Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve master planning process announced
Published on November 04, 2022
ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Nov. 4, 2022) – The Town of Oro Valley invites the community to participate in the master planning process for the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve (formerly known as the Vistoso Golf Course). Input received from the community will be used to develop the Master Plan, which will be the framework for future site improvements, land-use management and visitor experience. The effort is being led by Sites Southwest, a landscape architecture and planning firm.
A project kick-off meeting with Town staff and Sites Southwest was held in September to plan community engagement opportunities and develop a project timeline.
Community engagement opportunities
The Sites Southwest team will be on-site the week of November 14. The following community engagement meetings are scheduled:
Tuesday, November 15
- Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting at 6 p.m. in the Hopi Conference Room (11000 N. La Cañada Drive)
Wednesday, November 16
- Community workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oro Valley Public Library (1305 W Naranja Drive). The community workshop format will allow community members to drop in at their convenience to review the current property map, ask questions and offer suggestions for proposed improvements and desired amenities.
- Oro Valley Town Council meeting at 6 p.m. in the Oro Valley Council Chambers (11000 N. La Cañada Drive)
Thursday, November 17
- Community meeting from 5:30 - 7 p.m. in the Oro Valley Council Chambers. The community meeting format will include a presentation of the initial Preserve data collected by Sites Southwest. Following the brief presentation, community members will be encouraged to review the current property map, ask questions and offer suggestions for proposed improvements and desired amenities.
Additionally, a survey has been developed to gather public input to help plan and design a community-focused space that reflects the needs of Oro Valley residents. The survey will be available both online and on paper copy through November 30. Paper copies will be available at the Oro Valley Community Center (10555 N. La Cañada Drive) and the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve (945 W. Vistoso Highlands Drive). To take the survey online, click here or copy/paste this URL into your browser: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/18ef76bcc2994cc598987873f43de6b3.
During the week of November 14, Sites Southwest will also meet with stakeholder groups including Town Council, Town staff, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Preserve Vistoso, The Conservation Fund, area schools and other community and conservation/preservation groups.
Master planning project timeline
During November and December, Sites Southwest and the Town will conduct site research, data gathering, stakeholder meetings and community engagement to create a report. From January through March 2023, the first Master Plan draft will be presented to the community, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Town Council. In April and May 2023, the final Master Plan draft will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and then Town Council for approval.
To watch a video from Parks and Recreation Director Kristy Diaz-Trahan explaining the Master Planning process, click here. To follow along with the Master Planning process and view schedules, timelines and completed documents, click here to visit our website, or visit orovalleyaz.gov and search VISTOSO TRAILS NATURE PRESERVE.
About Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve
The Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve is an open space that will provide Oro Valley residents and visitors an opportunity for passive recreation such as walking, biking and bird watching. Formerly known as the Vistoso Golf Course, the Town of Oro Valley acquired the property in summer 2022. An existing 6.2 mile path winds through the property providing visitors with views of the Catalina and Tortolita mountains, examples of varied desert vegetation, and the opportunity to view an abundance of wildlife. The Preserve is open from dawn to dusk, and temporary parking is at 945 W. Vistoso Highlands Drive.