Oro Valley residents press for better trail connectivity, signage and maintenance at Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve

Malini Sims, principal planner for the Town of Oro Valley, opened a public meeting on parks, recreation and trails and said the meeting would begin with trails, connectivity and maintenance.

Residents at the meeting asked the town to prioritize clearer signage and mile markers, more safe crossings and intersections, water and shade along long paths, and maintenance of existing trails—particularly the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve.

Why it matters: Oro Valley’s trail network is used by residents and visitors for daily exercise, tourism and sports events. At the meeting participants said poor wayfinding and safety issues can lead to people getting lost or injured and that limitations such as weak cell service and missing restroom infrastructure complicate emergency response.

Several residents described getting lost or lacking help on preserve trails. “I carried a screaming toddler all the way back,” said Emily, a resident, recounting an incident in which she had no cell reception and could not summon assistance. Mike, who said he uses the preserve daily, urged the town to install wayfinding “—it doesn’t have to be signs; it could be numbers on the road itself.” Rosa, a resident, asked the town to include mile markers that identify the area (for example, “Stone Canyon”) so callers can give location information to first responders.

Town staff and volunteers acknowledged the problems and pointed to ongoing planning efforts. Sims and staff emphasized alignment with OV Trails Connect, the town’s trails master-planning initiative, and encouraged public participation in that process. Ross (Parks and Recreation staff) said ADOT’s planned Naranja Drive path has a May 16 bid date on the state schedule, which could affect access to nearby parks if the contract proceeds as scheduled.

Participants asked for specific remedies: better and longer-lasting signs and maps (including printed maps and QR codes), increased promotion of the Vistoso preserve so visitors know how to get there, more parking directions, and clearer information about which trails suit different users (families, seniors, mountain bikers). Several suggested an “adopt-a-sign” volunteer program to offset maintenance costs.

On infrastructure, residents and staff discussed restroom access in high-use trailhead parking zones. Ross said the site near the driving range lacks electricity and would require a lift station; a staff comment at the meeting put the current estimate at about $100,000 to provide that infrastructure. Residents also proposed shade improvements, water stations and bike-pump stations at key trailheads.

Staff noted phone coverage on the Vistoso preserve is limited and, as Rosa said, in many areas “the only cell service up here is Verizon.” Residents and staff discussed offline trail apps such as AllTrails, and volunteers suggested adding trail IDs or QR codes on signage so people can download maps before starting.

The town reported it maintains roughly 54.5 miles of dirt trails and is coordinating the trails master plan with the 10-year parks and recreation plan. Sims encouraged residents to attend OV Trails Connect planning meetings and to provide comments online; the consultant-led master planning effort is intended to guide goals, policies and specific actions that staff will draft after this and other public meetings.

The town recorded the session and will post meeting materials and a draft of proposed goals and actions for additional public review.

Next steps: Staff said they will evaluate restroom access and trail maintenance needs and incorporate public input into draft plan goals and actions; the OV Trails Connect meetings and the town’s next public meeting will provide additional opportunities for comment.