April 3, 2009
City of Phoenix Completes Purchase of Section of South Mountain 620
The City of Phoenix has successfully purchased a large chunk of State Trust Land in the Ahwatukee Foothills that will add acreage to South Mountain Park/Preserve, supply crucial trailhead access for trail users and provide space for a future community park, fire station and library.
In an April 2 auction, the city purchased 247 acres of the block of State Trust Land commonly referred to as the South Mountain 620. Of the 247 acres, 165 will be added to South Mountain Park/Preserve, 70 will be set aside for a future park site and parking areas, five will be used for a trail/preserve access point, and seven will be available to the Fire and Library departments to build a fire station and branch library. The purchase price of $18 million came from 2001 and 2006 bonds. Funding for park and trailhead access has not yet been identified.
"With persistence and long-range vision, we have gained hundreds of acres of land to expand South Mountain Park, improve access to the preserve, provide space for a future city park as well as a future library branch and fire station,” Mayor Phil Gordon said.
The land the city purchased is undeveloped desert located between 19th and 27th avenues north of the alignment for Chandler Boulevard. South Mountain Park/Preserve borders the land on the north. The State Land Department will auction the remaining acres, located south of the Chandler Boulevard alignment, at a later date yet to be determined.
"This is such an exciting time for our community,” Councilman Sal DiCiccio said. “We started this vision 12 years ago and so many residents have worked tirelessly to accomplish this significant goal. Of the 240 acres that we are purchasing, 165 of these will be added to the Phoenix Parks and Preserves system. This is pristine land that will now be there for our children's children."
“We have worked with the City for almost twenty years on this property and I am very pleased that we had a successful auction today,” said Mark Winkleman, the State Land Commissioner. “In these dire financial times, it is even more critical for the State Land Department to continue to generate revenues for Arizona’s public schools and other beneficiaries.”
Media Contacts:
| David Urbinato Cell Steve Turner |
602-262-4994 602-350-1506 602-261-8606 |