The City of Prescott Recreation Services Park Rangers have created a free Junior Ranger program to promote the Appreciate AZ Leave No Trace Principles, while also teaching the ecology, culture, history, and outdoor recreational opportunities of the Prescott area.

“Our goal is to create future stewards of our open spaces,” said Sean Underhill, a Ranger for Prescott Recreation Services. “The target age range for this program is 6-12, but all ages are welcome to participate and become stewards of our parks and open spaces. Adding on to our free Nature Niños program, the Junior Ranger program integrates new topics and leadership opportunities for local and visiting youth.”

The Appreciate AZ Leave No Trace Principles are to plan ahead and prepare, stick to the trails, respect wildlife, share the outdoors, trash your trash, leave what you find, and be careful with fire. These principles are integrated throughout the Junior Ranger program.
This program consists of a free downloadable guidebook that maps out all of Prescott’s historic sites and outdoor recreational spaces, while teaching participants proper outdoor ethics. It will also be available in print at select locations. Within the Guidebook is a special Passport to Prescott’s museums and local attractions. Those who visit at least 7 passport sites and take the Appreciate AZ Leave No Trace pledge will earn a Prescott Junior Ranger badge.

While supplies last, printed copies of the guidebook and badges will be available to those who sign up for the Prescott Library’s Youth Services Summer Reading Program, at our Recreation Services department, and at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.
They are seeking sponsors to help grow and sustain this program into the future. Visit the Prescott Junior Ranger/ Nature Niños site online to donate or download your free copy of the Junior Ranger Guidebook. Questions or suggestions can be sent to the City of Prescott Park Rangers at [email protected].

If you’re a “Yelp-er”, you’ll like this – especially if you’re coming to central Arizona for the Prescott Valley Outdoor Summit in September, 2022. Each year, Yelp compiles a list of the top break destinations for 2022. Whether on a spring break, summer break, or just need a break from the office, these destinations are the perfect locales to take in a breath of fresh air. Among the list of 4 national cities is Prescott, Arizona!

Yelp writer Brenae Leary pens of Prescott, “adrenaline rush seekers should look no further than Prescott, AZ. Visitors to Prescott are searching Yelp to find the best places for mountain biking, many of which are finding Prescott National Forest which offers over 450 miles of scenic trails to explore. So whether you’re new to mountain biking or a seasoned pro, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some of the best mountain biking in the Southwest.”

In addition to the stunning outdoor vistas, Prescott is home to the famous Whiskey Row, top-notch restaurants and so many other perfect destinations.  Also included on Yelp’s 2022 list are Bradenton, Florida, Jackson, Wyoming, and Santa Barbara, California.

Hey everyone! The Prescott Valley Outdoor Summit is featured in the Summer Edition of the Prescott Valley Recreation and Events Guide! The 32-page full color guide features events and programs produced by the Town of Prescott Valley. You can find the full-page spread of the Prescott Valley Outdoor Summit on pages 28 – 29 of the guide. We’ve got some great sponsors and exhibitors in the queue with Findlay Subaru Prescott being the latest sponsor to sign on! Get ready for September everyone! The Prescott Valley Recreation and Events Guide is scheduled to hit the docks in print within the next two weeks. Get outdoors! #PVOSAZ

 

Plans are moving forward for the Whiskey Off-Road mountain bike event scheduled for April 29 through May 1 in Prescott.

As of this time, the scheduled routes for the three-day race are not in the forest closure area. The City of Prescott remains fully open, and no part of the City is currently under any type of evacuation order. A number of dispersed campsites and recreation areas on the Prescott National Forest have been affected by closures. Visitors can obtain additional information by visiting the Prescott National Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/ or by following them on Facebook or Twitter.

“Our staff, firefighters and police have been working very closely with Prescott National Forest and the Incident Management Team to assess any possible threat the fire may cause to the City and to the event,” said Mayor Phil Goode. “Based on their assessment, I have a very high degree of confidence that this event can be held safely for citizens, contestants and visitors. Of course, we will continue to monitor the situation, and we will be ready to act if conditions change.”

Real-time smoke monitoring is available: https://azdeq.gov/WildfireForecast?fire=crooksfire
Many of the spectator events and activities are centered around Whiskey Row and the Court House Plaza downtown.

Whiskey Off-Road Closure Breakdown:

Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1
The following streets will be closed beginning at 5:00 am on Friday, April 29 through approximately 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 1

Montezuma St (Gurley to Carleton)
Goodwin St (Cortez to Granite)

Friday, May 29 to Saturday, May 30
The following streets will be closed or allow for limited access beginning at 5:00 am on Friday, April 29 to approximately 7:00 pm on Saturday, April 30

Goodwin St (Montezuma to Summit)- This is a continuation of the closure listed above
McCormick St (Gurley to Pioneers Home)- this will only be open for school bus and resident access only. The intersection of McCormick and Goodwin will be monitored by Prescott Police- Citizens on Patrol

Friday, April 29

The following streets will be closed starting on Friday, April 29 at 1:30 pm through approximately 10:00 pm:

Cortez St (Union to Carleton)
Union St (Cortez to Alarcon)
Marina St (Gurley to Carleton)
Alarcon St (Gurley to Carleton)
Visitors and spectators are asked to recreate responsibly in the area, and to be aware of changing conditions.

Forest Road Closures
In the interest of public safety and high use of Forest Road 373 during the event; Prescott National Forest will close a portion of the road on Saturday, April 30, 2022.  The closure will begin at the junction of Copper Basin Road and Forest Road 373 heading north along Forest Road 373 for 1.3 miles to the 264 trailhead.

The event will also utilize portions of Forest Roads 53, 51, 64, and Trails 366, 327, 321, 323, 326, 392, 393, 324, 318, 332, 317, 735, 725, 706, 701, 733, 707, 316, and 48. In the interest of safety, trail users are being asked to avoid this area and respect all signage during the event.

View the forest road maps from the Prescott National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/prescott/maps-pubs

The City of Prescott Received a trails grant from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), in the amount of $10,000 for trail development. The city will receive the grant, then Prescott Mountain Biking Association (PMBA) will raise a $10,000 match. Once the matching funds are raised, the 20K will then be paid to International Mountain Bike Association and their trails planning division Trails Solutions for the on site planning and document.

Prescott, Arizona – Prescott Flow Trail Development Project: $10,000 grant
With more than 400 miles of trails and 2 million trail visitors per year in Prescott, one may see riders from eight to 80 years old enjoying the trails—like the seven local NICA teams or the Over the Hill Gang trail building volunteers. To address the rapid growth of youth racing and riding, meet the demands of new and future mountain bike riders, and add a trail type not currently available in the area, the Prescott Flow Trail Development Project will add several miles of new gravity trails to the system. Prescott National Forest (PNF), the city of Prescott, and Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance (PMBA) are partners on this project.

“We are pleased to have received this award,” said Joe Baynes, Director of Recreation Services for the City of Prescott. “I want to thank our trails and park land planner Chris Hosking, Prescott Mountain Biking Alliance, the Over The Hill Gang and other enthusiasts who help make Prescott trails better every day.”

The PNF District Ranger, Sarah Clawson said, “The Prescott National Forest is pleased to continue our highly successful partnerships with the City of Prescott and The Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance.  We look forward to the outcomes from this grant to continue our community-based, user-driven collaborative planning efforts for the Greater Prescott Trails Plan.”

According to a PMBA spokesperson, “Our goal is to create plans for a new gravity flow trail or trails.  While this is all still in the planning stages, this grant will allow us to present a professionally planned trail proposal to the Prescott National Forest (PNF).  While Prescott has lots and lots of XC-style trails this grant will jump-start our efforts to bring some diversity to the riding here.”

He went on to say that the grant application has been a coordinated effort involving PMBA, the City and Prescott National Forest (PNF).  “Thanks to Chris Hosking, Joyce van Walsum, Derek Mohler, and Charlie Glasel for their efforts in securing this grant.  It is a matching grant, so we will undertake some fund raising for our obligation to match the grant.”

For more information, go to PrescottTrails.com, or call Recreation Services Department at 928-777-1552. For Information about PMBA, go to prescottmtb.com/. For information about Prescott National Forest, go to www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/.

ARTICLE SOURCE:
https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/prescott-receives-10000-trails-grant-from-the-international-mountain-biking-association/