After closing for a major pipeline project and park renovations, the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area reopened on Sept. 7 with a ceremony attended by city officials and local residents.
The hiking …
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New restrooms are available at the reopened Dreamy Draw trailhead.
Posted
Mya Fernandez | Special to the Independent
After closing for a major pipeline project and park renovations, the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area reopened on Sept. 7 with a ceremony attended by city officials and local residents.
The hiking trails in the area are known for their beauty and provide a great opportunity to explore the great outdoors.
The reopening of Dreamy Draw, at 2421 E. Northern Ave. will provide locals with another outdoor activity to enjoy.
“Our trails should be open to everybody, so the more opportunities we can give to any individual regardless their abilities or whatever challenges they may face,” said Parks Supervisor Josh Parnell. “These outdoor spaces are beautiful and should be cherished, and everybody should have that ability.”
Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Jarod Rogers opened the ceremony by reading a statement from the Parks and Recreation Department acknowledging the city of Phoenix is located within the homeland of the O’Odham and Piipaash people.
“The landscape is sacred and reflects cultural values central to the O’Odham and Piipaash way of life and their self-definition,” Rogers said. “This acknowledgment demonstrates our commitment to work in partnership with the Ancestral Indigenous Communities to foster understanding, appreciation, and respect for this heritage.” continued Rogers.
Dreamy Draw Recreation Area was closed in 2020 because the city was so that a 66-inch water pipeline could be constructed adjacent to State Route 51 that will bring drinking water to north Phoenix residents. The project was designed to mitigate any water shortages that might develop due to shortages in Colorado River water. It was said to reopen in December of 2022.
The trail remained open throughout this project, but the parking lot and the recreation area are where they did the grand reopening.
The city of Phoenix added new bathrooms for hikers and an improved parking lot.
District 3 Councilmember Debra Stark said, “Improvements include four new ramadas, new restrooms with six unisex stalls, and a new parking lot that will create a much more efficient flow of traffic.”
They also refurbished the two existing ramadas to be able to match the new ones.
These trails were not as accessible to hikers while it was closed because of the closed signs and barricades that were put up. However, now that it is reopening, hikers will enjoy this trail again.
This new project will help hikers and cyclists have a better connection with the trails and the biking trails. The city of Phoenix has finished the pipeline project as well.
“When I was coming in, I saw a group leaving, and they will be happy to know that this project created a better connection system to trails and bike paths,” said Stark. “To inform residents in a clear manner, we have added updated signing and trail information, and additionally, the pipeline is now in service. It is currently operating to mitigate conditions on the Colorado River,” added Stark.
Parks and Recreation Board Chair Kelly Dalton said she has loved Dreamy Draw since she was a child. She mentions how she would and still does hike along the trails and walk to school along the trails.
“I have never driven over here; I have always walked. This is where my dad and I would take a lot of walks throughout high school. While driving at night, I would take a lot of walks throughout high school. I was driving in here. It was kind of an escape from the city, and what I really missed was the desert,” said Dalton.
