Many of you heard of the
Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board action approving charging parking
fees at city preserves. Details of the program are now finalized and
you can find lengthy information at: http://phoenix.gov/PRL/passupdate.html.
(you can also access it from the department homepage at phoenix.gov/parks).
Here are some highlights:
- The parking pass
(official name is Phoenix Mountain Pass) will be required
ONLY AT FIVE TRAILHEAD AREAS: the Pima Canyon area of South
Mountain, the Echo Canyon area of Camelback Mtn; Phoenix
Mountains Park and Recreation Area (Piestewa Peak), Dreamy Draw
Recreation Area and North Mountain Park. This leaves multiple
free trail access points at all the major preserve areas in the
city preserve and mountain park system.
- The daily fee will
be $2, a six-month pass will cost $50. (many reporters
have been stating that the fee is $5. This was the upper range
permitted by the Parks and Recreation Board, not the actual fee.
Please try to be clear with this in future reporting).
- The fee will not be
enforced during a six-month introductory period beginning Aug.
30. For now, we'll be distributing envelopes at the five
trailheads that visitors can use to mail in payment if they
choose, during this introductory period. During the introductory
period, we'll be working on ways for people to purchase passes
on-site as well.
Again, the website has lengthy details and it likely will answer 99
percent of your questions. |