Residents say Piestewa Peak trail was 'obliterated' and a 40‑foot bridge built without permits; call for answers

PHOENIX — During public comment at the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee meeting on May 21, two residents raised concerns about construction work at Piestewa Peak they described as unpermitted and insensitive to the landmarked trail name.

"There's a project going on out there. We call it a mystery project because we haven't seen any authorization, any contract, any building permits," speaker Jerry Van Guest told the subcommittee. He said the work began shortly after an annual sunrise service and that the earliest activity involved removing a nature trail labeled "Piestewa Nature Trail." "The drawing here of the bridge has a notation that they're building above it saying, 'existing trail to be obliterated,' " he said, adding that he and others believe the Piestewa family had not been notified.

Another speaker, Tim Serakowski, described visual impacts: "You're going to Piestewa... you're parking your car, and suddenly you look north and you see a 40 foot bridge. Now, just imagine, you're in a park system...and you see a 40 foot bridge." He asked the city to provide the contract and building‑permit documents the speakers said they had requested but not received.

Both commenters said Parks and Preserve Initiative funds were being used and urged the subcommittee to provide documentation and public explanation. The speakers requested clarity about who authorized the work, how the project was approved, and the amount of funding devoted to it.

The subcommittee did not take immediate action during the meeting; staff were not recorded offering a response on the public record during the comments. The speakers said they had previously provided a flyer and a drawing to city members and requested the documents be released.