Surprise, AZ News blog

Randy Oliver, City Manager

City of Surprise

12425 W. Bell Road

Surprise, AZ 85374-9002

Dear Mr. Oliver,

I was somewhat alarmed to read an article in the Arizona Republic regarding a proposal by the City of Surprise to construct a tram in White Tank Mountain Regional Park. According to the article you are in the process of acquiring the land from BLM and the County.

As I recall from our only conversation, you were only doing some preliminary analysis. When I spoke to your Deputy City Manager, Sintra Hoffman, I indicated that this type of a project did not fit the mission of the Parks & Recreation Department and the Bureau of Land Management would not allow this type of project on land that they had patented to Maricopa County for recreational purposes. In my discussions with her I indicated that a meeting to discuss such a project was not warranted, but we would be interested in pursuing some other opportunities such as developing a north entrance into the park and an outdoor amphitheater that would benefit Surprise residents and visitors.

At no point in our conversations did I indicate that Parks was in favor of this project. We have also received numerous calls and emails from citizens indicating they are not in favor of this project.

Once again, we are not interested in a tram that would have a negative environmental impact on the park. We would however, like to work with the City on some of the other potential projects that fit with our department’s mission of conserving natural open spaces for the benefit of County residents.

Respectfully,

R.J. Cardin, Director

Maricopa County Parks & Recreation

c: Max Wilson, County Supervisor, District 4

Central and Chrono files www.maricopa.gov/parks