Prescott Valley outlines plans for Glassford Dells Park after open-space purchase

Prescott Valley officials used a PV in Focus field segment on Glassford Hill to describe plans for Glassford Dells Park after what they called the town's largest open-space purchase. Deputy Town Manager Ryan Judy and Recreation Manager Elise Bedell spoke on the trail about park amenities, trail design and public-safety guidance.

Bedell said the hike up Glassford Hill is "a 2.1 mile hike up, and then we'll be coming back down" and estimated it would take about 90 minutes. She described a plan to concentrate amenities at the base of the mountain — a "base park" — while keeping the mountain itself largely undeveloped except for additional low-impact trails.

The proposed base-park features discussed included a playground, a ramada, a trailhead, restrooms, a dog park and disc-golf facilities. Judy and Bedell also mentioned a themed splash area the audio referred to as a "geyser pad" tied to Glassford Hill's volcanic history. They said the town has discussed naming the dog area "WAG Park" for William Alexander Glassford.

Officials said the town completed its largest open-space acquisition in partnership with the City of Prescott, Yavapai County, the Arizona State Land Department and Arizona Game and Fish; in the segment the presenters described the parcel using the phrase "13 16 acres," and the precise acreage was not specified in the recording. Judy noted the purchase occurred "just about almost 2 years ago." The presenters described the acquisition as enabling long-term preservation and public access around Glassford Hill.

On trail design, Bedell emphasized minimal-impact single-track routes for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians on the upper slopes, with vehicle access limited to lower service or rescue routes. "Trail building is a lot harder than people think," she said, noting the need to route trails for water management, manage slopes and move large rocks to make safe tread without creating erosion.

Bedell gave specific details hikers should expect: the trail is rated "moderate" in part because it gains about 970 feet of elevation over roughly 2.1 miles, and terrain becomes rockier higher on the slope. She advised appropriate footwear, carrying water and basic first-aid supplies, and giving notice to someone about trip plans.

The segment also covered wildlife and safety. Judy recounted finding a rattlesnake during trail work and asked how hikers should respond; Bedell recommended giving snakes distance, using trekking poles if desired and wearing protective footwear. She listed other species visitors might encounter, including lizards, tarantulas, mule deer, coyotes and possibly mountain lions.

Presenters discussed amenities to support wildlife and public viewing. Bedell said the town has considered an off-trail wildlife watering hole (placed away from human-use areas) and installing a motion-activated camera to stream animal visits.

Volunteering was highlighted as essential to programming and safety. Bedell directed prospective volunteers to the town's volunteer coordinator, Steve Adame, and described a short online application and background check required for town volunteering; approved volunteers can assist across departments, including Parks and Recreation.

Officials said they plan to connect the Glassford Dells base park with the South Side trailhead to expand access and parking. No formal land-use approvals, funding amounts or construction schedules were presented in the segment.

For additional details or to volunteer, Bedell said listeners should contact Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation through the town's main office to reach the volunteer coordinator.