Do you know that an access point for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve was planned for Scottsdale and Happy Valley Roads? Are you aware that a planning diagram shows a link between planned preserve lands east of Pima Road and northern Scottsdale Road (the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive)? Did you know that 1500 people, including many...
Old Photos a Partial Cure for Landscape Amnesia
By Les Conklin People tend not to notice the cumulative impact of small changes that are made over a long period of time. An entire community can develop landscape amnesia. In 1995, Friends of the Scenic Drive reinstalled the plant identification signs along the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, located on the northern reaches of Scottsdale Road. Thankfully, volunteer Bob Hart took photographs of many of the plant exhibits, had the film...
September 2014 Update: Scenic Drive Enhancements Proceeding
By Les Conklin You’ve probably noticed that most of the utility lines and poles have been buried along the Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive, but have you noticed the fresh coat of paint on the utility cabinets and street signal hardware? In addition, the city has recently installed some limited steel rail fencing to replace the old railroad tie and pipe rail fences at selected corners. The city is also working with Century Link...
Bernie and Destination Preservation
By Les Conklin When we graduated from the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) College of Business in 1960, Bernie Finkel and I didn’t suspect that we were destined to play roles in preserving a scenic landmark and creating what will be one of America’s largest city-owned preserves. In fact, neither of us had heard of “The West’s Most Western Town.” Besides, we had other things on our minds:...
Scottsdale Scenic Drive Post 8. New Scenic Drive Commercial Zoning?
Courtesy of Friends of the Scenic Drive If you live near Scottsdale Road in north Scottsdale and read the Scottsdale Republic then you might be wondering if the Scenic Drive might be sprawled upon? Could it be that the south end of the drive will be marked by commercial buildings rather than a desert vista, open space, and an exhibit area? If you’re really curious, you might wonder why the 21-mile stretch of mostly urban...
Scottsdale Scenic Drive Post 7. After the Crash, An Update
Courtesy of Friends of the Scenic Drive Despite the challenges created by the Great Recession the City of Scottsdale has continued to add acreage to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. It has continued to work with the Arizona Land Department and taken advantage the benefits provided by the Arizona Preserve Initiative and Proposition 303 (Scenic Drive Post 6. Two Game Changers ) and acquire land at less cost than anticipated. Acres Added...
Scottsdale Scenic Drive Post 6. Two Game Changers
Courtesy of Friends of the Scenic Drive Since Scottsdale began the effort, with the repeated support of voters, to create and complete the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, there have been two important game changers that have influenced the relationship between the land department and the city (see “Scenic Drive Post 4. Roadside Gorilla”). These are the Great Recession and modest land reform. Game Changer #1. Modest Land Reform...
Scottsdale Scenic Drive Post 5. Dig Reveals Original Sprawl Solution
Courtesy Friends of the Scenic Drive Established in 1994, when the Internet was new, the Friends of the Scenic Drive website provides information about the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. It’s also a digital archeological site, with a treasure trove of information hidden beneath a surface of current information. Scottsdale has far-sighted programs that can reduce urban and roadside sprawl: 1) the on-going effort to create...
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