Scenic Drive: The Future

Memory Park Character Rendering by Architect Doug Sidnore

Today, the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive is a landmark that connects a community.   It’s located on Scottsdale Road,  a City of Scottsdale Scenic Corridor, and the city’s signature road. The Scottsdale City Council and Scottsdale voters have approved plans that when implemented will result in 1) the enhancement of the Scenic Drive, 2) the preservation of the last available land along Scottsdale Road, 3) the preservation of open space that links the Scenic Drive and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and 4) the preservation of open space vistas and land along three scenic corridors.

 Scottsdale Bond 2000 Enhancements

T

he City of Scottsdale’s signature road is Scottsdale Road. It stretches from south to north and is 27 miles in length, passing through the length of Scottsdale and connecting Tempe to Carefree. In recent decades, as Scottsdale has grown, Scottsdale Road has been extended to the north, paved, and widened. Along its northward route, the desert gradually rises to the mountains, creating slightly cooler temperatures and an increasingly lush landscape dotted with saguaro, mesquite, palo verde, and cholla.

Memory Park Exhibit Panel Rendering by Architect Doug Signore

In 2000, Scottsdale voters approved $31.5 million to beautify and enhance Scottsdale Road. Approximately $7 million will be spent enhancing the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, the northernmost section of Scottsdale Road. Friends of the Scenic Drive is working with the City of Scottsdale on enhancements to the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. Friends has held meetings with residents to obtain their input. The most popular proposals have been to: 1)  add vegetation along the Scenic Drive, with emphasis on intersection corners, 2) underground remaining utility lines, 3) enhance the Scenic Drive’s historic exhibit area by creating a “memory park”  Learn More  

Preservation of Open Space, Linkage and Access to Preserve

The City of Scottsdale’s preservation plans call for a link between the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The proposed link would utilize current power line corridors to link Scottsdale Road with the preserve’s interior as shown in the diagram below. 

The diagram to the right  illustrates the proposed link. The dark green area is the vacant acreage that has been included in the City of Scottsdale’s Planned McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Ultimately, the preserve will   encompass almost 34,000 acres, 1/3 of Scottsdale’s land area.

The orange, dashed lines show the planned linkages between  the Scenic Drive, Phoenix (white area west of Scottsdale Road) and the main body of the preserve east of Pima Road. As can be seen, plans also call for the preserve to link to the Tonto National Forest to the north, and Maricopa County McDowell Mountain Regional Park to the east. These connections preserve wildlife corridors, increase recreational opportunities, and provide convenient access to the preserve for residents and visitors.

Two sections of land (approximately 12,800  acres) connect the Scenic Drive (Scottsdale Road) to the main body of the preserve east of Pima Road,  protecting vegetation and vistas along three Scenic Corridors: Scottsdale Road, Dynamite Boulevard, and Pima Road. Both parcels are State Trust Lands and must be purchased from the State Land Department, probably auction. Because of their proximity to major roads, Scottsdale and Pima Roads, it is likely that developers will bid up the price.

Friends of the Scenic Drive and GPPA strongly support the inclusion of these parcels in the preserve, for all of the reasons stated above.

About the Diagram

The diagram is part of a report that was prepared by the Desert Subcommittee of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission for the Scottsdale City Council.  The report is entitled Desert Open Space System Plan, Scottsdale, Arizona and is dated November 1997. The report was prepared for informational purposes and brought together in one place previously developed plans for trails, parks and the preservation of open space and scenic corridors.

About the Preserve

Scottsdale, with the consistent support of residents, is well on it’s way to creating the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. However, it’s a complex effort that will take years to complete. For information about the status of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, visit scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve.

Memory Park

In 2007, Friends of the Scenic Drive proposed that a series of “Memory Parks” be established along the entire length of Scottsdale Road. In 2008, to generate interest in the effort, Friends of the Scenic Drive began creating specifications for a Memory Park that would cover topics related to its part of the city. In 2008, the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association retained architect Doug Sydnore to create a conceptual design. With the onslaught of the recession, the project was postponed.