DRAFT FINAL PARKS VISION 2030 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.PDF

photograph by Kevin Buettner
connect.
connect.
41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Road
Morristown, Arizona 85342 
(602) 506-2930 • www.maricopa.gov/parks
Published September 2023
PARKS VISION
2030
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
photograph by Ron Scott
DRAFT

“A regional park is
a large, unspoiled
preserve removed
from the urban
area and protected
from urban
encroachment.
The openness of
open spaces is
preserved, and
development is
carefully designed
to retain the
unspoiled
character of the
landscape." 
- 1965 Plan
Maricopa County has one of the country's largest
and most unique regional park systems. With
approximately 120,000 acres, the system is rich
with natural and cultural heritage, attracting nearly
two million visitors and growing. The Sonoran
Desert has distinct beauty, natural biodiversity, and
unique cultural history. The rugged landscape has
drawn people to the region for centuries and
continues to draw people today. 
INTRODUCTION
CREATING A LEGACY
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, a group of
visionaries, including elected leaders and officials
from federal, state, County, and city governments, 
along with influential community leaders, worked to develop a comprehensive park system plan to address the
future recreational needs of an expanding region. One of the plan's primary goals was to preserve the mountain
areas for future generations to enjoy. This plan laid the foundation for the Regional Park System we have today.
MARICOPA COUNTY PARKS & TRAIL SYSTEM

PURPOSE: PARKS VISION 2030
QUALITY REGIONAL SYSTEM OF PARKS, 
OPEN SPACES & TRAILS
PEOPLE
PLACE
CREATING THE
BALANCE
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
7,500,000 
5,000,000 
2,500,000 
0 
Parks Vision 2030 builds on the legacy of the
previous master plans and the many park system
enhancements that have occurred during the last
50-plus years. The current planning effort focuses
on expanding park and open space opportunities. In
2022, MCPRD'S attendance grew to 2,720,806, an
increase of over three-quarters of a million visitors
since 2012. Over the next ten years, attendance is
projected to reach 3.7 million, taxing the capacity of
the existing natural resources and facilities.
Parks Vision 2030 Plan aims to identify the
qualities and characteristics of a high-quality
regional system of parks, open spaces, and trails.
Protecting important landscapes or places for
people to enjoy and recreate is critical.
As growth continues and development expands
into previously undisturbed native landscapes, it is
essential to protect high value natural resources
for our future. 
COMMUNITY
HEALTH &
WELL-BEING
QUALITY OF LIFE,
& THE NEW
ECONOMY
EXCEPTIONAL
VISITOR
EXPERIENCES
PRESERVING
REGIONAL
NATURAL
HERITAGE
CONNECTED
LANDSCAPES 
& TRAILS
Regional parks offer
vast opportunities for
the health and well-
being of County
residents.
Providing natural places is
essential for citizens’ quality
of life and is vital in
supporting the new economy.
Creating exceptional visitor
experiences through well-
designed facilities, friendly
customer service, and
engaging programming is
critical in developing life-
long users.
Residents place a high value
on preserving regional natural
heritage for current and future
generations.
Sustaining, maintaining,
improving, and restoring the
existing parks and natural
resources, in parks allow
visitors to enjoy a quality
experience.
Connected landscapes and
trail connectivity through
natural and trail corridors as
they allow people and wildlife
to move between larger
landscapes.
SUSTAINING &
MAINTAINING
PARK 
RESOURCES
PLAN 
ELEMENTS
MARICOPA COUNTY POPULATION
TRENDS: 1900 - 2030

4.54
Wildlife
connectivity
4.42
Identifying/
acquiring lands for
protection, including
park buffers
4.15
Improvements to
existing regional
parks
4.15
Future areas of
expansion of
regional parks
4.11
Developing a
regional work group
dedicated 
to park and
recreation
partnerships and 
funding
MAJOR THEMES
IDENTIFYING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
1 PUBLIC
Park Visitor Survey
Visitor Survey -
Understanding COVID
Trends Analysis
Gallup Poll for Center
for the Future of
Arizona
Morrison Institute
Poll for Pulliam
Institute
Two Virtual Public
Meetings
Public Feedback
Questionnaire (1,420)
FEEDBACK PROCESS
IDENTIFYING WHAT'S IMPORTANT
85+ staff members - focus
groups
100+ volunteers - focus
groups
Input questionnaire
Executive Committee - 25+
representatives from various
Maricopa County
departments and key partners
Strength, Weakness,
Opportunity, Threat Analysis
Parks Commission updates
and discussions (10)
Three Board of Supervisors
updates
135+ representatives from
local park and recreation
departments, nonprofit
organizations, state, and
federal recreation
organizations, etc.
Six regional workshops
Follow-up meetings with
multiple Federal and State
agencies.
Peer County park systems
benchmark analysis
Two review periods
2
STAKEHOLDERS
3 COUNTY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS
& LEADERSHIP
A critical component of the planning process is gathering input to inform priority goals and objectives. The most
credible and valid insights are those from a variety of audiences that have an interest in the planning outcome.
Triangulation is a planning method to ensure insights, goals, and objectives are widely supported through multiple
input points.  
In this planning process, various methods and data sources develop recommendations, goals, and objectives that are
central across all or most input sources. 
On a scale of one (not important) to five (very important).

How would you allocate $100 to support
Maricopa County Parks?
Parks Vision 2030 Public Outreach Feedback Form Questions.
MAINTAIN
Maintain existing parks, open
spaces, and trails - $32.
1
PROTECT
Acquire and protect new open
space - $22.
2
RESTORE
Restore/protect river and
wildlife corridors - $21.
3
DEVELOP
Develop new regional 
parks - $14.
4
CONNECT
Improve and expand outdoor programs
and nature-based education - $11.
5
HOW 
WOULD YOU
ALLOCATE $100 
TO SUPPORT
MARICOPA 
COUNTY 
PARKS?

PLAN PRIORITIES
ACQUIRE & MANAGE 
NEW PARKLANDS &
CORRIDORS
Identify and prioritize additional future parks (Map B).
Protect critical open space and expand the regional park and trail system proportionately with population growth (Map A).
Add new parks and open space
lands through acquisition,
development, partnership, or
management agreements. Also,
reclaimed river and wash
corridors have considerable
wildlife potential and connect
those in urbanized areas to
nature.
Parks Vision 2030 aims to meet the current population's needs, protect important resources and identify new
opportunities for future generations. The plan outlines five priority areas with associated goals:
Protect critical open space and
expand the regional park and trail
system proportionately with
population growth (Map A). 
Identify and prioritize additional
future parks (Map B). 
Refine and prioritize linear parks
and connected landscapes.
GOALS:

PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ROLE IN
COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Promote the System as a place where
visitors experience the natural
environment.
Expand natural open space, parks, and trail
opportunities for underserved
communities.
Develop parks, amenities, and programs
that consciously address improved
physical fitness and mental health through
planning, design, and development.
As growth continues, regional parks and
outdoor programs must grow with the
population to ensure a healthy, vibrant, and
attractive region. 
 
GOALS:
REINVEST, PROTECT, & CONTINUE
IMPROVING THE EXISTING PARK SYSTEM
Update existing park master plans to
meet current needs.
Continue developing, maintaining, and
renovating parks.
Promote and expand the regional trails
system.
Refine and standardize park operations
and management. 
Attract and retain quality staff.
Build-out and improvements of existing
parks, based on the park master plans, will
provide immediate capacity relief for pent-up
demands. In addition, timely renovation of
existing facilities will provide more efficiency
in maintenance.
GOALS:
LEADERSHIP IN CONSERVATION AND
PRESERVATION MATTERS FOR OUR
FUTURE 
Develop and implement a Natural
Resource Plan.
Provide leadership in balanced,
economically efficient land use patterns
and infrastructure to promote sustainable
long-term growth while maintaining a high
quality of life. 
Share best practices on parks, trails,
recreation, and open space.
Expand regional leadership and education by
furthering a coordinated planning and
landscape-scale natural resource conservation
effort. 
 
GOALS:
DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE AND
DIVERSIFIED FUNDING 
IS CRITICAL
Identify and promote a diversified
portfolio to acquire, develop, and
renovate existing and new parklands,
corridors, and trails.
Conduct research and visitor surveys to
ensure quality control of the parks’
efforts to attract visitors, thus growing
revenue streams for long-term support of
park operations.
Update park user fees and determine the
feasibility of funding direct operating and
associated administrative costs.
Develop sustainable funding sources.
Evaluate operations and cost
containment to ensure a high-quality
experience.
Evaluate revenue-generating business
opportunities.
Develop a balanced and diversified portfolio
to adequately address the needs outlined in
a fiscally responsible and timely manner.
GOALS: