The Town of Camp Verde continues to try to create a reasonable and effective plan when it comes to managing the negative impacts of recreation while at the same time finding legitimate spots for people to take advantage of what the Verde River has to offer.
Dozens of people gathered Thursday evening, Oct. 15, to provide input to those working to put the recreation master plan together.
The meeting was the latest in a string of efforts on the part of the town to reach out to the public.
Maps of proposed public lands that could be potentially used for recreation were set up around the perimeter of the cafeteria at the Camp Verde Public School District Multi-Use Complex.
Many of the people present at the meeting were private landowners along the Verde River, 17 miles of which flows through Camp Verde’s borders.
Many of those spoke up in favor of the town’s efforts to put a plan into place, stating that by focusing on public areas for possible recreation, it may draw away those who often cause problems on private property while still allowing everyone to enjoy the river.
Camp Verde resident and river education and conservation advocate Tony Gioia said that developing areas for public use could potentially have a good effect for the future of the river.
“The more investment we put into the river, the more investment we will have into taking care of it,” Gioia said.
The funding so far for the planning has come from two grant sources, a $50,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation through Friends of the Verde River Greenway and an additional grant through the National Park Service River Trails and Conservation Assistance program.
American Rivers, a national conservation group, is also helping with efforts to engage the community in the planning process.
“It’s very much a collective effort,” said Joe Winfield, a landscape architect with the National Park Service. “The Verde River is an incredible resource, you don’t need me to tell you that.”
There are four main public areas that are being considered for the plan.
The first is a 30-acre area along the Verde River near where it crosses under Interstate 17.
Camp Verde Economic Development Director Steve Ayers said that there are issues surrounding traffic as the primary way to access the area is through a residential neighborhood.
According to initial studies, the area could be good as a day use area and a public boat launch.
Another 80 acres owned by Arizona State Parks and the Prescott National Forest between I-17 and the Black Bridge is also being examined for its potential.
That area, currently being called by a planning name of Homestead Park, is surrounded by private property and runs up against the Simonton Ranch property.
It’s also home to a good deal of wildlife.
There is also around 10 acres along the river near Rezzonico Family Park, an area that is often used for fishing and picnicking.
It’s right next to where the new Camp Verde library is being constructed.
The town also has access to the river by the White Bridge, an area which often sees boats being put into the water.
Down at the south end of the town limits sits the Rockin’ River Ranch, now run by the state park system.
The ranch is another piece of land that will likely see increased public use.
Ayers said that the park system is already planning on developing the property for visitor use to the tune of several million dollars.
A proposed overview of the plan includes cabins, several spaces for recreational facilities and other services.
The ranch is situated near where the Verde River meets West Clear Creek.
The state purchased the more than 200 acres of land in 2008 for $7 million to preserve it.
“We want you to tell us what to work on,” Ayers said.
Ayers reiterated that the town wants to be able to mitigate existing problems created by illegal public use of private land as a primary objective of the new plan.
