Dear City of Phoenix: Please Don’t Add Stress to our Parks

Dear City of Phoenix,

I was disappointed to recently learn that you are thinking about adding parking meters to a few of the more popular trailheads in the city — Echo Canyon, Pima Canyon, and Piestewa Peak. I perked up when I discovered there was a hearing to discuss the matter, but only saddened again when I realized it started at 5pm on a weekday, when most people are leaving the office, running necessary errands before stores close, or settling down for dinner with their families. Since I am unable to be there in person, I thought I would share my thoughts on the matter with you through this letter.

When I moved to the area over 5 years ago, I was excited at the opportunities for an active lifestyle that surrounded me. The scenery and nature was so inviting, and it made me want to be that person. I wanted to explore everything the mountains had to offer. It was within the mountains that I began to discover a true sense of self over the years. The mountains are where I can go when I need a change of scenery. The trails are where I can either run out all my excess energy or casually stroll, taking in all the beauty and peace that surrounds me. The nature that we are so fortunately blessed with here is where I am able to sit and think, meditate and appreciate everything about life. I feel more centered, alive, and my body appreciates the sunlight and the exercise I gain as a result.

I understand that there is a budget problem that needs to be carefully evaluated. I get it. We’ve all been there. And we have to weigh what is important to us when it’s time to add some frugality to our lives. Usually what tends to go is the very things that keep us sane and centered. We cancel our gym memberships. We stop purchasing as much fresh and local produce.

But this is exactly what we shouldn’t do if we don’t have to. It’s time to change that, and the city should set an example. It would be a disservice to hinder the very thing that is so very special about where we live. It would be a disservice to encourage people to be less active and less healthy. It would terribly unfortunate if our parks were abandoned for other parks, and less people were able to see the purely majestic landscape that reveals itself from the summits of these trails.

As a Phoenix resident, I am fine with finding ways to help with the budget, but there are other places where I’d rather contribute. I don’t want to worry about how long it takes me to enjoy nature on a trail because I have a running meter that keeps me on a timer. How relaxing is that to have to worry about making it back to your vehicle in time? Parking meters will not only discourage hikers, but it will take away one of the best things about nature — being able to get lost in time and disconnect from the business and stress of everyday life.

I urge you to think about what is special and unique about our city. Think about how many people are not fortunate enough to be able to hike such gorgeous trails right in their city parks. Think about the reasons people choose Phoenix as a tourist attraction. Think about the serentiy and balance that people gain from being able to leisurely enjoy trails. Please don’t take that away.

Sincerely,

Tonia