HikeArizona.COM

possible Cholla Trailhead relocation

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/cam ... on-9338170

I like the weighted headline. Tell us how you really feel.

Random line from the article, I post in peace.

"They want part of the trail, plus the trailhead on Cholla Lane just north of Camelback Road, relocated to the Phoenician property — perhaps running underground in a tunnel at the start."

I know of a few urban parks that are accessed by tunnel in various parts of the country. They tend to be creepy and sometimes downright dangerous, even in otherwise nice towns.

Really, shouldn't Camelback be closed and turned into a private park for the home owners who live at it's base?

The Phoenician holds ALL the cards here. The first HALF MILE of that trail is entirely on Phoenician property. I doubt that any of the neighbors who live on Cholla Lane today bought the property before the trail existed, so they're just whining about something they knew about when they decided to move there.

The Phoenician is getting rid of 9 holes of the golf course and developing it with homes and condos. To create a trail access through their new development lowers the value of those homes. WHY would they do that!!?

To build a tunnel would be an expensive proposition ... to the benefit of Cholla Lane residents. The only way a tunnel gets built during this redevelopment is if Cholla Lane residents or some other entity decides to pony up the cash to do it. There's no reason for the Phoenician to invest that kind of money unless they're getting something in return. It doesn't benefit them at all!

chumley wrote:It doesn't benefit them at all!

a sliver in good deed merit
boy that doesn't go far these days, eh
bidness is bidness

Berggreen, a Phoenix gastroenterologist, said he thinks a pedestrian tunnel that links Invergordon Road to Cholla Trail well past any homes would be the ideal solution.


Leave it to a gastroenterolgist to come up with a tunnel idea.

Lets just take out the first row of houses and put in a one way loop parking lot and restrooms!

@Tortoise_Hiker I agree. The more people we can cram onto Camelback, the fewer there will be in the places I enjoy!

The tunnel idea is a great idea if you wish to invite a different kind of inconsiderate user to the park. What are they going to have a park ranger/security at all hours?

The tunnel already exists. It's near the resort's east entrance and is used for golf cart access.

@Dave1 Shows how often I go there

chumley wrote:The only way a tunnel gets built during this redevelopment is if Cholla Lane residents or some other entity decides to pony up the cash to do it. There's no reason for the Phoenician to invest that kind of money unless they're getting something in return. It doesn't benefit them at all!

I stand corrected. The Phoenician is committing $100,000 of the estimated $2 million cost. The other $1.9 million is on the taxpayer.

This project is up for discussion at the October 4 City Council meeting, if you are interested in voicing your opinion on it.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/cam ... 2m-9715205

Phoenix began construction this week on the realigned Cholla Trail (there's no tunnel!). The project is slated to be complete by summer 2022 and is contracted to the same group that worked on the new Pie.

All the details here:
https://www.phoenix.gov/parkssite/Pages ... pdate.aspx

As far as I can discern, the project is limited to the trail, and does not address parking concerns. The trail will be a little bit shorter, cutting across where the golf course used to be. This will of course invalidate every existing FKT or whatever people care about.

Bonus, they're leaving the water fountain and restroom from the golf course to facilitate hiker hydration input and output.

Project map attached.

chumley wrote:to facilitate hiker hydration input and output.

chumley wrote: This will of course invalidate every existing FKT

I'm ahead of the curve on that. ;-)