The Phoenix Parks Department is rolling out new technology to make sure people stay off hiking trails that are closed due to extreme heat.
The city now has electronic signs Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak to inform the public about current and upcoming trail closures and cameras to monitor trailheads 24/7 at Piestewa Peak and the Holbert Trailhead at South Mountain. Cameras will also soon be coming to the Echo Canyon Trailhead at Camelback Mountain, Deputy Parks Director Jarod Rogers told the Phoenix Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday.
Another recent technological tool are electronic gates at some trailheads that allow for scheduled closures “which increases park ranger availability at other areas that are not affected by trail closures,” Rogers told the subcommittee.
