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Open Space

Open Space Milestones

2007
City prepares and re-opens Community Nature Center to school groups and general public
2006
City accepts five-acre open space donation along Granite Creek upstream of Yavapai- Prescott Indian Reservation
City purchases 18-acre Community Nature Center from Prescott Unified School District
City annexes Boyle/DeBusk Open Space Preserve into City, and rezones to Natural Open Space designation
2005
City Purchases 28 acres in Granite Dells along Granite Creek
City accepts donation of open space on hill behind Village at the Boulders
Mayor’s Open Space Advisory Committee develops a new open space policy that revises many recommendations from the 1999 City of Prescott Open Space Plan
2004
City accepts donation along Miller Creek (linear open space) to benefit the Prescott Greenways Project
City purchases 34 acres along eastern shoreline of Watson Lake
City completes land exchange along Miller Creek (linear open space) to benefit the Prescott Greenways Project
2003
City accepts open space donations that include the following:
  • 9.7 acres near Mountain Club now known as Boyle/DeBusk Open Space Preserve in partnership with Central Arizona Land Trust who holds the conservation easement
  • 7 acres along White Spar/SR89 and Granite Creek now known as White Spar Creekside Preserve
Mayor’s Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee is formed
2002
City begins discussions of long-term planning for open space purchases
City begins discussions on future management of open space
City and Open Space Alliance contract Dufresne-Henry Planners and Architects to develop master/coordination plan for proposed 1557-acre Badger (a.k.a. “P”) Mountain Open Space Preserve
2001
City purchases the 32-acre hill east of Thumb Butte (formally known as Prescott Buttes
City purchases 25-acre parcel in Granite Dells north of Watson Lake
2000
Prescott voters approve 1% sales tax extension for street improvements, and add open space acquisitions
Prescott and Prescott Valley complete Coordination Plan for proposed Glassford Hill Preserve (State Trust Land)
1999
City develops and adopts the 1999 Prescott Open Space Plan
1998
Willow and Watson Lakes and associated land base purchase
City creates Trails and Open Space Coordinator position
1997-98
City purchases lots on face of Thumb Butte through partnership with Central Arizona Land Trust
1990's
Natural Parkland Purchases (terminology “open space” not yet used)
  • Stricklin Park
  • Acker Park
  • Acquisition of Storm Ranch parcels north of Watson Lake
  • Acquisition of Granite Dells Ranch parcels north of Willow Lake

New Open Space Policy Statement

Resolutions Number 3700 was passed on August 23, 2005 by Mayor Rowle Simmons and the City Council, replacing resolution Number 3203 in its entirety.

  • Open Space Policy (pdf, 20.5 kb)
    Open Space Program Policy Statement
  • Resolution 3700 (pdf, 10.1 kb)
    Passed on August 23, 2005 by Mayor Rowle Simmons and the City Council replacing Resolution 3203.

New Open Space Purchase in October

Granite Dells Woods
Granite Dells Woods

The City of Prescott’s most recent Open Space acquisition is approximately 28 acres in the Granite Dells area. The purchase was approved by the City Council and closed during October 2005.

The land, previously a part of the historic Payne property was acquired through the Trust for Public Land for $187,500. Through an agreement between the City and TPL, the land carries a conservation easement that insures preservation as open space in perpetuity. The Central Arizona Land Trust is the monitoring agency.

The property is an important piece that fits with City’s recently adopted Open Space Policy. The Policy’s intent is to acquire contiguous properties that allow for public enjoyment of low impact recreation such as trails and picnicking.

Granite Dells
Granite Dells

Although not yet ready for public use, the Payne property provides an additional access point to the popular Peavine Trail system and contains a beautiful riparian area suitable for a trail. According to the Conservation Easement, allowed development on the property includes limited parking and trailhead amenities, which once installed, will open the property to the public. 

Open Space

Prescott’s traditional character is constituted of rural and older urban features (alleys, grid streets, mature street trees, and territorial architecture), as well as long vistas, unique topography and a lack of perceived crowding. Open space plays a vital part in retaining that character. Along with open space, trails that connect open spaces become more important, particularly with the increased interest of residents in walking in their neighborhoods. Retention of Prescott’s small town character has been recognized as a key issue to maintaining a high quality of life for those living in or visiting our community.

Leaders of the City of Prescott have long recognized the importance of retaining Open Space as an essential feature of our community as it grows from its rural past towards a more urban future.

An important early step was adoption of the requirement that all planned area developments within the city contain no less than 20 percent of undeveloped open space within their boundaries.

The first proactive steps taken by the City were the purchase of Watson and Willow Lakes in 1998, and the establishment of the Watson Lake Preserve. These areas are now essential elements in the City’s recreational amenities.

Then, in 2000, the voters of Prescott approved an initiative measure that modified and extended an existing one-percent sales tax designated for road improvements for 15 years and included purchase of additional Open Space with those funds. The Prescott City Council later capped the amount available for open space purchase at $40.7 million, based upon sales tax revenue projections. The Council also decided to make funds available in increments for open space purchase over the life of the tax with the majority of funds to be available in later years.

A series of public meetings later developed a list of 11 highly desirable areas for possible purchase, and in February of 2004 a citizens committee appointed by the Mayor and City Council recommended priorities for acquisition based upon existing conditions.

For more information trails and hiking visit our Hiking Trails page parks/trails page. For more information on area wild lands visit the Prescott Creeks web site.