West Desert supporters want bonds for park

By Jim Lamb

Friday, June 22


 

 

The West Desert Preserve on Green Valley’s west and southwest side is a great place to bike and hike, but if you want to use it, you need a state permit.  That’s because the estimated 2,000 acres between the Phelps Dodge Sierrita mining operations and tailings stretching from Camino Casa Verde on the north to the Desert Hills subdivisions on the south is Arizona State Trust land.  Yearly permits to use the land are $15 for an individual, $20 for families. There are “no trespassing signs” around the area, but permit holders can ignore them.  People with a computer can download a permit application at the Green Valley West Desert Preserve Web site, www.savethewestdesertpreserve.org.  And supporters hope that the area can be acquired by Pima County as a park following approval of a 2008 bond proposal.

The West Desert Preserve is one of 21 properties being considered for acquisition and preservation, but all won’t be acquired if the bonds are approved.   According to a briefing paper, “Not all eligible properties will be acquired. The number of community space properties identified is in excess of the number that can be purchased with the proposed bond fund allocation.  “This provides the necessary flexibility during the property acquisition process.”  Even if the State Land Department decides to offer the land for sale, there may not be many potential buyers said a hopeful Bill Adamson, chairman of the group trying to preserve the area.

Developers may not want to put houses any closer to the towering tailings pile.   Also, the water that flows beneath the area is tainted with a sulfate plume which could discourage any drilling there.

Adamson said the area is highly popular.  He said he always sees hikers, bikers or birders whenever he goes there.  And he said his organization receives support from people who never use the land.  They apparently want a larger area of Sonoran Desert preserved and close by, he indicated.  There are 15 to 20 miles of hiking and biking trails there.

If voters say OK in November 2008, the county would sell bonds worth about $750 million for many county projects.  Some of the local proposed projects would be to enlarge the library and the Government Center and to complete the Performing Arts Center.  Requests for bond funding already exceed $2 billion.