Scenic Drive: IRS Application, 1997

Part II. Activities and Operational Information.

1. Activities

Friends of the Scenic Drive, Inc. is filling an important need that cannot be met by city, county or state governments. Our activities are focused in these areas:

• Preservation
• Education
• Fund Raising
• Promotion
• Administration

To appreciate the importance and reason for our activities, some understanding of the history of our area is required.

Background

The Desert Foothills area of Scottsdale, Arizona is a place of uncommon beauty. A place where the desert gradually rises to the mountains, creating slightly cooler temperatures and lush landscape dotted with saguaros, palo verde, mesquite and chollas. An area that was once home to the Apache, prospectors and pioneers.

Back in 1963, the area between Cave Creek and Paradise Valley, Arizona was an expanse of empty desert. Cave Creek Road was a narrow, lonely two lane road through mesquite and palo verde thickets. Scottsdale Road had just been paved to the new development of Carefree. Both roads were under the jurisdiction of Maricopa County and setbacks and zoning restrictions did not exist.

Cave Creek residents feared the roads would suffer the fate of Apache Boulevard in Mesa, a once scenic road that had become lined with gas stations and motels resulting in the loss of desert plants, including giant saguaros, and destruction of animal habitat. Others agreed that impending growth made it imperative to act to preserve the desert next to Cave Creek and Scottsdale Roads. The Desert Foothills Scenic Drive was born.

Many Cave Creek residents were involved in building the Drive. A local botanist walked the Drive and selected specimens. On Scottsdale Road alone more than twenty species of trees, shrubs and cacti were identified on each side of the road. The local lumber yard provided material at cost. Students painted. Some residents constructed and installed the signs. Volunteer “Straw bosses” acted foreman, while “Plant Parents” placed white rocks around each selected plant and posted small redwood signs bearing the plants name in front of each site. The signs were placed on private property next to the roads. This property is owned by many different people and many of them are not residents. Over the years, the signs and plants were maintained by volunteers including the local Boy Scout troop and school children.

Maricopa County enthusiastically supported the project and in 1968 established scenic corridors and setbacks along Scottsdale Road and Cave Creek Roads. In 1968, the County Planning Commission produced a detailed report describing the Drive. It was their hope that the Drive “might serve as an inspiration to other communities to TAKE ACTION IN THE PRESERVATION OF natural beauties in their areas.” (The emphasis is theirs). The County also erected large cement monument signs at the southern entrances to the Drive on Scottsdale and Cave Creek Roads. Picnic tables and bathroom facilities were installed in the area adjacent to the monument sign on Scottsdale Road, land which is owned by the State of Arizona.

For more than three decades the helped residents and visitors learn the names of native plants and trees. The Drive was recognized in travel magazines. An estimated 300 tour busses a year leaving Scottsdale resorts heading north to Sedona and the Grand Canyon routinely stop along the Drive, particularly in the area of the large monument sign to give visitors a chance to learn about the plants that are unique to the foothills.

For the most part the Drive was a success. The plants and habitat were preserved and random commercial construction did not take place.

Time, changing jurisdictions and growth took a toll on the Drive. In the mid ‘80s, the City of Scottsdale annexed a huge area including the Scottsdale Road section of the Drive. At the same time, the City of Phoenix annexed the area containing the Cave Creek Road portion of the Drive. The Drive deteriorated. Many of the plant signs disappeared or the plants died. Setbacks, especially along Cave Creek Road, were ignored. When Cave Creek Road was widened many signs were destroyed. Since the plant signs were on private property the City of Scottsdale and Phoenix could not maintain them. And, since the Drive was part of Scottsdale and Phoenix, Cave Creek volunteerism withered.

1. Preservation (60%)

Our area is growing very rapidly. The purpose of the Drive has always been, an will continue to be, to preserve the unique desert environment. For more than thirty years the Drive has acted to preserve the desert by “drawing a line in the sand” discouraging random development. Today, growth has moved northward from Phoenix and Scottsdale and more and more people are moving into the area which includes the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive.

In 1994 and 1995, an informal group of 70 north Scottsdale and Cave Creek residents with the support of the City of Scottsdale and local property owners, restored the more than 50 plant sites and signs along the 5 mile stretch of Scottsdale Road based on the 1963 plan. They used their own money and donations from other residents — and their own time and labor — to get the job done. Plant Parents were assigned responsibility for the various plants.

In 1996, the City of Scottsdale announced plans to widen the Scottsdale Road section of the Drive to four lanes. Basically, this meant an undoing of much of our restoration work. The widening took longer than anticipated and delayed the implementation of some of our plan.

We worked closely with the City and their plant salvage program. Saguaros and other mature plants were salvaged and some of these were used to screen new developments along the Drive. Plants that were identified as part of the Drive were preserved and moved out of harms way by the City. Friends of the Scenic Drive took down and stored all existing plant signs and stored them during the widening process.

Most of the property along the Drive will be developed and we are focusing our efforts on preserving the plants which are in the setback areas. Friends of the Scenic Drive will encourage developers to preserve the plants next to Scottsdale Road and to do whatever they can to preserve the natural beauty of the area.

To ensure effective communication between Friends of the Scenic Drive and the City of Scottsdale, a member of our organization has been appointed by the Scottsdale City Council as a commissioner on the Take Pride Committee (part of Keep America Beautiful). The committee focuses on environmental and preservation issues.

In late January, 1997 the widening of Scottsdale Road was completed. Friends of the Scenic Drive now plans the following activities related to preservation for 1997:

• Select plants. Friends of the Scenic Drive with the help of the Desert Botanical Garden will select “monument” plants to used for the “new” Drive.
• Create new signs. When necessary new redwood signs will be produced.
• Establish new plant sites on Scottsdale Road. Selected plants will be signed and surrounded by white rocks in keeping with tradition.
• Planting of desert plants along the Drive to screen development walls
• Continued participation in litter pickup efforts along the Drive

Friends of the Scenic Drive strongly supported a recent City of Scottsdale Improvement District which will result in the burial of existing and future power lines along the Drive.

During 1997 approximately 60% of our total organization’s time will be devoted to the above preservation efforts. Hundreds of man hours will be required to re-establish the Drive. After 1997, we will maintain the plant sites and make new planting along the Drive. Time will also be spent working with developers and the City to ensure that setbacks and plants are protected.

Education (10% in 1997, increasing thereafter)

Education is a natural byproduct of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. The plant signs along the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive provide an easy way for residents and visitors to learn the names of the unique Sonoran plants found in the Desert Foothills area. Tour operators regularly have their busses stop at the monument area along Scottsdale Road so that their customers can learn about the local flora and fauna.

In 1998. Friends of the Scenic Drive will enhance their learning experience by installing:

• A small exhibit describing the kinds of plants and animals that live along the Drive
• A small exhibit describing the local climate and history of the Drive.
• A ramada for visitors to use.
• Use of large native boulders to delineate a parking area.
• Plants signs to identify plants that visitors can study while on foot.

We also seek to make residents and visitors more aware of the Drive and providing a more modern presence by:

• Posting small “Scenic Drive” signs every mile along the Drive
• Installing large Drive Entry signs at the north and south ends of the Drive along Scottsdale Road. These signs will be on private property.

Friends of the Scenic Drive is working with the Scottsdale Historical Society to include and exhibit on the Drive at the Scottsdale Museum. We have also worked with the Cave Creek Museum to preserve some of the original signage which is now at display at that museum. The Heard Museum, which recently opened an annex which is on the Drive, has been supportive of our efforts.

During 1997, Friends of the Scenic Drive plans to hire a contractor to install the Drive entry signs at each end of the Drive. The City of Scottsdale has agreed to post scenic drive signs along Scottsdale Road. A committee of 4 Friends of the Scenic Drive members will coordinate this effort. Approximately 10% of total efforts will be devoted to this activity during 1997.

During 1998 we will work with the Botanical Gardens to develop the text required by our exhibits During 1998, we plan to hire contractors to install the educational exhibits and visitor ramada.

Friends of the Scenic Drive will be responsible for maintaining the exhibits and surrounding area.

Fund Raising (30%)

In June 1996, Friends of the Scenic Drive held a cookout for the benefit of the Drive. More than 400 local residents attended. Money was raised by selling tickets and auctioning off in-kind donations that were made by made local businesses.

During 1997 we plan to raise money by:

• Soliciting Friends of the Scenic Drive membership fees from residents
• Holding another cookout and one other fund raising event
• Soliciting cash and in-kind contributions from local developers and corporations
• Soliciting donations from the City of Scottsdale

Most of these funds are needed to construct the educational exhibits and Drive Entry signs.

Approximately 30% of our total group effort during 1997 will be devoted to fund raising. The fund raising effort is being headed up by a fund raising committee made up of 6 members. Our major need for funds is for the educational exhibits and Entry signs.

Promotion (3%)

It is more than fifteen miles from Scottsdale City Hall to the closest end of the Desert Foothills Drive. Many of the people who live in Scottsdale are new to the area. In addition to its participation in the Take Pride Committee, Friends of the Scenic Drive invests time distributing information about the history and importance of the Drive to civic leaders and local homeowners groups.

Approximately 3% of the total membership time is devoted to this activity. Most of the work is done by the president and treasurer.

Administration (2%)

The Executive Committee of Friends of the Scenic Drive meets monthly with general meetings held twice a year. These duties have also included working with a lawyer and account on incorporation and filing of this application.

During 1996 we developed a comprehensive plan for the Drive. Our acceptance as a tax exempt corporation is part of that plan.

Almost all administrative work is done by the Treasurer and Secretary of Friends of the Scenic Drive, Inc. Administration requires approximately 2% of our total organization time.

Cave Creek Road Portion of the Drive

Friends of the Scenic Drive is also interested in restoring and preserving the Phoenix section of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. However, thus far a much greater interest has been shown in preserving the Scottsdale Road section. We want to get that job finished first and set the example.

Part III. Financial Data

A. Statement of Revenue and Expenses