Tempe presents Hayden Butte and Papago preserves management plan; proposes MOUs, stewardship pilot and signage changes

City parks staff presented the Hayden Butte and Papago Preserves management plan to the Tempe City Council at the April 24 work study session, outlining objectives, community engagement findings and recommended next steps for long-term stewardship.

Alex Jovanovich, deputy community services director for park services, and Alex Cortese, community services manager for parks maintenance, said the plan was developed with consultant Logan Simpson and shaped by extensive public outreach. Jovanovich said the plan "aims to balance conservation, recreation, and cultural preservation to ensure the sustainability of these spaces for future generations." The plan was developed after a 2023 contract with Logan Simpson and reflects inventories, a class 3 cultural resources survey of Papago Preserve, and consultations with tribal partners and commissions.

Staff described 14 plan objectives and about 45 recommendations. Outreach included four workshops (approximately 200 participants) and four public…