 
 GET READY TO OPEN YOUR WALLET (AGAIN)!
CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS & RECREATION BOARD APPROVES NEW PARKING FEE PROGRAM
GET READY TO OPEN YOUR WALLET (AGAIN)!
CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS & RECREATION BOARD APPROVES NEW PARKING FEE PROGRAM
Budget shortfalls, layoffs, tanking stocks, earthquakes, floods, fires, plague---now this. Set to roll out in “early fall” 2010, a new City of Phoenix fee program will require visitors at five gated parking areas in South Mountain Park and Phoenix Mountains Preserve  to purchase parking passes.  Whoa---whoa---let’s keep our whining to a minimum, because the fees will only apply to the busiest and most congested access points, where heavy traffic results in higher maintenance costs.  The fees will go toward supporting city parks & recreation programs, keeping access open and affordable and, of course, cleaning up after sloppy dummyheads and their beer cans.  Soon, park rangers will begin hosting “meet & greet” events to communicate these changes.  Until then----
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
WHEN:  begins in early fall 2010
WHICH LOCATIONS WILL REQUIRE THE FEE: Although more than 30 access/parking areas will remain FREE, the 5 most popular locations will require a fee to park.  
They are:
Pima Canyon, Echo Canyon-Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, Dreamy Draw, North Mountain
COST:  annual pass: $75, 6-month pass: $50, daily pass: $2
WHERE TO PURCHASE:  pass will be available online and at City of Phoenix recreation and community centers.  The city has plans to install self-pay kiosks in future.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T PAY UP?:   for the first few introductory months, nothing---after that though, you may be fined.
INFORMATION: http://phoenix.gov/PRL/passupdate.html