Courtesy of Friends of the Scenic Drive
In January, you are likely to see evidence that work is being done to beautify the northern part of Scottsdale Road, i.e. Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive. Our leaders deserve to take credit for the effort, because they and their predecessors since Herb Drinkwater have supported the Scenic Drive. To mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive and to recognize the many volunteers who have been involved since its beginning, Mayor Lane proclaimed May 2014 as Scenic Drive Month.
This is not a spur of the moment enhancement project. In fact, the effort to preserve the vegetation and vistas along northern Scottsdale Road began MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, soon after the road was paved to Carefree. It is an effort that has been supported by Scottsdale leaders since before the area was annexed, as residents demanded that the natural beauty along our roads be saved. It’s a unique effort that differentiates our community and city. It is an essential part of our heritage.
Friends of the Scenic Drive Helps Maintain and Enhance Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive.
After much of north Scottsdale was annexed by the City of Scottsdale in the mid-1980s, the pace of development quickened. In the 1980s, Scottsdale had identified Shea Boulevard as its first scenic corridor. Unfortunately, development adjacent to Shea outpaced the city’s ability to implement scenic corridor guidelines and development took place that was too close to the road or blocked views of McDowell Mountains and the landscape to the south. At the time, city leaders were anxious to prevent the same thing happening to Scottsdale Road, which was the first corridor to be heavily developed.
In the 90s, Scottsdale designated parts of some of the roads in the newly annexed area as Scottsdale Scenic Corridors. The city and residents began discussing ways to buy land for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve but also to purchase land adjacent to Scenic Corridors to protect views and also establish pullouts and small parks. Much of the discussion focused on Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive that had been established by the residents of Maricopa County, Cave Creek, and Carefree in 1963 and restored by Friends of the Scenic Drive in the mid-1990s.
What eventually became Bond 2000, began as a proposal to acquire parcels of land adjacent to Scottsdale Road, Dynamite Road and other scenic corridors in north Scottsdale. As the discussions went on, it became apparent that there was not enough support city-wide to pass a bond that only benefited the roads of north Scottsdale.So what began as a proposal to save land along northern scenic corridors, morphed into a plan to beautify and enhance all of Scottsdale Road.
Meanwhile, as plans for the preserve developed they included purchase of some state lands adjacent to north Scottsdale’s Scenic Corridors, i.e. Scottsdale Road, Dynamite Boulevard, and Pima Road. By including those roadsides the vistas from the scenic corridors would be protected Most of those lands are state trust lands and they have not been acquired by the city.
In 2000, Scottsdale voters approved $31.5 million to beautify and enhance Scottsdale Road. The last part of Scottsdale Road to be enhanced was the northern part. For more than a decade Friends of the Scenic Drive met and talked on a regular basis with city representatives to ensure that the allocated for the northern part of Scottsdale Road was not spent on large projects to the south. In particular Friends thanks Tim Conner, who now manages the city’s environmental initiatives for his unwavering support and assistance. Today, approximately $7 million is being spent enhancing the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive.
Related Articles and Website Pages
December 2014 Update: Scenic Drive Revegetation Scheduled
September 2014 Update: Scenic Drive Enhancement Project Proceeding
Scenic Drive Heritage Timeline
2001 Scenic Drive Website: Link Between Drive and Desert Preserve Envisioned
2001 Scenic Drive Website: Scottsdale’s Special Roads
Scenic Drive Website Pages and Articles
Recent Comments