Sustainable Scottsdale Preserves “Tourism Treasure” Desert Heritage

Scottsdale’s growth spurt in the ‘70s and ‘80s prompted a citizen initiated preservation effort that resulted in a plan to protect nearly one-third of Scottsdale as the natural McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

Today, this Preserve plays host to hikers, horseback riders and outdoor enthusiasts who delight in the region’s ancient Indian artifacts and wildlife like coyotes, Gila monsters, desert tortoises, chuckwallas, javelinas, deer and mountain lions. The rise in citizen activism, led by the non-profit McDowell Sonoran Land Trust, has helped build support for the preservation effort.

Now, 16,460 acres (55%) of the planned 36,400-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve has been protected. The trust is working with city officials to facilitate the purchase of the remaining 19,940 acres of state trust land. The Preserve is managed to provide a sustainable habitat for the flora and fauna it contains for the enjoyment of this and all future generations. When complete, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve will permanently protect a third of Scottsdale as natural public open space, eventually becoming one of the largest city-owned preserves in the nation.

In June 2008, construction began on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway, which will serve as the largest and most significant entry point to the Preserve. The facility will have 200 parking spaces, restrooms, shade ramadas, a dog comfort station and water fountains in addition to an equestrian staging area with 16 trailer parking spaces, water troughs, hitching rails and a shade ramada. The gateway is designed to have a minimal impact on the fragile desert environment. Eco-friendly building elements have been incorporated into the facility, including solar power generation, rainwater harvesting, solar water heating, native landscaping, parking lot and path surfaces made of stabilized decomposed granite, and more.

The gateway also will be home to the future Desert Discovery Center, which is envisioned to provide opportunities for residents and visitors to discover the story of the Sonoran Desert through exhibits and environmental experiences. No timeline has been determined for the project yet.

The Scottsdale resident-initiated preservation effort is only one chapter in the city’s efforts to preserve the spectacular Sonoran Desert scenery and engage in eco-friendly practices. The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau and local tourism businesses are taking the necessary steps to ensure that Scottsdale is eco-friendly and engaging in sustainable tourism. A number of Scottsdale hotels and resorts are already engaged in sustainable practices by using energy efficient lights, purchasing organic fruits and vegetables, providing optional laundry services for guest linens and towels, using reclaimed water for golf courses and landscaping, and more. Other efforts by the Scottsdale tourism community include conserving natural resources through solid waste management, water conservation and energy management.

In addition to preserving one-third of the city’s land to create the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Scottsdale is also the US first city to adopt a goal that all new municipal buildings should be LEED™ certified at the gold level. This initiative ensures that the city is never wasteful of environmental resources and energy.
 
The Scottsdale CVB began its green initiatives in early 2007 to help the tourism community become more sustainable. A Sustainability Advisory Committee, educational seminars, and a Web site devoted to the eco-friendly efforts of the destination are helping the bureau to make internal changes as well as help local businesses find ways to incorporate green practices into their day-to-day operations. The Scottsdale CVB Web site, is dedicated specifically to sustainable tourism and is a wonderful resource for holidaymakers interested in the green movement and how their travels affect the world in which we live. 

Joshua Johnson, the landscape manager at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa, has turned the property’s grounds into a 100 percent ‘green’ environment with organic gardening methods. Johnson uses a process called “fertigation” which consists of him making a mild organic fertilizer and applying it through the resort’s irrigation system so that the required nutrients are always in the soil. Notably absent from Johnson’s techniques are commercial fertilizers which he believes create poor root systems that eventually rot and kill the plants.

The Fairmont Scottsdale invites guests to enjoy the Sonoran Desert while learning about local conservation efforts during private, half-day guided hikes as part of its new Sonoran Eco-Education Package, which features a one-night stay with breakfast in a luxurious Fairmont “recycling” room complete with recycling bins and the option to launder linens, and breakfast at any of the resort’s available outlets. In addition, guests will receive a re-usable travel mug to help them avoid disposable items while on the road throughout Arizona.

Since reopening in 2006, the Hotel Valley Ho in downtown Scottsdale has recycled more than 48,000 pounds of paper, installed water-saving guest room features and switched to more efficient fluorescent light bulbs help conserve energy. The property also saved 200 tons of landfill waste by using the original 50-year-old structure instead of tearing it down and starting from scratch.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa has taken several ‘green’ initiatives to assure their guests that the Resort’s goal is to be a sustainable property and participate in smart, environmentally friendly programs. Guests can directly participate in their “Be Green” options by turning off one of the dual shower heads in their guest room, choosing all-organic products from the spa and choosing filtered water instead of bottled water.

W Hotels “Green Wheels” program grants guests access to environmentally-friendly transportation options. Available at properties worldwide, Green Wheels provides guests with the option of booking a luxury hybrid or ethanol-powered vehicle during their stay via W’s renowned Whatever/Whenever Concierge Service. The Green Wheels fleet features W’s signature amenities including a complimentary bottle of Voss water, a W Tidy Towel, a W Book, an official W CD and a bright green apple.
 
The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa is home to a 5,280-square-foot organic garden that produces a variety of vegetables, herbs and spices for use in the resort’s restaurant kitchens. Eco-friendly clothing and products made through recycling, including body care products and handbags are sold in the resort boutique. Additional efforts include low-water-use grasses on golf course fairways, the use of non-toxic chemicals for landscape maintenance, and organic towels, bedding, candles and soaps in guestrooms.

Carefree Resort & Villas have made an impact through building reuse whereby unoccupied rooms are used as office and storage space, therefore extending the lifecycle of existing building stock, conserving resources and reducing waste and environmental impact. Changing rooms, showers and bicycle storage are provided for employees who bicycle or walk to work, with up to 60 people per day utilizing this service. Other efforts include habitat preservation, water efficient landscaping, thermal system controls and iridescent lighting to reduce light pollution.

The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch has an environmental program which focuses on the areas of energy efficiency and waste minimization, environmental health and safety, environmental education, and community outreach programs. They also partake in guest environmental education activities through a Native American and Environmental Learning Center, Eco-pond, and Native Heritage Seed Garden which all inform visitors of the benefits to sustainability and preservation of culture. Other efforts include an employee “Green Team”, community involvement, reduced consumption of utilities and trip reduction.

The Desert Preservation Hike with the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
combines exercise and environmental stewardship. The hike begins at the Resort, where guests embark on a short walk to adjacent Pinnacle Peak Park. There, a guide leads an interpretive hike to learn about the unique flora and fauna that populate Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. Concluding the experience, visitors can plant a cactus or native plant, thereby helping ensure the sustainability of this unique ecosystem.

Other Eco-friendly resorts in Scottsdale include:

Downtown Scottsdale is the future sight of “1” Hotel and Residences, a Starwood Capital Group property that is the first luxury, eco-friendly global hotel brand. The concept combines the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design with top notch service and luxurious comfort. The property is expected to break ground at the Scottsdale Waterfront in early 2009 with an opening scheduled for 2011. The four-acre resort will be LEED™ certified and will include 149 regular guestrooms in addition to 58 suites, two restaurants, a hotel bar, spa, tea garden and library, a fitness center and rooftop garden and lounge, along with waterfront parks that offer signature public art walks.

The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North combines exercise and environmental stewardship with its Desert Preservation Hike at nearby Pinnacle Peak Park. A guide leads an interpretive hike and teaches guests about the flora anad fauna of the Sonoran Desert and concludes the expedition with a hands-on experience where hikers have the opportunity to plant a cactus or native plant, doing their part to ensure the sustainability of the unique desert ecosystem.

The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch focuses on the areas of energy efficiency and waste minimization with their Environmental Program. The initiative also zeros in on environmental health, safety, and education in addition to community outreach programs. The resort’s Native American and Environmental Learning Center, Eco-pond, and Native Heritage Seed Garden all inform visitors of the benefits to sustainability and preservation of culture, and the employee Green Team encourages community involvement, reduced consumption of utilities, and trip reduction.

Valere Tjolle