CONSERVATION

Mission
By working to maintain clean and beautiful parks we are promoting sustainable communities and providing valuable outdoor spaces for native plants and animals and supporting the well-being of those living within the community.

Objectives

1. Preserve and protect our parks and park ecosystems
2. Support native plants and animals in parks through invasive species monitoring and removal
3. Maintain the beauty of our parks for community members to enjoy
4. Provide opportunities for environmental education and public outreach through our events and projects as added value for our volunteers

Partners

City of Phoenix
CAZCA
Rio Reimagined

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Volunteers

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Volunteer Hours

Current and Planned Projects

Current Projects

Desert Defenders
Desert Defenders aims to raise public awareness about invasive species, such as buffelgrass, within the City of Phoenix Parks and Preserves. This project includes a citizen science effort to map the location of invasive plants and pulling days at Piestewa Peak to engage and inform volunteers. Our goal is to work with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) on their ongoing Piestewa Invasive Species Pilot Project to gather data that helps the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation make informed decisions on invasive species management. We will also emphasize the role of community engagement and education in monitoring and managing invasive plant species within Phoenix.

Penny Howe Trail
The Penny H. Howe Barrier Free Trail is in the North Mountain District of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The park trail loops through the North Mountain Park Picnic Area and is an easy, family-friendly, paved handicapped accessible hike. Named in honor of a dedicated volunteer, who committed much time and effort to the preservation of open space within the City of Phoenix, the trail was established in November 1993 and contains ramadas, grills, playgrounds, and baby stroller, and wheelchair accessible paved walkways is close to restrooms and offers areas for local flora exhibits with interpretive signage on flora and fauna.

The Restoration Project Currently in the planning stages, the restoration project intends to:

Shore up the walkways using current technologies in drainage-friendly, naturally sustainable materials
Replace irrigation systems
Remove existing invasive fauna
Install new native fauna
Install new interpretive / informational signage
Install new accessible benches and shade structure

Adopt a Park: North Mountain Preserve, Phoenix
AZSA works to complete park cleanups and conservation/trail maintenance work throughout the North Mountain Park. It is the most trafficked park in the Phoenix Metropolitan area.

At 2,104 feet, North Mountain, and 2,149 feet, Shaw Butte, are easily recognizable landmarks in the north valley skyline. The mountains offer a wide array of trail options for hikers of all abilities and bolster two of the best summit climbs in Phoenix.

AZSA is currently assisting the City of Phoenix in a large-scale project to clean up the park along 7th Street by the North Mountain Visitor Center to remove invasive species, clean up trash, remove low-hanging branches and overgrown vegetation, and beautify the park entrance to attract more visitors.

Past Projects

Penny Howe Pollinator Garden (March 2020)
In partnership with State Farm, Ameresco, North Mountain Brewing Co, Carvana, Hunter Industries, and Ewing Irrigation we were able to plant over 125 pollinators at the Penny Howe Trail in North Mountain, Phoenix. This was part of a longer-term project at the Penny Howe Trail, the only ADA accessible trail at North Mountain.

Indian Bend Wash Park, Tempe
Restoration of two riparian areas. Critical piece of the greenway.

The goal was to the rid the park of trash, invasive plant species, and overgrown brush, and build new walking/bike paths throughout the area. This is a critical bird habitat. AZSA volunteers are assisted the City of Tempe in restoring this park to its full potential through invasive species removal, trash pick up, cutting out overgrown vegetation, and filling in holes left behind from the old, nonfunctional irrigation system.

Bike path from Tempe Center for the Arts to Priest

Videos