Dear Supporters,
Thanks to your incredible dedication, our petition has surpassed 2,000 signatures! This milestone demonstrates the power of our community and our shared commitment to keeping Phoenix trails open for all. Here’s how you can continue to support our campaign and make an impact:
1. Visit Our Website
Stay connected and informed by visiting our website: https://keepphoenixtrailsopen.org/
- Explore data and analysis showing why restrictive closures are not the solution.
- Learn how to get involved with the coalition.
- Sign up for newsletters and updates to stay engaged in the fight for open trails.
2. Take Action: Share Your Feedback
The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is accepting public feedback through its Trail Heat Safety Program page: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/heatsafety
This includes a short survey about the expanding restrictions. While the survey is limited in scope and includes only five seemingly biased questions, we encourage you to make your voice heard.
Our campaign is promoting a unified response: 5 NOs Across the Board.
Question 1: NO
Question 2: NO
Question 3: NO OPINION
Question 4: NONE
Question 5: NONE
By answering this way, we can send a clear and consistent message opposing these restrictive policies. Please take a moment to fill out the survey today.
3. Mark Your Calendars: January 23, 2025 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
The next Parks and Recreation Board meeting will take place:
Date: January 23, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ
This is a critical opportunity to make our voices heard in person. We encourage as many supporters as possible to attend, speak, and advocate for responsible trail access.
Key Highlights from Our Recent Analysis
Our coalition has been hard at work reviewing data and preparing actionable insights to support our position. Here’s what we’ve found:
- Mountain rescues account for less than 0.1% of all fire incidents and a micro-fraction of total trail visitors.
- Seasonal data shows similar rescue rates across cooler and warmer months, suggesting that increased visitation, not just temperature, is a major contributing factor.
- The city’s Annual Update on Trail Closures highlights unintended consequences, such as increased rescues at alternate locations and earlier rescue call times.
- There is concerning missing data from 2014-2019, a critical gap that prevents thorough analysis and understanding of long-term trends.
We’ve shared these findings with the Parks Board, along with recommendations for better data collection, collaboration with third-party organizations like Strava Metro, and improved public dialogue.
Together, We Can Find Solutions
This campaign is about preserving access to vital outdoor spaces while addressing safety concerns in a balanced, thoughtful way.
Thank you for your continued passion and commitment. Let’s keep the momentum going!
- Visit our website: https://keepphoenixtrailsopen.org/
- Complete the feedback survey: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/heatsafety
- Attend the January 23 meeting and speak up for open trails!
Warm regards,
Aaron Johnson (AJ)
Keep Phoenix Trails Open
Extra Info:
Data From City of Phoenix Open Data Sources
Note: Daily fire incident data is missing from Phoenix Open Datasets for the years 2014-2019.
2014: Reporting ceases on May 21
2015: Reporting ceases on October 21
2016: Reporting ceases on January 21
2017: Reporting ceases on January 21
2018: Reporting ceases on February 6
2019: Reporting ceases on June 26