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Council reviews conceptual master plan for Glassford Dells regional park
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Summary
Planning consultants presented a community‑driven conceptual master plan for Glassford Dells that emphasizes trails, passive open space, two active hubs, interpretive features and phased implementation; council members expressed broad support and asked questions about specific amenities and long‑term upkeep.
The Town Council reviewed conceptual renderings and a phased approach for the Glassford Dells Regional Park on April 3. Town staff and the Planning Center presented a community‑informed vision that emphasizes conservation, trails and a mix of passive and modest active amenities.
Bobby Kieran (planning staff) and consultants from the Planning Center said the master plan was based on steering‑committee work, an open house and nearly 3,200 survey responses. The plan identifies two primary active hubs (an East Gate area with trailheads, a pump track and a ropes/personal challenge course; and a Gateway Park with playgrounds, a community garden and a small event lawn), a disc‑golf course, summit viewpoints with interpretive signage, a wildlife watering area kept separate from public trails, and a South Gate trailhead with parking and restrooms. The plan envisions roughly 70 acres of developed amenities in a larger 3,600‑acre regional footprint shared with the City of Prescott and Yavapai County.
Planning Center principals described connectivity goals — linking to Prescott trails and improving trail variety so novice and expert users both have options — and said most of the site will remain open space. The consultants described sustainable features such as low‑impact stormwater handling and opportunities to capture runoff for landscape use. They emphasized a phased schedule and that final engineering and environmental studies could change trail alignments and exact siting of amenities.
Council members asked specifically about controversial elements mentioned in earlier community correspondence: lifts, hotels, campgrounds and intensive commercial development. Staff and consultants said there are no plans for chairlifts, hotels or campgrounds in the concept as presented; the park is intended to be protected open space with recreational amenities. Councilmembers also asked about erosion control, maintenance costs, safety and potential fees; staff said those topics would be refined during design and engineering and that funding and operations would be discussed in later phases.
No formal vote was taken; staff plans a public presentation and feedback session on April 30 and will return to council with revised concepts and a final public survey before moving to design and implementation phases.
