Prescott council leans toward keeping West Granite Creek Park natural, seeks limited drop-off and off-site parking options

Prescott City Council members on Feb. 11 discussed competing proposals for parking and restoration at West Granite Creek Park and signaled a preference for preserving the site’s riparian, “natural open space” character while identifying limited, near-term parking accommodations.

The council convened a study session and site visit after a staff presentation by Deputy City Manager Michael Morris. Morris summarized the site history — including prior manufactured gas plant contamination, remediation funded in part by APS, a 2000s master plan, and a 2021 development agreement that placed a splash pad on the site — and presented five potential paths forward ranging from making no changes to building a formal 41‑space paved lot. Morris told the council there is currently no funding allocated for park improvements and that a proposed parking project had been discussed for the FY2026 CIP but had no committed budget.

Why it matters: public commenters and several councilmembers said the park is a rare riparian greenway in Arizona and urged the city to avoid permanent paving or large tree removal. At the same time, families and older residents told the council they need safer, closer access to the splash pad, and staff noted existing informal parking has created safety and access concerns.

Council and staff described three recurring concerns among users: the environmental impacts of a paved lot; parents and seniors needing close, accessible parking for the splash pad; and safety/quality‑of‑life issues tied to informal overnight camping and cars parked inside the park. “There are three primary concerns,” Deputy City Manager Michael Morris said, listing environmental, proximity and camping concerns.

Recreation Services Director Joe Baines told the council that “parking lots are an allowable use in open space” but also confirmed minimum ADA counts tied to total spaces (he said a 41‑space scenario would require two ADA spaces as a baseline, with the opportunity to add more). Baines and staff also described informal conversations with adjacent landowners: APS indicated it would be willing to work with the city but its paved areas may not be wide enough for extensive parking; the Sam Hill Warehouse/ Shumway property owners expressed informal willingness to accommodate overflow parking.

Public comment was extensive: roughly 18 speakers filled the scheduled public‑comment period and most urged the council not to pave the undeveloped portion of the park. Sue Knapp, vice president of Prescott Alternative Transportation, said volunteers and donors contributed to the park’s restoration and that paving now would “destroy a $14,000,000 investment.” Attorney Kathleen Sauer, representing Prescott Alternative Transportation, pointed to the park’s master plan and a city resolution (identified in public comment as “32 74”) and argued the city had already violated the plan by allowing vehicles to enter the greenway. “This plan has been hidden from the public,” Sauer said, adding that most public communications received were opposed to the lot.

Other commenters highlighted wildlife, tree loss, and children’s safety along Montezuma/Sheldon, while some parents and seniors asked the council to ensure closer, accessible parking or a safe drop‑off area so people who bring wagons, coolers and gear are not required to walk long distances. Grandparent and longtime resident Sherry Hannah described difficulty hauling supplies from more distant lots and said some nearby private lots have signage restricting public parking.

Council discussion after the site visit emphasized compromise rather than immediate construction of a large paved lot. Councilman Moore urged returning to the master plan and “restor[ing] Granite Creek Park to the original intent.” Councilmember Roosin and others suggested exploring a hybrid solution: preserving most of the park as natural open space while adding a small dedicated drop‑off area and a few ADA spaces near the existing grassy play area, using permeable surfacing options where feasible, and pursuing structured overflow parking agreements with adjacent properties. Mayor Pro Tem and other councilmembers requested that staff install no‑camping signage to support existing enforcement of the city camping ordinance in the downtown entertainment district.

Staff will next: (1) continue conversations with APS and the Sam Hill / Shumway property owners about off‑site or adjacent overflow parking; (2) evaluate lower‑impact surfacing and a minimal drop‑off/ADA plan near the splash pad; (3) scope a more precise peak‑period parking study to quantify demand at peak summer days; (4) add no‑camping signage and coordinate enforcement with police; and (5) return to council with refined options and cost estimates (including whether any option should be proposed in the FY2026 CIP). Michael Morris told the council staff is seeking direction and would proceed based on the council’s stated priorities.

No formal motion or vote was taken at the study session; council members provided direction and consensus preferences rather than a binding decision. The meeting record shows staff will prepare follow‑up work and bring more detailed options and cost estimates to a future meeting for formal action.

For background: the site was a manufactured gas plant until remediation began in the 1990s and early 2000s; APS paid for a major cleanup and donated land. A master plan completed in the early 2000s called for trails and limited passive amenities; the only site improvements built to date have been trails and, later, a splash pad constructed as part of the Hilton Garden Inn development agreement in 2021. The Army Corps of Engineers must be consulted for any work affecting riparian crossings and permitting; staff told the council an Arizona Department of Transportation grant had funded trail work and the city remains in compliance with that grant so long as a trail is maintained through the park.

The council adjourned the study session after giving staff direction and said staff would return with engineered options, permit considerations and cost estimates before any final decision to pave or otherwise significantly alter the park.