Summary:
The City of Peoria Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of expanding trail segments that would connect Paloma Park to Westwing Mountain Preserve.
On October 23, 2021, staff held an open house at Paloma Community Park to discuss trail segment connections on and around Paloma Preserve, Eastwing Mountain Preserve, and Westwing Mountain Preserve and seek feedback from residents. Key feedback that was provided from residents included creating a connection between Paloma Preserve and Westwing Mountain, utilize Westwing/Eastwing Mountain range for its views, elevation, and challenge, build more mountain bike friendly trails, and create loop trails around and through the Preserve and Mountain Trails. A trail was originally designed and funded in the FY23 budget; however, one segment represented some technical and acceptability challenges. Staff committed to bringing back trail options that took into account community feedback.
On September 20, 2023, staff held a public engagement meeting on options to complete this trail segment at Copper Hills Church in which approximately 75 residents attended. During the meeting, staff discussed the initial trails open house in 2021, explained how trails were developed, shared results from the Centralized Arizona Project Pathway Corridor Development Study, and discussed future trail connection options on Paloma Preserve, Eastwing Mountain, and Westwing Mountain.
Staff has been working diligently on the Westwing Mountain Preserve trail connection project segments and has already worked with several agencies and jurisdictions to be prepared to begin trail segment construction in the fall of 2023. Staff provided residents with three trail options, A, B, and C. After much discussion and considerations, residents were in favor of construction trail option C (see attachement of feedback summaries). Trail option C represents an additional cost of $75,000.
On September 28, 2023 the Peoria Parks Recreation and Community Facilities Board met to discuss the Parks and Recreation Department’s Trails Update and provide a possible recommendations concerning this same mountain trail segment. The Board, after reviewing the trails segment options and materials, unanimously motioned to approve recommending trail construction options B and C. Option B would requires and additional $25,000. Combined with Option C, the total request is $100,000. Option C remains the first priority, but the addition of Option B provides more hiking options and a looped trail; thus it was the preferred solution.