Winner announced for contest to rename former Vistoso Golf Course

Published on May 23, 2022

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ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (May 23, 2022) – The Town of Oro Valley is pleased to recognize the winner of the contest to name the 202-acre property formerly known as the Vistoso Golf Course. Congratulations to Oro Valley resident Nikki Dilbeck for submitting the winning name, Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve.

In Round One of Name OV’s New 202-Acre Outdoor Space! contest, more than 1,500 unique name ideas were submitted. A five-member committee reviewed all the submissions and narrowed down the list to the top 10. In Round Two of voting, about 500 Oro Valley residents weighed in and selected up to three of the 10 choices. The three names with the highest number of votes were put before Oro Valley Town Council on May 18 for final selection.

“I feel honored that the Council, and the community members who voted in the first round, think Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve would be a fitting name for this wonderful property. When I saw the initial call for name suggestions, Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve popped into my head, and it just felt like the right fit,” said Nikki. “It’s such a wonderful resource for the whole Oro Valley community. Preserve Vistoso, the Town of Oro Valley, and The Conservation Fund worked long and hard to acquire this acreage so that it can be preserved without threat of development.”

Nikki and her husband Ron have lived in Oro Valley for ten years, spending the last eight years in the Vistoso community. As the contest winner, Nikki will be awarded a prize package valued at more than $1,700, including an annual family membership to the Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center, and the Oro Valley Aquatic Center.

The Town of Oro Valley would like to thank everyone who participated in this community-wide contest. Special recognition goes to the other two finalists, Denny Iceman, who submitted the name Oro Valley Nature Preserve, and Rod Depperschmidt, who submitted the name Vistoso Preserve at Oro Valley.

The Conservation Fund will maintain ownership of the property until ownership is transferred to the Town sometime after July 1. To mark the occasion, a ribbon-cutting celebration will be held (date and time TBD). Details will be announced via press release and social media. Town staff will include funding in the FY 22/23 budget for immediate safety improvements on the property including repairs and upgrades of paved pathways, reopening the restrooms and general maintenance of the open space, which will be utilized for passive recreation activities such as walking, biking and bird watching. More details about Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve can be found here.