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City of Chandler Insider
City committed to environment, recreation
When residents enjoy a beautiful Arizona spring day, it’s difficult not to spend just a moment reflecting on nature and the connection to the physical world all around. That is the spirit of Earth Day April 22, a day to promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. This annual celebration will be reflected in two City of Chandler events.
At 8:30 a.m. on Sat., April 17, Mayor Boyd W. Dunn and members of the City Council will dedicate the Paseo Vista Recreation Area, located on the northwest corner of McQueen and Ocotillo roads. For nearly 30 years, this site was a working landfill rising above the streets and nearby houses. Then the citizens of Chandler made the investment to repurpose the land and turn it from a large man- made dirt mound into a vibrant recreational facility to benefit the entire region.
Today, the slopes of the covered landfill still dominate the landscape, but now are covered with plants, wildflowers, decomposed granite and boulders encased in wire to help control erosion. Those who make the worthwhile walk, ride or drive to the top of the hill are not only able to appreciate some of the best views in the East Valley, they can also enjoy some unique amenities.
The 64-acre Paseo Vista Recreation Area is home to Chandler’s fourth dog park, second disc golf course and one of the best public archery ranges in Arizona. There are also walking paths, a succulent garden and picnic area, and a playground for children featuring recycled materials and educational displays about the landfill contents underfoot and the renewable materials used in the park.
Adjacent to the Paseo Vista Recreation area is Paseo Trail, another great example of taking generally
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FOR THE DOGS: Dogs can play while their humans enjoy the view at Paseo Vista Recreation Area.
unusable land and giving it a new purpose to benefit the public good. The 6.5-mile Paseo Trail is a 10-foot- wide, concrete, multi-use pathway on the eastern side of the Consolidated Canal. The trail is popular with walkers, joggers, stroller-pushers, bicyclists and even horseback riders. It is also an alternative transportation route for people who work and live near the trail.
Special events at EEC
Three events in one take place on Sat., April 24 at the Environmental Education Center (EEC) located in Veterans Oasis Park on the northeast corner of Lindsay and Chandler Heights roads. In addition to Earth Day, the EEC will celebrate its second anniversary and also host the City’s Your Green Life Now Expo. The free festivities run 9 a.m. to noon and include fun and educational activities for the entire family. There will be presentations about nature, the environment and the outdoors, plus information booths, vendors, entertainment, prize drawings and more. Veterans Oasis Park and the Environmental Education Center are part of the award-winning Chandler Heights Community Facilities Project, another instance of the City combining resource
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FISHIN’ HOLE: Spend a relaxing day fishing at the Veterans Oasis Park.
conservation and effective land use to create divergent and plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities. The 113-acre facility includes an urban fishing lake, groundwater recharge facility, wetlands and a police substation. The shallow basins infiltrate high quality reclaimed water to the subsurface aquifer for storage and recovery as part of the City’s comprehensive reclaimed water management plan. The combination of the park, lake and wetlands create both lush wetland and arid habitat suitable for the diverse plants and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert, plus they offer a welcoming stopover for a variety of migratory birds. In recent years the City of Chandler has made significant investments in projects that not only benefit our environment, but also repurpose land for the public good and provide numerous recreational benefits – all of which contributes to a higher quality of life for Chandler residents.
For more information on these events and amenities, visit the City of Chandler website at www.chandleraz.gov/parks.
Information provided by the City of Chandler Communications and Public Affairs Department.
March 20 - April 2, 2010
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