Desert Foothills Scenic Drive

By Judith Wagman, Editor COPP News

     Friends of the Scenic Drive have been working in conjunction with the city and Tim Conner, Principal Planner and Architect, to review design guidelines, easement acquisition, trail planning, and funding for the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive.

     Voters in the Scottsdale Bond 2000 election approved funding of a $31.5 million budget to enhance Scottsdale Road as the city’s signature roadway through improvements to landscaping, undergrounding of overhead power lines, pedestrian walkways, transit facilities, and public art.

     Design guidelines have been set forth that provide direction for the 24-mile Scottsdale Road corridor that has been divided into six distinct character areas. Traveling in a northward direction, as the roadway gains one thousand feet in elevation, one becomes increasingly aware of the presence of the natural desert and the rural character of the area.

     Thus, the northernmost district, the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, was established. It is defined as the six-mile segment between Happy Valley Road to the South and Carefree Highway to the North. The entire length of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive is within the Environmentally Sensitive Lands, and all improvements will “help and preserve the natural land features.”

     Historically, The Desert Foothills Scenic Drive was established in 1963 by the residents of Cave Creek and Carefree to “preserve the unique plants and trees of the desert for others.” Since 1994, the Friends of the Scenic Drive have worked to preserve and enhance this area. Visit their extensive Web site, www.scenicdrive.org, for more information about Friends and the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive.

     Friends of the Scenic Drive have provided the following input with the city that will be incorporated into the improvements:

• Respect the Scenic Corridor Design Guidelines

• Natural desert will remain the focal point, rather than adding additional elements

• Promote trail connectivity, rather than sidewalks

• Avoid additional lighting, thus respecting the dark skies

• Introduce elements that address the equestrian/rural character of the Desert Foothills

• Enhance Scenic Corridor Landscaping where depleted

• Consider undergrounding overhead power wires

• Explore the use of public art to carry out Memory Park concept that references historic events and the washes.

     Within each uniquely distinct area, the goal is to provide a sense of continuity while adhering to the rural and natural character of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. Design work will continue through this year, with construction anticipated in 2010. Within this time frame, there will be continued opportunity for residents to provide input through open house meetings and public workshops.

For Additional Information

E-mail: Tim Conner at TConner@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
Phone: Call Tim Conner at (480) 312-7833.

     Judith Wagman has lived in the Pinnacle Peak area for nine years. She is a member of the board of directors of the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak and the editor of the organization’s newsletter. For information about becoming a member of the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak and receiving the newsletter as part of that membership, visit www.coppeak.org.
 

Related Articles Posted in February 2008

"How Good is Your Memory" by Desert Les - Readers are asked to identify people, places, events, and organizations that have played a role in the history of the Desert Foothills and Pinnacle Peak areas. This article is actually a list of subjects to be covered by exhibits that are being planned by Friends of the Scenic Drive.

"What Scenic Drive?" by Les Conklin - Discusses the opportunity presented by the Scenic Drive beautification project and the origins of the relationship between Friends of the Scenic Drive and the City of Scottsdale.