South Mountain Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona is the largest city park in the United States ^[1], the second largest urban park in North America and among the largest municipal parks in the world. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride^[2].

Contents 1 Natural wonders 2 Ranking clarification 3 See also 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Natural wonders

South Mountain Park preserves in a natural state 16,283 mountainous acres (over 25 square miles or 65 km²) of native desert vegetation. Originally called Phoenix Mountain Park, it was formed in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge sold its initial 13,000 acres (53 km²) to the City of Phoenix for $17,000. It has since been expanded through bond programs during 1970s into the early 1980s. It is located south of central Phoenix, hence the name. Since the naming, suburban growth has nearly surrounded the park. Ahwatukee now borders to the south and Laveen to the west.

The park's lookout point rises over 1000 feet (305 m) above the desert floor. Beyond the roads leading to ramadas and the summit, the park features 58 miles (93 km) of trails for cycling, hiking and horseback riding. Much of the original park infrastructure was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s. The landmark Mystery Castle is located within its foothills.

[edit] Ranking clarification

South Mountain Park is both larger and older than Forest Park in Portland, Oregon, which is often mistakenly claimed to be the largest municipal park in the United States. Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas, is listed as the largest city park in the United States in the 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica Almanac, at more than 24,000 acres,^[3] although it is not a city park, but a state park contained within a city.^[4]

[edit] See also

• South Mountains (Arizona)

[edit] External links

• Park website
• Official site
• About.com article
• Guide to the National Trail

[edit] References

1. ^ The Straight Dope: What is the largest city park in the U.S.?. Retrieved on June 4, 2006.
2. ^ Phoenix Points of Pride. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
3. ^ (2006) Encyclopædia Britannica Almanac, 272. 
4. ^ TPWD: Franklin Mountains State Park. Retrieved on June 4, 2006.

Parks of Arizona
National parks
Grand Canyon • Petrified Forest • Saguaro
National Monuments
Operated by the National Park Service
Canyon de Chelly • Casa Grande Ruins • Chiricahua • Grand Canyon-Parashant • Hohokam Pima • Montezuma Castle • Navajo • Organ Pipe Cactus • Pipe Spring • Sunset Crater Volcano • Tonto • Tuzigoot • Walnut Canyon • Wupatki
Operated by the Bureau of Land Management
Agua Fria • Ironwood Forest • Sonoran Desert • Vermilion Cliffs
State parks
Northern Region
Dead Horse Ranch • Fool Hollow Lake • Fort Verde • Homolovi Ruins • Jerome • Lyman Lake • Red Rock • Riordan Mansion • Slide Rock • Tonto Natural Bridge
Southern Region
Boyce Thompson Arboretum • Catalina • Kartchner Caverns • Lost Dutchman • McFarland • Oracle • Patagonia Lake • Picacho Peak • Roper Lake • Sonoita Creek Natural Area • Tombstone Courthouse • Tubac Presidio
Western Region
Alamo Lake • Buckskin Mountain • Cattail Cove • Lake Havasu • Yuma Crossing • Yuma Territorial Prison
Municipal parks
South Mountain Park • Papago Park