Scottsdale Citizen Explains Petition for Desert Edge Vote

Posted By The Peak on Apr 11, 2018

April 11, 2018

By Fran Brennan

Desert Edge Pavilion Courtesy of Desert Discovery Center Scottsdale

A petition is being circulated seeking the RIGHT TO VOTE concerning the proposed DesertEDGE facility planned inside the McDowell Sonoran Preserve at the Gateway entrance.

There are those who think that the Preserve is the right place for the amenity, saying it will be “an interpretive, educational, desert appreciation complex.” (See ASU president’s letter). DesertEDGE will have informational exhibits, a restaurant, educational workspaces and nighttime events.

There are those who say that the Preserve was always intended to stay in its natural state, with undisturbed animal habitats and corridors…and that it was never intended to be a park or tourist attraction. In fact, all of the DesertEDGE planned activities are specifically prohibited by Scottsdale City Ordinance # 3321 (read on the City web site).

So what can citizens do ? Educate yourself about how the Preserve came to be, how it was funded, what it was intended to be. Then learn about the proposed tourist attraction plans…including the up-front cost and continuing cost to Scottsdale taxpayers.

Then, if you feel you would like the RIGHT TO VOTE whether or not to build this event center in the Preserve, please sign the petition when asked…as thousands of your fellow Scottsdale voters have.

This petition is NOT a vote in favor of, or opposed to, the DesertEDGE.

It is a petition seeking the RIGHT FOR SCOTTSDALE VOTERS TO VOTE on this proposed project.

Editor’s Note. Supporters of the ballot initiative have until July 1, 2018 to collect 24,000 valid signatures from registered Scottsdale voters.