Preserving our land today for a brighter tomorrow

Phoenix, the nation's fifth largest city, is located in the midst of some of the most beautiful desert landscape in the world-the Sonoran Desert. This desert is renown for its vegetation like the Saguaro Cactus, a symbol of our unique desert life, which thrives amid the desert's mountain slopes and open space. As your representative on the Phoenix City Council and chair of the Environment and Land Use Subcommittee, protecting our precious Sonoran Desert is one of my highest priorities.

Over the past few years, the Planning and Parks and Recreation departments have worked to develop a comprehensive plan to preserve urban open space in and around the city. Phoenix residents placed such a high priority on open space that they approved an increase in the sales tax to fund the purchase of land for the Sonoran Preserve. Adopted in 1998, the plan, formally known as the Sonoran Preserve Master Plan, stressed the importance of physical and visual access to the preserve's open spaces.

The Phoenix Planning Commission recently approved an amendment to the General Plan to incorporate the Sonoran Preserve Master Access Plan and the City Council will vote on the plan. The Sonoran Preserve Master Access Plan will require private development adjacent to the Sonoran Preserve to provide access to the public; this includes 23 proposed community access points along the perimeter of the preserve. The proposed community access points are spaced about one mile apart, allowing for easy access to the 20,000-acre preserve. The Master Access Plan also identifies a network of trails that are accessible, convenient and connected to parks and major open spaces. The trails will link to facilities such as nature centers and scenic viewing areas, thus enhancing the recreational and outdoor educational experiences for residents.

As you may know, the Sonoran Parkway will run through the preserve; city staff designed the parkway to have as little an impact as possible on the preserve. The Sonoran Parkway will be well landscaped and provide a scenic drive for residents driving through the preserve.

In addition to the Sonoran Preserve, South Mountain Park, the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Rio Salado, Encanto Park and Papago Park are examples of the city's commitment to providing open space. These areas and facilities protect the natural environment and provide recreational, environmental, educational and cultural opportunities to residents; they also contribute to a stronger and more viable neighborhood while contributing to a sense of community.

I commend our Planning and Parks and Recreation departments as well as the Planning Commission for a job well done, and I appreciate the many hours that went into designing a plan that will serve as a great benefit for generations of Phoenix residents.

Don't hesitate to call my office if you have any questions about this or any other issue concerning District 2. You are also invited to join me at my monthly Issues & Info breakfasts and learn about topics that impact your neighborhood and family. Take the opportunity to ask questions about issues that are important to you. The next one will be held 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19 at Jillian's in the Desert Ridge. Please call my office for more details. I hope to see you there.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Peggy Neely represents District 2, which encompasses most of northeast Phoenix. She can be reached at 602- 262-7445 or via e-mail at council.district.2@phoenix.gov.