Friends of the Scenic Drive

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Who We Are

Friends of the Scenic Drive is a corps of volunteers that works to preserve and enhance the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, an area landmark since 1963. With the support of the City of Scottsdale, local businesses and residents, Friends conducts regular litter pickups programs, maintains Scenic Drive plant exhibits and monuments, and organizes Cookout at the Ranch, north Scottsdale's largest preservation benefit. Pictured here, Patrick Quirck, plant expert from the world-renowned Desert Botanical Garden, discusses plant identification with a member of Friends. In 1995, Patrick helped choose the plants that are exhibited along the Scenic Drive.

Friends of the Scenic Drive, Inc. is a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA), a non-profit 501 (c) 3  organization founded in 1977 and incorporated under the laws of Arizona. GPPA is dedicated to the preservation of the natural environment, and enrichment of quality of life in the North Scottsdale Sonoran Desert. GPPA publishes A Peek at the Peak magazine, which is distributed in north Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave Creek, north Phoenix, and Rio Verde as a community service. GPPA also distributes e-Peak, an electronic newsletter, as a community service. To learn more about GPPA and its publications, visit its Web site.

See Volunteers page for information about participating in Friends of the Scenic Drive.
 [ Read More ]

Mission

Minimize the impact of growth in north Scottsdale by leveraging the natural beauty and heritage of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive to create distinctive roadsides that differentiate the area, enhancing quality of life and tourism.

Goals

• Maintain and enhance Scenic Drive plant signs, visitor exhibits and monument signs
• Preserve and enhance roadside vegetation and vistas
• Publicize the Scenic Drive and its heritage
• Reduce visual pollution (litter, signs, poles, utility boxes, etc.)
• Support city-wide Preserve, Scenic Corridors and litter control initiatives

What We've Done

Recent Accomplishments

In addition to its usual activities, Friends initiated and completed projects to jump-start the implementation of Scottsdale's Scenic Corridor Guidelines:

• Worked with City of Scottsdale to lessen impact of new waterline
• Refurbished all plant exhibits, re-placing, re-painting exhibit signs and rocks
• Landscaped northern Scenic Drive entry sign
• Organized and funded painting of all traffic/directional sign posts and backs on the Scenic Drive using a distinctive desert-blending color
• Organized and funded painting of all utility boxes 
• Funded the watering of re-vegetated intersections on the Scenic Drive
• Enhanced the Scenic Drive visitor area by creating a cacti memorial for Don Schoenau, north Scottsdale activist
• Worked to enforce voluntary ban on political signs along the Scenic Drive, initiated 6 elections ago
• Organized, funded and conducted six Scenic Drive litter pickup efforts
• Helped enforce the City of Scottsdale sign ordinance on a weekly-basis along the Scottsdale and Pima Road scenic corridors

Past Accomplishments

• Restored exhibit plant signs in 1994 (originally installed in 1963) [Read More]
• Publicized the Scenic Drive and its history [Read More]
• Posted Scenic Drive identification signs along Scottsdale Road [Read More]
• Organized litter pickups with support of Scottsdale Pride Commission [Read More]
• Placed Scenic Drive entry signs as each end of the Scenic Drive  [Read More]
• Donated original Scenic Drive entry sign to Cave Creek Museum
• Created a visitor exhibit [Read More]
• Enhanced the Scenic Drive monument sign 
• Supported successful efforts to bury power lines along the Scenic Drive [Read More]
• Lobbied successfully for hydro-seeding and re-vegetation of areas where plants have been "lost" [Read More]
• Supported establishment of large scenic right-of-ways for new development [Read More]
• Led successful effort to eliminate posting of weekend real estate signs [Read More]
• Implemented a voluntary ban of political signs on Scenic Drive [Read More]
• Worked to eliminate off-site development and other unnecessary signs from Scenic Drive [Read More]
• Helped select a distinctive color for light poles and traffic signals along Scenic Drive [Read More]
• Created exhibit plant sites at the visitors area [Read More]
• Founded and organized Cookout at the Ranch preservation event
• Enhanced popular community Web site, established in 1997, that promotes Scenic Drive and north Scottsdale [Read More]
• Promoted community service and served on City of Scottsdale commissions and committees involved in planning and preservation efforts
• Participated in development of Scenic Corridor Guidelines
• Actively supported the creation of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

For more information about our efforts visit Past Headlines and our Library.

Sponsors

Over the years, thousands of residents and many local businesses have supported our restoration efforts, cleanup efforts, celebrations and fund raisers. Visit Cookout Friends to view a list of local businesses and organizations who supported last year's fund raising efforts. The following organizations are major sponsors of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive each having donated in excess of $4,000 in cash or services.

• McMahon Restaurant Group d.b.a. Outback Steakhouse [Read More]
• Desert Foothills Cookouts [Read More]
• MacDonald's Ranch   [Read More]
• Take Pride in Scottsdale [Read More]
• Scottsdale Tourism Development Commission  [Read More]
• Scottsdale Neighborhood Services [Read More]

Friends also recognizes the helpful hand that has been extended by the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. The group has donated money, assisted at events and publicized the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive and our activities in its publication, Peek at the Peak. [Read More]

Press Releases and Articles

• Friends of the Scenic Drive presented a replica of the original drive entry sign to the Cave Creek Museum on October 11, 2006  [Read More]

• Friends of the Scenic Drive is seeking resident feedback on ideas for Scenic Drive improvements. We invite you to participate [Read More]

• Friends meets with City of Scottsdale officials to discuss short-term and long-term enhancements of Desert Foothills Scenic Drive [Read More]

• "Geography of Nowhere, Coming Your Way," makes some suggestions regarding the Tatum East-West Study that will have a major impact on the Scenic Drive [Read More]

• Anonymous Donor, Company, Volunteer Step Up. The Scenic Drive exhibit has been repaired without cost to Friends or GPPA [Read More]

• 2006-2007 Scenic Drive Cleanup Schedule Announced. Friends of the Scenic Drive has announced a tentative schedule for volunteers to pickup litter along the northern reaches of Scottsdale Road [Read More]
   

• Scenic Drive "Ripped Off" Again! 32 plaques were stolen from the exhibit maintained by Friends of the Scenic Drive [Read More]

• Friends of the Scenic Drive (FSD) was one of only three organizations honored with the prestigious statewide Community Leadership Governor's Pride in Arizona Award [Read More]

• Howard Myers, "Volunteer of Excellence," for 2005-2006 [Read More]

• Friends Activities Featured in Local Magazine [Read More]

• Learn about our vision for enhancing the Scenic Drive landmark [Read More]
  

Become a Friend of the Community

Friends of the Scenic Drive is a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA), a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. You can support the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive  by becoming a member of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (A Friend of the Community) or by making a donation to GPPA. Memberships and donations are tax-deductible, depending upon  your tax status . Memberships and donations can be paid online or through the mail using major debit and credit cards, PayPal, and e-checks. We welcome your support. [Read More]