WHITETANK_MASTERPLANUPDATEPRESENTATION_MCPRD.PDF

Master Plan Update
Presented to Maricopa County Board of Supervisors– February 24, 2014
R.J. Cardin, Director
Leigh Johnson, Park Planner
Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department

Park Location

Visitation
• FY12-13: the park welcomed 144,395 visitors to the park
despite campground closures and SR-303 construction.
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
-
FY03-04 FY04-05 FY05-06 FY06-07 FY07-08 FY08-09 FY09-10 FY10-11 FY11-12 FY12-13

Residency
Almost 86% of park visitors are Arizona residents, with most coming from the
metropolitan area.
Top five metro-area Surprise
Other: Out of state
locations include: 1% Phoenix
1%
2% 2% 1% 1% Sun City
4% 4% Glendale
• Surprise 17%
4% 17% Other: In-state
5% Litchfield Park*
• Phoenix 12% 13% Avondale
6% El Mirage*
Goodyear
• Sun City 9% 12%
Buckeye
7% 8% 8% 9% Peoria
• Glendale 8% Other: Out of country
Scottsdale
Mesa
• Litchfield Park 7%
Tempe
Laveen*
Queen Creek
Source: 2012-2013 ASU Parks Visitor Study Final Report
*new location added

“Top Five”
Primary Activities Reasons for Visiting
• Trail hiking 76.6% • Observe the scenic
• Picnicking 10.2% beauty
• Mountain biking 3.9% • Enjoy physical exercise
• Running/Jogging 3.4% • Enjoy the sounds and
• Walking for pleasure 1.5% smells of nature
• Have an inexpensive
recreational experience
• Get away from everyday
responsibilities
Source: 2012-2013 ASU Parks Visitor Study Final Report

Sense of Place
• When asked how connected they are to the park, visitors
said:
• 72% This park means a lot to me.
• 50% I am very attached to this park.
• 46% I identify strongly with this park.
• 57% For the recreation activities that I enjoy most, the settings
and facilities provided by this park are the best.
Source: 2012-2013 ASU Parks Visitor Study Final Report
New questions.
Responding “agree” or “strongly agree”. Percentages
rounded up to nearest whole number.

Cultural Resources

Natural Resources

1964 Master Plan
• Nature school
• 2,020 picnic units
• 1,030 camping units
• Trails (36 miles
planned w/ 256
projected need)
• Stable and rodeo
• Grocery store
• Resident work camp
• Acquire buffer lands
• And more!

Today
• Nature Center/Library
• 250 picnic sites
• 40 camping sites
• Includes 4 host sites
• Full electric/water
• Dump station (in progress)
• 31 miles trails (approx.)

2013 Master Plan Process
• Monthly planning • Research and
team meetings information
• Stakeholder Advisory gathering
Group meetings • Mapping and GIS
• Agency partner analysis
meetings • Visitor use analysis
• Public open house • Site visits
meetings
July 2012 18-month process December 2013

This update will…
• Acknowledge existing uses not supported by current plan
• Mountain biking
• RV style camping
• Support existing features and conditions
• Educational Trails Utilities, Basic Services
• Equestrian Encroachment Staff Support Areas
• Limit other features
• Picnic sites
• Camp sites
• Entrances

Plan Recommendations
Five categories:
1. Develop New Facilities
2. Maintain/Rehabilitate Existing Facilities
3. Education/Interpretation
4. Administrative
5. Resource Protection

1. Develop New Facilities
• Tortoise enclosure • Trail connections
• Upgrade/Expand RV • Butterfly Garden
Camp Sites • Coffee shop/cart
• Competitive Track: • Cabins
upgrades • Archery (permanent)
• North: new entrance
(at approx. 243rd
Ave.)

North Trail
Entrance: Connections:
with modest Comp. Track
facilities parking lot to
(entry station, Ironwood
amphitheater,
trails, Ford Canyon to
picnicking, Willow Canyon
cabins, etc.)
Mesquite to
Goat Camp
Goat Camp to
Skyline
Regional Park

2. Maintain/Rehabilitate
Existing Facilities
• Area 1: convert to RV campground
• Areas 4 and 7, Waterfall, Horse-staging, Group,
Willow: renovations
• Playground updates
• Road upgrades
• Maintenance Compound: improvements

3. Education/Interpretation
• Educational and Interpretive Kiosks & Panels
• Pond: wildlife viewing blind
• Wildlife Trail: barrier-free
• Area 3: kids discovery area
• Competitive Track parking lot: archery (temporary)

4. Administrative
• New signage & kiosks
• Partnerships
• Engage “Friends” group
friendsofwhitetankpark.com

5. Resource Protection
• Waterfall, Area 4: capacity & conflict studies
• Species inventory/census
• Protect wildlife corridors
• Encroachment
• Waterfall, Area 4, Area 7: landscape
improvements
• Visual/Scenic Resource Protection
• Water Plan
• Lightscape Management Plan (“Dark Skies”)

Implementation Plan
• To look at improvement recommendations with a “business”
eye (although not all recommendations can be looked at this
way; i.e. resource protection, human health & safety)

Return on Investment
• Results of 25-year analysis:
Category Area ROI ROI (with PV)
New Facilities Family Campground Year 6 Year 7
New Facilities Competitive Track Year 16 Year 19
Maintain/Rehabilitate Area 4 Year 9 Year 9
Existing Facilities
Maintain/Rehabilitate Area 7 Not within 25 Not within 25
Existing Facilities years years
Maintain/Rehabilitate Waterfall Not within 25 Not within 25
Existing Facilities years years

Potential Funding Sources
• Grants
• Private donations
• Partnerships
• Park budget
• Special one-time-only funding allocations
• Other sources

Next Steps
• Maricopa County Parks and Recreation
Commission provided approval recommendation
(January 21, 2014)
• Bureau of Land Management provided approval
letter (January 28, 2014)
• Requesting Maricopa County Board of
Supervisor’s approval and adoption (February
2014)
• Begin implementation as funding allows

Questions?
• RJ Cardin, Director
• Email: RJCardin@mail.maricopa.gov
• Leigh Johnson, Park Planner
• Email: LeighJohnson@mail.maricopa.gov
Project webpage:
http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/white_tank/wtpr
oject.aspx