Major Sponsors
Desert Foothills Cookouts has donated the use of its
beautiful Sonoran Desert location since Cookout at the Ranch began in 1996. It's
cookout sites, which are located on the same parcel of state trust land as
MacDonald's Ranch, is in the middle of the pristine North Scottsdale desert.
Desert Foothills Cookouts' sites are available for groups of 50 or more and the
company also offers complete dining and catering services. To learn more, visit
www.desertfoothills.com.
Take Pride in Scottsdale
Take Pride in Scottsdale, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., is dedicated to
preserving and enhancing Scottsdale's environment and quality of life. The success of the
program is dependent on citizen involvement. Residents from all over Scottsdale are
appointed by the City Council to serve on the Pride Commission. Volunteers work to promote
environmental awareness and pride in the community.
Take Pride in Scottsdale and Friends of the Scenic Drive have had a close working relationship since the earliest days of our restoration efforts. Our participation on the Pride Commission has maintained an important link with the City of Scottsdale that is essential to the future of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. Plant exhibit signs are on private property and cannot be maintained by Scottsdale and Friends of the Scenic Drive cannot enforce setbacks and other restrictions needed to maintain desert character and vistas.
The two organizations have worked together sponsoring
cleanup efforts along Scottsdale Road. Members of the Pride Commission have volunteered to
help at every one of our functions. Ed Villa, Manager of Scottsdale's Keep America
Beautiful Program has also helped organize the two cookouts we have held at Mac Donald's
Ranch, enlisting city departments as exhibitors and supplying tables and chairs for
exhibits.
Twice a year, the Pride Commission sponsors Scottsdale Pride Day in conjunction with the Neighborhood Enhancement Commission. A designated section of the community is targeted for a special clean-up, planting or improvement. The organizations also sponsors several educational programs available to schools and interested groups. Take Pride in Scottsdale and Keep America Beautiful are also addressing the problem of illegal dumping in desert areas.
For information contact: "Take Pride in Scottsdale", City of Scottsdale, Citizen Services, 7447 East Indian School Road, Suite 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85252. The telephone number is (602) 994-7778.
Scottsdale Neighborhood Services
Scottsdale's Neighborhood Services with the assistance of the Neighborhood Enhancement Commission makes matching funds available for financing neighborhood beautification and improvement programs. Any organized neighborhood group or homeowner's association, large or small, may apply for NCIP matching funds. As Friends of the Scenic Drive moves forward preserving and enhancing the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, we look forward to enjoying a close relationship with Neighborhood Services.
The neighborhood improvement must benefit the entire neighborhood or community and demonstrate the direct involvement of the neighborhood residents who are affected by the project. The Neighborhood Enhancement Commission, an appointed citizen advisory group, reviews and takes action on all requests exceeding $1,000.
For more information contact: City of Scottsdale, Neighborhood Services Division, 7447 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; telephone: (602) 990-7069.
McMahon Restaurant Group, d.b.a. Outback Steakhouse
The McMahon Restaurant Group has been a major supporter of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive since the very beginning of our restoration efforts. In October 1995, they donated and catered a complete steak barbecue (see New Life for the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive). In 1996 and 1997, McMahon Restaurant Group donated food and catering for our very successful Cookout at the Ranch I, II and III (see Fun at Cookout at the Ranch '97, Full House at Cookout III). On a personal note, the McMahon family also served as "plant parents" for the Scenic Drive.
MacDonald's Ranch
Mac Donald's is located at 26540 North Scottsdale Road at the southern entrance of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. For complete information call (602) 585-0239 or visit their Web site at www.macdonaldsranch.com.
Mac Donald's Ranch has been a co-sponsor of
our
Cookout at Ranch fund raisers. In the early years, it was their
donation of hayrides and the use of their facilities that made the event possible. Last
year approximately 450 residents attended the event, the proceeds of which are used to
preserve and enhance the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. For a
look back, see Fun at
Cookout at the Ranch '97, Full House at Cookout III. The
cookouts also offer an excellent way to promote the drive and preservation.
Mac Donald's is Scottsdale's premier riding stables and cowboy cookout ranch. Situated on more than 1,300 acres of prime Sonoran Desert, Mac Donald's offers a variety of guided horseback rides: 1.0 hour, 1.5 hour, and 2. hours. In addition, rides which include breakfast, lunch or dinner are also available.
Mac Donald's Ranch is also available for theme parties, private group functions including weddings and receptions, school outings and hayrides. Tour companies often bring their customers to Mac Donald's to enjoy a cowboy cookout, country and western entertainment and an evening under the stars.
To learn more about the history of Mac Donald's Ranch click here.
Scottsdale Tourism Development Commission
This organization's donation, along with donations from others, enabled Friends to enhance the drive monument sign that was constructed by Maricopa County in 1968(see New Life for the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive).
