Parks and Recreation Department No Longer Considering Preserve Parking Meters

 After soliciting public input for the past two weeks, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department has decided to remove parking meters from consideration as a tool to manage traffic, crowding and trail impact at heavily crowded desert preserve parking areas. 

Parks and Recreation Department staff has heard from hundreds of residents over the past several weeks, including more than 60 that spoke at the Aug. 28 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, on ways to manage crowding at heavily used hiking areas, especially the Echo Canyon area of Camelback Mountain. Because of public feedback opposing the addition of parking meters, the department will continue to work with its contracted consultant and the Parks and Recreation Board over the coming months to identify other management tools to address crowding and trail and resource impacts and improve the visitor experience at Echo Canyon, Phoenix Mountains Park (Piestewa Peak Summit Trail access) and the Pima Canyon area of South Mountain. 

Department staff will continue to seek public input in the coming months on resource management at these three heavily crowded hiking areas.